Can Ring Doorbells Get Wet? How To Protect Them

Can Ring Doorbells Get Wet How To Protect Them

You want to buy a Ring Doorbell, or maybe you already have one. Now you want to know if it’s going to withstand the heavy rains, storms, and hurricanes. The internet is full of contradicting and unclear answers about this. Some say it’s waterproof, some water-resistant, and some not so sure.

Can ring Doorbells get wet? Yes. Ring Doorbells are water-resistant but not entirely waterproof. If you have it installed with no shelter over or around it and exposed to torrential downpours; it’s a matter of time before water seeps through and damages the doorbell.

In this article we answer this question once and for all. So keep reading because there’s a lot more to know than just the raw facts….

What Ring Says About Their Products 

Before preparing this article, I did some research and, at some point, went through the Ring’s frequently asked questions. 

Under their Technical Tab, I came across the common question- can it withstand the elements? Check the snippet below. 

Like the many homeowners who are curious to know and learn the truth about the smart gadgets around their homes, I went ahead with my research. I wanted to know if the ring doorbell will survive the heavy storms and hurricanes, especially if the main entrance has nothing to shelter the doorbell.  

Is it Waterproof?

Image courtesy of AndroidAuthority.com

Before we go any further, I’ve to hint that the term “waterproof” has been thrown inordinately on electronic devices. It’s a catchphrase currently used by manufacturers to sell their smart products. 

Ring Doorbell is advertised as water-resistant and not waterproof. This attracted my interest to dig even deeper into this question. 

There’s a misconception that the terms; water-resistant, waterproof and water-repellant can be used interchangeably to mean the same thing. This confusion traverses consumer understanding. Several brands misuse these terminologies, making it even more complicated to the less knowledgeable customers. 

So, let’s settle this debate, once and for all. 

Water-resistant

This is the lowest level of water protection. A device that’s labelled as water-resistant has been designed to withstand the occasional rain showers. Most water-resistant devices are coated with unique materials such as Teflon-commonly used in non-stick frying pans. Most watches, for example, are water-resistant.

Water-repellent 

A device that’s water-repellent is just a step up from a water-resistant surface. Water-repellent coatings have hydrophobic properties and will repel water from the coated surface. Finding a product that is water repellent and durable is rare, and this technology isn’t conventional in the market.

 Waterproof 

The concept behind the term waterproof isn’t entirely straightforward. To date, no industry standard declares a product as fully waterproof but instead rated in a scale of 00 to 68 in what is popularly termed as Ingress Protection (IP) rating. A rating of “00” offers no protection while a rating of “68” offers maximum protection against dust and moisture.

The double-digits in an IP rating represents the level of protection against solids (e.g. dust) and liquids (e.g. moisture/water) respectively. If a number is replaced by X, it indicates that the product isn’t rated for that specification.

To understand this better, you may want to check this IP table and the IP ratings explained.

So to answer this question right, Ring Doorbell isn’t entirely waterproof. It’s somewhere in between water-resistant and waterproof. That means you’ll need to add some extra protection if it’s to withstand the adverse weather conditions. Below is how you can achieve exactly that.

How to Protect Your Ring Doorbell from Water Damage 

There are many ways of keeping your Ring doorbell safe from water damage. Whether you’re looking to install a new Ring doorbell or you have an installed one already, these options will come in handy. 

Go the Natural Way 

If you have a porch then you won’t have to worry about rain!

Perhaps the most effective way to protect your Ring doorbell from harsh weather is to install it under a roof. Most entrances/ verandas already have some protective structure installed over or around the front doorway. 

If you don’t have this option yet, and you don’t have a renovation budget, then the below weather-proofing products are available at competitive prices.

Waterproof Protect Cover / Rain Shield 

an example from aliexpress of a universal rain shield

This is an easy and inexpensive way of protecting your Ring doorbell from water damage. The rain shield can be made of clear plastic or a plastic cover and a rubber blanket. Both types are waterproof and protect the doorbell from rain and snow. They cost from €12 – €25. 

 Doorbell Weather-Blocking Mount 

As the name suggests, you already know what this cover does. It will protect your Ring doorbell from the unforgiving weather conditions. If you want something that will go beyond rain protection, this add-on will block direct sun glare, wind and snow from damaging your smart doorbell.

Some models come with anti-glare properties which can effectively solve the glare effects of the sun, moon or that from your security lights. If you’ve been struggling with some horrible night vision and lens flares, you may want to keep this option in mind.  This mount costs around €12.

Protective Silicone Cover

example silicone case sold on amazon

Unlike the two options above, this is an add-on silicone skin that protects and camouflage your Ring doorbell. They are available in different styles and colours. These silicone covers are highly durable and will protect your doorbell from sun glare, UV lights and rain. If you’re looking to customize your doorbell while protecting it from adverse weather conditions, this option will be your best fit. Silicone covers are readily available and costs from €8 – €13

Evolution of the Ring Video Doorbells- Any Improvement to the “Weather-Resistance” Quality?

There are seven Ring video doorbells in the market- from the basic Ring Video Doorbell (1st gen.) to the most advanced, Ring Video Doorbell Elite. There has been a lot of changes and upgrades in terms of functionality; from motion detection, the field of view, power options and even video resolution. 

This, brings us to the next question? Has Ring upgraded their “weather-resistance” feature over the years? The answer is No. As seen in their product comparison table, Ring has maintained the same “operating temperatures” with little to no modification as far as weather-proofing is concerned. 

Maybe you’re expecting the Ring Pro or the 3 Plus, to be more water-resistant than the first and second-Gen doorbells (like I did) – well, you’re wrong.

What Has Changed? Which One Should You Go For?

If you were shopping for a smart Doorbell and have decided to go with Ring products, you’re probably in a dilemma as to which model you should buy. 

To give you a hint on the main features and what I found to have changed with the Ring doorbells over the years; I’ve added a summary table below.


RING DOORBELL PRODUCTS
 FEATURES, UPGRADES, RECCOMMENDATIONS

Ring Video Doorbell (1st Gen) 
Perfect for any home owner on a budget)720 HD Video, 2-way talks and instant mobile alertsCosts 88.15

Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)
Added features, e.g. Near Zone functionality.1080HD Video, improved Night Vision and Audio QualityCosts 150

Ring Video Doorbell 3 (3rd Gen)
An added 90-degrees vertical field of view. All other features are retained. Costs 178
      Ring Video Doorbell 3 PlusUpgraded protection with the “Pre-Event Video Capture with Pre-Roll” – records 4 seconds before any activity. Best for high-traffic/ high-crime areas. Costs 204
 Ring Video Doorbell ProHardwired only, no battery. Retains most features from the 3 plus except for the introduced ultra-slim design. Costs 221
 Ring Video Doorbell EliteHigh end features including custom motion zones. Requires professional installation. Costs €444
 Ring Video Peephole CamFeatures a knock detection and customizable privacy zones. Costs €177

From the table above, it’s pretty evident that Ring has only been upgrading on the functionalities and not much on the ergonomic aspects. Besides the advanced features, nothing should stop you from buying one that suits your budget since all have the same “water-resistance” quality. 

This youtube video gives a good comparison of the ring products.

Are There Waterproof Options in the Market?

This is a good question that I would love to answer. Before I could jump to a conclusion, I did my research, as always 🙂

We stated earlier that the level to which a device or product is considered waterproof is limited to the IP rating. You would expect that those doorbells with the best IP rating in the market would come with a hefty price tag. This is actually, not the case.

The highest rating I came across, for a doorbell was IP55. From this IP reference chart, it means the doorbell is protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction. This is better than the Ring Doorbell, but not the best. 

Some of the doorbells with an IP rating of IP55 includes but not limited to;

  • Novete Wireless Doorbell- € 25.85
  • Avantek Wireless Doorbell- € 27.64
  • Bitewend Wireless Doorbell- € 33.85
  • Coolqiya Doorbell- € 28.51
  • Avantek DB-21 Doorbell – € 24.05

All these products aren’t a hundred per cent waterproof and may not pack all the features that Ring doorbells offer. They also cost less than the cheapest Ring doorbell. So, what’s the catch? Is this IP rating even relevant? 

Final Thoughts 

After all the comparisons and explorations, I realized that Ring doorbells are some of the best if not the best devices in the market. They pack more features and advantages than most doorbells labelled as “waterproof.” 

Ring doorbells may not withstand adverse weather conditions, but with the little modifications we’ve highlighted above, they will be as good as waterproof. 

P.S.

That’s it for this article. I hope you enjoyed reading it and if you think it might be useful for someone else then please share it on social media, email or your own website! It really encourages us to write more content and grow the site!

Steve

If you’re interested in reading more about smart light, smart garages and smart homes checkout some of the other houshia categories including:

Smart Lights

Smart Home

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Steve Foster

Suburbanite, tech geek, handy man, automation enthusiast who started blogging about the stuff I do around my home and found he had a knack for it.

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