I was planning on getting a cheap tv to put outside on the patio and get a weather bag to put on it when not in use. Googling everything says basically don't do that and you might get a year out of it. We don't have a covered patio so there would be some exposure to rain though it would be under the eves. Would a bag be enough or would I just be throwing money down the drain?

Same as Doc here. We've gotten a handful of years out of the TVs we've put outside. Usually crappy or out of box versions with minimal protection.

I've had tvs last years outside but they were under a patio. I've never done one in all the elements.

I made a hanger for the wall that easily attaches to back of tv so I can take it down when I'm not using it. Just unplug and take inside with me when I'm done. Doesn't take any longer than putting the bag on.

Kenneth_2003 said:

---

Get a mount that's easy to pull down and take inside at the end of the night or next morning?

Also what way are we looking here? Good chance won't be able to see a darn thing depending on sun angle

---

There's not really a good spot anywhere else outside unfortunately.

I have had one in the same spot for 5 years. No bag. No issue.

My Sony has been in a similar spot, only protected by the soffit overhang, for 4 years. No bag but I plan on building a cabinet for it this spring.

A possible idea, get a rail system you can mount, then mount an extra rail in the garage. Really bad weather comes and you can move it there.

Our patio faces south east so is normally protected from blowing rain and snow. We live in East Dallas.

https://www.housemixblog.com/2021/02/23/diy-hidden-tv-art-frame/

I'd consider a projector and a screen for your spot. You could get a much larger screen to fill the space and avoid the weather damage. A bag will protect a TV, but you'll have to have it on there 24/7 unless you're watching it. It's much more exposed than just being on a covered porch.

$250 50" TCL Roku TV underneath our patio going on 5 years now. It is not exposed to the elements but i do cover it in the winter and when we are away (birds will come sit on it and crap it up).

I would do some homework on how easy/difficult the cover is to remove. Unfortunately for me, I need a small ladder and its awkward to remove and a PITA. Of course I haven't just bought a new one...which might just solve part of the problem.

being that it would be more open than on a patio, I would go with a slip cover to cover it when not in use

I'll echo the other folks, we have ours on an articulating arm mount that we can squish fairly flat under the soffit and leave it covered and unplugged when not in use.

We have had the same Black Friday Special TV for 18 months or so and still works great, ours is mounted on the south side of our house so it is fairly blocked from blowing rain.

ETA, this is very similar to the mount we use: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-full-motion-tv-wall-mount-for-most-19-50-tvs-black/6451094.p?skuId=6451094

I have an inside TV under my pool cabana. Used to panic about covering it when big storms were coming through. First time we forgot about that and it got wet in the blowing rain, I stopped worrying about it.

I thought for sure last years -2 degrees a couple nights in Dallas were going to do it in. Nope, suckers still trucking.

Still going strong after three years. Now. If that was my TV there fairly exposed Id build a cedar box with some doors to cover it. But I like to build stuff anyways.

I have a Black Friday TV from 2 years ago in this exact same setup. I bought one of these covers since rolling up a flap looked easier than taking the whole thing off and back on again:

https://www.amazon.com/Lish-Outdoor-Cover-Weatherproof-Material/dp/B08H249WVT?th=1

Just make sure the mount is solidly attached. My TV also supports bluetooth, so I use a portable speaker instead of the ones built in to the TV.

Looks great!