Patio lights are a common installment for those with a covered patio, but as everyone knows, water and electricity don’t mix. As such, many concerned patio owners are wondering: are patio lights waterproof?
Patio lights designed for outdoor use are waterproof. The Ingress Protection (IP) rating system determines the level of protection a lightbulb has against both liquid and solid objects, so some patio lights are more waterproof than others.
It’s certainly important that our patio spaces are safe from any risk of electrical damage. The rest of this article will walk you through the Ingress Protection rating system to answer the question of whether patio lights are waterproof.
Can Patio Lights Get Wet?
Patio lights are designed to be safe for use, even when wet. Any electrician worth their salt will install the lights safely so that there’s no risk of electric shock, even in the event of a malfunction; however, depending on the IP rating, your patio may be less efficient or less durable over time when it gets wet.
If you’re buying the lights yourself, be on the lookout for a ‘waterproof,’ ‘weather-resistant,’ or ‘suited for wet areas’ written on the box.
If you’re using extension cords to hook up your lights, be sure that they’re rated for the outdoors as well. An electrical circuit is only as good as its most vulnerable component, and you want to make sure you’re exercising caution in the way you set up your patio lights.
The Ingress Protection Rating
The Ingress Protection rating measures the resistance of a lightbulb to liquids like water and solids like dirt or other debris. The higher the rating, the more durable a lightbulb with prove to be when exposed to outdoor settings.
The rating is composed of two numbers, each ranging from a scale of 0 to 6. The first number in the rating determines a bulb’s resistance to solid foreign objects, while the second denotes its resistance to liquids.
IP40
A common LED light, the IP40 is only designed to be used in indoor spaces because it has no water resistance. This light should never be used outdoors unless the light fixture is sealed.
Humid indoor areas are usually fine, and you’ll find a lot of IP40s installed in your typical indoor fixture.
IP54
The IP54 offers a lot of protection from dust, as well as some degree of protection from water. The 4 rating on the water side indicates that the IP54 is suitable for protection against splashing water only. As such, the IP54 is usually an indoor light that can be installed in a kitchen to resist any accidental splashes.
IP64
In the IP64, no solid particles like dust or dirt can affect it. Similarly to the IP54, it doesn’t provide robust protection from the elements, just splashes of water. This is the highest ranking an LED Corn Light Bulb can hope for, since the base of the LED cannot be sealed.
IP65
The IP65 is perfect for both domestic and commercial use, offering protection from both dust and water. Completely resistant to water of any kind, the IP65 is your go-to lightbulb when you’re looking for something on your outdoor patio.
IP67
The IP67 is not only resistant to solids and water produced by weather conditions, but it can also be submerged in water and still be safe to use. As such, the IP67 is the only true waterproof lightbulb.
How to Choose the Right Outdoor Lighting for Your Patio?
You should always be using an I65 for your outdoor spaces. Anything less than that runs a risk of sshort-circuitingover time.
Even with an I65, you’ll want to do your best to protect your lightbulb from the rain. It may be water resistant, but over time, water damage can destroy your lightbulb, adding an unnecessary expense to maintain your patio. As long as you’ve got an I65 rated bulb, you can choose any style that works for you!
Are String Lights Shatterproof or Waterproof?
String lights can certainly be made to be shatterproof and waterproof, but as with any bulb, you should look for writing on the box indicating that they are shatterproof and waterproof.
Shatterproof in this context means that the lights could withstand a drop onto concrete from head height. Waterproof indicates that the lights could last outside in a rainstorm or if covered with water.
Can You Put String Lights on a Patio?
You can certainly put string lights on a patio! If the bulb that came with the lights is IP65 rated, then the strands will be designed as waterproof, too, making it perfectly safe to use strand lights as long as they are suitable for use in wet areas.
Where Can I Find the Best Waterproof Outdoor Lighting for 2022?
The right lighting for you depends on the style of light you want, how you want to install it in your patio space, as well as how you want to decorate your light.
With that being said, Houzz has a great selection of waterproof lights for you to choose from.
There are flush mounts, hanging lights, landscape lighting, floor lamps, string lights, and more for your shopping convenience.
Final Thoughts
In short, patio lights are waterproof as long as you get the right kind. Any light that you buy that’s advertised for use on your patio will be waterproof, and many of them (like lamppost style lights) have the additional casing to protect them from damage.
Most patio lights are IP65 rating, which means that they are highly resistant to both solid and liquid damage.
You could probably leave one of these out in a rainstorm and it would continue to work; however, despite their strong resistance, you should always aim to put your patio light out of harm’s way wherever possible and install it somewhere that’s covered. Putting an uncovered light in the rain can shorten its lifespan and signal an earlier replacement for your outdoor patio light.
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