Can A Ring Doorbell Get Wet?

Ring Doorbell is water resistant and can get wet from normal rainfall and snow. But they’re not waterproof and shouldn’t be fully submerged in water or drenched with a hose or pressure washer. So be careful when washing the house. I recommend disconnecting the unit or covering it in plastic to keep it dry before you start working. Where you mount the doorbell can help keep it dry. It’s best to keep your Ring device under a protective overhang like a roof, awning or large soffits. They’ll protect the device from rainwater falling from above.

Another way to keep a Ring Doorbell dry is with a Weather Block Mount or Slip On Cover. They provide a small cap on top of the Ring to help block water and sun glare. They work like wearing a baseball cap on a sunny day or in the rain.

An area that may be susceptible to water penetration are the small holes in the back of the Ring where the wires pass through. When I install a Ring I apply some silicone after the wiring is done to help seal the hole.

Ring Doorbells are designed for exterior use. Their internal electrical components are protected by an outer shell that locks and seals tight. I’ve used them on dozens of homes and never had an issue with water penetration. As long as you install them correctly with no exposed wiring they should be fine under normal conditions. But in bad storms with heavy driving rain they could have water problems.

In extreme weather like a hurricane, consider detaching the Ring until the storm is over or cover it tightly with a plastic bag to help keep water out.

What Happens When Ring Doorbells Get Wet?

Ring Doorbells are not waterproof, they’re water resistant. They’re designed for outdoor use and can generally handle normal amounts of rainfall and snow. But they can’t be fully submerged in water. So there’s always a slim possibility water could damage the device if some manages to get in.

When your Ring Doorbell gets wet, let it dry out normally. You don;t have to dry it yourself by hand. The only time I would recommend drying the Ring manually is if water leaves a residue over the camera lens.

An area where water could get into a Ring Doorbell are the small holes in the back where wires pass through. The Ring’s outer shell is very tight and seals out water. But the wire holes still have a little room after the wires are installed.

Here are a few things you can do to protect your Ring from water damage:

Seal the wire holes with a bit of silicone to keep water out.
You could also silicone other seams and small gaps in the device cover.
Install a Weather Blocking Mount to protect it from heavy sun and rain.
Use a slip on Ring cover.
Install the Ring under a roof, awning or large overhanging soffit.

Ring Doorbells have become very popular because of their camera, safety features and user-friendly interface.

I’ve personally installed dozens of Ring Doorbells and never had an issue with water. But if you live in an area that gets heavy rain, you may want to take some extra precautions to seal the unit and protect it from excess water.

Can Rain Mess Up A Ring Doorbell?

Ring Doorbell’s are water resistant, but not waterproof. They’re designed for outdoor use and can get wet from normal amounts of rain and snow. Their internal electrical components are protected by an outer shell that locks tight and seals out water. However, if water gets into the device it could mess things up.

Just like any electronic device, a Ring Doorbell’s internal components can’t get wet. Electricity and water don’t mix. If water gets into the unit it will most likely stop working completely or could start to malfunction.

When electrical components like circuit boards get wet while powered, they short. Shorting are small power surges that damage tiny wires, soldering and small electrical components. If this happens the Ring could be permanently damaged.

In some cases, once the Ring dries out it could start working properly again.

If water gets into your Ring Doorbell, turn off the power immediately. Remove the unit from the wall and wiring and allow it to dry out completely. Don’t touch the internal components, just let them air dry naturally.

Once the device is dry, reinstall it. If no permanent damage is done it should start working normally. But if not, contact Ring. Your unit may still be under warranty.

How Do You Get Water Out Of A Ring Doorbell?

If water gets into your Ring Doorbell, shut off the power immediately. Water and electrical components don’t mix.

Once the power is off, remove the doorbell from the wall mount and disconnect the wiring.

Bring the doorbell inside and remove the outer shell. This will expose some of the internal components. Let the Ring sit in the open air. Any moisture inside will evaporate naturally over time. Don’t wipe the Ring with a towel or cloth. Just let it dry out on its own. You could damage an electrical component and do more damage than the water.

Once the Ring is completely dry, put the cover back on and reinstall it. If the water didn’t do any damage the Ring should work normally. If it doesn’t work contact Ring. Your unit may still be under warranty.

Try to find out how and where the water got into your Ring. Check the small holes in the back where the doorbell wires are installed. Whenever I install a Ring I squeeze some silicone into the holes after I install the wires.

Check the Ring’s location. They can handle normal amounts of rain. But if a roof line or gutter is dumping water on top of them they could get overwhelmed.

The most likely cause of water damage is improper installation. Make sure the outer shell is properly sealed and tight.

How Do I Stop The Rain On My Ring Doorbell?

If you want to stop the rain from falling on your Ring Doorbell, you have to cover it from above. However, this will only stop falling rainwater and not driven rain that falls sideways due to heavy winds. This is the type of rain that could most likely damage the doorbell.

Ring Doorbells are not waterproof, they’re water resistant. They’re designed for outdoor use and have features designed to safeguard them from rain and snow. But they can’t be fully submerged in water. So there’s always a small possibility water could damage the device if some gets in.

Here are a few things you can do to stop the rain on your Ring Doorbell:

Seal the wire holes with some silicone to keep water out.
You could also silicone other seams and small gaps in the Ring’s cover.
Install a Weather Blocking Mount to protect it from heavy sun and rain.
Use a slip on Ring cover.
Install the Ring under a roof, awning or large overhanging soffit.

The best ways to stop rain from falling on your Ring is to cover it from above and seal the unit with a little silicone in case there’s driving rain.

How Do I Cover My Ring Doorbell?

There are a few good ways to cover a Ring Doorbell to protect it from rainwater and getting wet.

Weather Blocking Mount: Ring Doorbell Weather Blocking Mounts are installed behind the doorbell. They have a small cap that sits on top of the devise to block rain and sun glare. The effect is similar to wearing a baseball cap on a sunny or rainy day.

Slip On Ring Cover: Ring Doorbell Slip On Covers work just like a Weather Block Mount except that they slip on after the doorbell is installed and not before. They’re great if you already have a Ring and don’t want to disconnect it to install the mount. They’re also less permanent so if you don’t like it just slip it off.

Overhang: There are 2 main types of overhangs that can protect the Ring from water, a roof and a soffit. Soffits are a part of your home’s roof framing and hard to add if your home doesn’t already have them. But you could build a small roof over the door to protect the ring, and people, from rain.

Awning: An awning is a semi-permanent way to protect the ring when it rains. Just make sure not to roll it out in heavy rain. I’ve found awnings work best when you install a Ring on the back door.

Keep in mind that covering your Ring Doorbell will protect it from rain falling from above but not from sideways rain which can happen in high winds. If a bad storm is coming with heavy driving rain you can cover the doorbell tightly with a plastic bag. Make sure there are no penetrations and that water drains down and away from the Ring.

Use some waterproof tape or string to secure the bag.

Can Doorbell Wires Get Wet?

Doorbell wires are low voltage and encased in a protective covering. If some moisture gets onto the outer covering it won’t effect the doorbell or your electrical system. However, if the metal wires inside the outer covering get wet, it will create a short. The metal inner part of the doorbell wire is what carries electricity. And electricity and water don’t mix. If this happens you’ll most likely trip a breaker and could damage the doorbell.

Some older doorbells ran on 110v power just like a regular outlet or switch. This is a lot more power than a modern doorbell wire. If the inner part of the wire gets wet you should trip a breaker. This could potentially damage the doorbell’s electrical system.

When electrical wires get wet and trip a breaker there’s always a small chance of fire. Make sure to do everything you can to keep wiring dry. This even includes low voltage doorbell wiring.

Is Ring Doorbell 2 Waterproof?

Ring Doorbell 2 is water resistant and can get wet from normal rainfall and snow. But it’s not waterproof and shouldn’t be fully submerged in water or drenched with a hose or pressure washer.

Be careful when washing the house. I recommend disconnecting the unit or covering it in plastic to keep it dry before you start working.

Where you mount a Ring Doorbell 2 can help keep it dry. It’s best to keep your Ring device under a protective overhang like a roof, awning or large soffits if you can. They’ll protect the unit from rainwater falling from above.

Ring Doorbell 2 is designed for exterior use. Its internal electrical components are protected by an outer shell that locks and seals tight. I’ve used Ring Doorbells on dozens of homes and never had an issue with water penetration. As long as you install them correctly with no exposed wiring they should be fine.

Is Ring Doorbell 3 Waterproof?

Ring Doorbell 3 is water resistant and can get wet from normal rainfall and snow. But it’s not waterproof and shouldn’t be fully submerged in water or drenched with a hose or pressure washer.

Be careful when washing the house. I recommend disconnecting the unit or covering it in plastic to keep it dry before you start working.

Where you mount a Ring Doorbell 3 can help keep it dry. It’s best to keep your Ring device under a protective overhang like a roof, awning or large soffits if you can. They’ll protect the unit from rainwater falling from above.

Ring Doorbell 3 is designed for exterior use. Its internal electrical components are protected by an outer shell that locks and seals tight. I’ve used Ring Doorbells on dozens of homes and never had an issue with water penetration. I’ve also upgraded many homes from a Ring Doorbell 2 to a 3. As long as you install them correctly with no exposed wiring they should be fine.

Summary: Can A Ring Doorbell Get Wet?

In extreme weather like a hurricane, consider detaching the Ring until the storm is over or cover it tightly with a plastic bag to help keep water out.

If you have any questions about a Ring Doorbell, email any time.