If you’re going to be spending time outside this summer, you probably want to have all the comforts and amenities that you would normally have inside. On a hot day, that might mean plugging in fans or having a docking station that can charge your devices while also playing music.
Whatever the case, you probably have outdoor sockets installed somewhere on your property. If you don’t, there are a few reasons why you need to have outdoor sockets so that you can enjoy your time outside or keep things neat and trimmed in the garden.
They are great for running power or a wifi extender to external buildings or summer houses, or even from working on outside seating. You can use them for any cable powered garden equipment like lawnmowers, pressure washer or hedge trimmers.
Safety
There’s a pretty good chance that you have noticed that the outdoor sockets look a bit different than the ones installed throughout the house. There’s a reason that these sockets are built differently and the biggest reason is safety and water protection.
If you didn’t have sockets outside, you’d have to run extension cables from somewhere in the house. That’s a big no-no for a lot of reasons, so make sure that you install an outdoor socket if your home doesn’t have one already. It’s not only more convenient but prevents tripping, cables from being cut, and all the risks associated with running extension cords.
Weatherproof
Maybe the biggest thing to consider when it comes to outdoor switches versus the ones you would find in the house is that the outdoor kind is built with the weather in mind. If you spilled water into a socket in your home, there’s a decent chance that it would create an electrical shortage. You don’t want to mess with electricity if you can help it and that’s a dangerous situation to be in.
Outdoor sockets are built to safely handle moisture in any climate. Whether it be snow, ice, or rain, you don’t have to worry about an electrical shortage when you use those outlets. Though it is never ideal to get water directly into the sockets, the outdoor version is built to keep that moisture at bay for optimal safety when in use or not.
Socket Placement is Important
Though outdoor sockets are quite common now, especially in modern builds, there’s a chance that your home may not have one. If that is the case, you can opt to install one yourself or call a local electrician and have them do the installation. If you choose to do it on your own, there are important factors to consider.
Should you handle the installation of an outdoor plug socket, make sure that you are installing it adjacent to one of your indoor sockets. While this sounds pretty complicated, it is actually a rather simple process as far as getting the proper location. Just drill through the back of an existing socket so that the outside socket sits adjacent to that one.
Greater Convenience
At the end of the day, people have outdoor sockets for convenience. You will also find out pretty quickly that you use those sockets far more than you realize. For families, it can mean plugging in blowers to fill bounce houses, slides, and more. During the holidays, plugging in lights is commonplace, which means you need sockets to accommodate.
Outdoor sockets also make it a lot easier to host. If you have one located near a seating area, plugging in stereos, fans, and even televisions becomes possible to make the area as comfortable as possible. Take the time to scope your property and know where the different plugs are. Before long, you will find yourself using them more often and being glad that you don’t have to attempt to run expensive, cumbersome extension cords.
