Tips for Maintaining Your Outdoor Clock

Outdoor clocks are a classy and unique touch to any porch or patio. Special designs and themes may compliment your garden and other lawn decorations, creating a tasteful and attractive appearance. Unfortunately, many clocks marketed for outdoor use do not have the ability to stand up to various weather conditions such as rain, humidity, and temperature change.

Checking a few key areas and asking yourself questions when purchasing an outdoor clock will generally allow you to see whether or not this clock is prepared for ongoing outdoor use:

What kind of material is this clock made of? Is this material protected by a weather-resistant top coat?

Does the clock feature proper hardware for various methods of hanging? If the clock only features a small space in which is could be hung on a nail, it is probably not designed for outdoor use.

Are the batteries, wiring, and mechanics of the clock well-protected? Most true outdoor clocks feature heavy or extensive covering on the back side or some sort of sealant protecting the important mechanical parts.

If you purchase a clock advertised for outdoor use which lacks some of these key components, it is possible that the clock can still be used outdoors – with a little work. Coating the clock with a weather-resistant spray or clear paint, purchasing additional hanging hardware, and applying a rubber or latex sealant to protect the mechanics is generally enough to prepare most clocks for outdoors use.

Your outdoor clock will require occasional maintenance, cleaning, and repair. It is important to understand that the mechanics of this clock do not vary of that of other clocks. An outdoor clock generally is not any tougher than an indoor clock, it simply features a few forms of additional protection.

Broken glass, dead and leaking batteries, and minor malfunctions can typically be resolved simply by visiting your local hardware store. In major cases of malfunction, the majority of outdoor clock motors can easily be replaced with the mechanic components of another clock close in size. Keeping any literature and packaging when purchasing a clock is key to easily resolving most technical issues.

Like any other outdoor decoration or accessory, outdoor clocks require regular cleaning. Glass surfaces can easily be cleaned by using common household products such as Windex or other glass cleaners. However, cleaning weather-resistant materials can be somewhat tricky. The majority of weather resistant materials should not be cleaned with anything stronger than a vinegar and water solution (one part vinegar to five parts water). It is important to keep dirt and debris away from the mechanics of your clock, as this may cause future malfunction. Small yet gentle scrubbing brushes, cloths, or pads are the best method of reaching all of the tiny parts of your outdoor clock without interfering with function.

Frequency of cleaning depends greatly upon current weather conditions and location of the outdoor clock. Clocks near water and/or experiencing humid weather may require more frequent cleaning due to likeliness of developing mold.

When properly protected, maintained, cleaned, and repaired, true outdoor clocks may last for several years.

Source:
Experience