Yeah, I’ve been there with the plastic bag trick—never lasts long. The weatherproof boxes aren’t pretty, but honestly, they save you money in the long run. I just tuck mine behind a bush and call it good. Not worth stressing over looks when it keeps the lights working.
I hear you on the weatherproof boxes not being much to look at. I had the same debate with myself last year—do I just keep swapping out the plastic bags every time it rains, or bite the bullet and get something more permanent? The thing is, I got tired of running out in the middle of a storm to check if my “system” was holding up. I even tried doubling up the bags and taping them, but water always found a way in.
Not worth stressing over looks when it keeps the lights working.
That’s pretty much where I landed, too. I went with one of those chunky gray boxes and, yeah, it’s not winning any design awards, but it’s tucked behind my grill so no one really sees it. Plus, it’s actually kind of satisfying not worrying about whether the GFCI is gonna trip every time it sprinkles.
Funny enough, my neighbor tried to get clever and used one of those upside-down plastic totes with a hole cut in the side. It worked for a while, but then a squirrel decided to make it home and chewed through the extension cord. Sometimes “creative solutions” just cause more headaches.
Honestly, I think the hassle is worth it if you want your lights to last more than a season. I used to go through a set or two every year because of water damage. Now, it’s been three winters and counting—no issues. The box paid for itself just in not replacing stuff. Not glamorous, but definitely practical.
I’ve been down the “creative” route myself—once tried wrapping the plug connections in cling film and then shoving the whole thing under an old flowerpot. Looked like a science experiment gone wrong, and the next morning I found the pot halfway across the yard. Wind, raccoons, who knows. Either way, the lights were out and I was back to square one.
I finally caved and got one of those weatherproof boxes, too. Not exactly a showpiece, but it’s hidden behind a hydrangea bush, so unless someone’s crawling around in the dirt, nobody’s the wiser. I’ll admit, I miss the days when I could just slap something together and call it good, but after frying two sets of lights and tripping the breaker more times than I care to count, I’m a convert.
Funny how the “ugly” solution ends up being the most peaceful one. At this point, I’d rather have a boring gray box than another midnight dash outside in my slippers.
That’s hilarious about the flowerpot—I tried something similar with a plastic storage container and a bunch of duct tape. Looked like a raccoon-proof vault, but it still leaked when it rained sideways. I agree, the weatherproof box isn’t winning any design awards, but at least I’m not out there at 2am with a flashlight anymore.
Curious—did you find one that actually blends in pretty well, or did you just give up and stick with the standard gray? I’ve seen some “decorative” covers online but they all look kinda cheesy to me.
Honestly, I just stuck with the regular gray box in the end. Tried painting one to match the siding, but it started peeling after a couple months—looked worse than before. The “decorative” ones I saw were either weirdly bulky or had fake rock textures that fooled absolutely no one. At this point, I’d rather have something that actually keeps the plugs dry, even if it’s a bit of an eyesore. Have you seen any that actually look halfway decent?
