I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve tried the “creative” fixes myself—once wrapped a whole extension cord in plastic wrap and zip ties, thinking I was a genius. Fast forward two weeks, and the thing looked like a science experiment gone wrong, plus it still let water in. Ended up with tripped breakers and a soggy mess.
Honestly, I think there’s something to be said for just getting the right weatherproof enclosures or covers. They’re not always pretty—some of those big rubber plug covers look like something from a submarine—but at least you’re not waking up to half your lights dead after a rainstorm.
It’s tempting to cut corners, especially when you just want to get the backyard looking festive for a party or whatever. But yeah, those “temporary” hacks have a sneaky way of becoming permanent... until they fail at the worst possible moment. At this point, I’d rather deal with ugly but safe than risk another electrical adventure.
Those submarine-looking covers might not win any style awards, but they really do the job. I’ve seen folks try all sorts of “innovative” ways to keep plugs dry—plastic bags, upside-down buckets, you name it. Nine times outta ten, water finds a way in anyway. I get wanting a quick fix, but honestly, the peace of mind from proper weatherproofing is worth it. Last thing anyone needs is a backyard light show turning into a breaker-tripping fiasco... or worse. Sometimes ugly and functional beats clever and risky.
Funny timing—I just ran into this with a flip last fall. The previous owner had strung lights all over the pergola using, I kid you not, bread bags and duct tape to “weatherproof” the plugs. Looked like a science experiment gone wrong. I swapped in those chunky covers, and yeah, not winning any design points, but at least I stopped worrying every time it rained. Curious—has anyone actually found a low-profile cover that doesn’t look like a mini torpedo? Or is ugly just the price of safety here?
Or is ugly just the price of safety here?
I’ve wondered the same thing. Has anyone tried those “weatherproof” plug wraps that look more like shrink tubing? I saw them online but not sure if they’re actually safe or just another gimmick. Do they hold up in real rain, or is it just back to the torpedo covers?
I’ve actually tried those shrink-tube style wraps, and honestly, I’m not convinced they’re much better than the old-school torpedo covers. They look a bit sleeker, sure, but I found them kind of fiddly to get on right—especially if your plugs aren’t exactly the same size as what the wrap expects. In my case, there was still a tiny gap at the end, which made me nervous during a heavy rain.
I get wanting something less bulky and ugly than the big green covers (my patio looked like it was dotted with little submarines), but at least those things are tried and true. The shrink wraps might work for light mist or if your plugs are under an eave, but I wouldn’t trust them for full exposure. Maybe I’m just paranoid after seeing water get into a supposedly “weatherproof” outlet box last year... Not worth risking a short or worse just for aesthetics, in my book.
