Alexandra Ramirez
That was our top criteria for finding the best indoor outdoor thermometer.
The La Crosse Technology Digital thermometer has a wireless remote and a clock along with temperature readings and is our top overall choice.
1. La Crosse 9160U
Best Overall Indoor Outdoor Thermometer
5/5 Product Rating
That makes it incredibly easy to take this thermometer on the go to anywhere that you need it. Solidly constructed and made from durable materials, this thermometer is the perfect solution for all of your temperature gauging needs. It’s also designed in a sophisticated fashion, so it’s going to look great wherever you place it, both indoors and outdoors. All in all, this is a fantastic thermometer that is sure to last you for years to come.
– Sarah Lytle
2. AcuRite 00611A3
Best Indoor Outdoor Thermometer for Humidity
4.9/5 Product Rating
This is really one of the best thermometers on the market, and customers universally approve of its smart design and solid construction. It’s made from the highest quality materials, so you can be guaranteed that this thermometer is going to last you for years to come. Also, it’s large yet lightweight construction makes it easy to take this thermometer on the go to anywhere you need to place it.
– Sarah Lytle
3. Ambient 04
Best Budget Indoor Outdoor Thermometer
4.7/5 Product Rating
The remote also comes with a mounting hole so that you can hang it outside or on a wall for convenient placement. The display has a desk stand or wall mount so that it can also be conveniently placed inside for easy readings. It’s suggested that you place the display near the front door so that you can get a good temperature reading right before you go outside. It’s nice to know that you can get a good sense of the weather right before stepping outside, and this thermometer from Ambient Weather helps you to do just that.
– Sarah Lytle
Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Buying Guide
What is a Thermometer?
Owning an indoor outdoor thermometer or weather station allows you to know what the conditions are like outside your home before you leave. The equipment is designed to transmit this information to a receiver, and even over the internet if you have the right setup.
Lets take a look in this buyer’s guide at some of the features that might be most appealing for you in your search for the perfect thermometer. There are a lot of them out there to choose from, so selecting the correct one for your home comes down to knowing how you’re going to use it and what kind of weather you usually experience in your town.
Features
Not only do indoor outdoor thermometers show temperature, but some of them even have the ability to read humidity and barometric pressure as well. You can get these in either digital or analog models, and the digital units are going to be slightly more expensive and require batteries. Most thermometers are going to use a cable that has a sensor on the end of it, and this will detect the outdoor temperature. Keep in mind that some more expensive models can use wireless technology, and this means that no cord is required between the thermometer and the sensor unit.
Some models will allow you to add an extra outdoor sensor, for even more convenience. You should keep in mind that thermometers that are marked as ‘indoor outdoor’ are sometimes merely waterproof, but they’re not necessarily capable of showing indoor and outdoor temperatures at the same time. They’re simply fit to be used outdoors or indoors.
Weather Station Features
Should you want to be able to monitor conditions that aren’t just temperature, such as dew point or wind speed, then you need a home weather station. These models give you a much more comprehensive reading of the conditions outside, however they are a bit more expensive and complicated. Some special features that you get on a home weather station are UV index sensor, barometric pressure sensor, or the ability to give short-range weather forecasts.
These units are also able to calculate measurements like wind chill factor and heat index. If you want the most comprehensive gauge of what the weather is like outside, then a weather station is definitely going to be the right choice for your home.
Reporting
If you plan on reporting weather conditions using your telephone or with manual entry onto a website, then an indoor outdoor thermometer is going to be sufficient for you. However, if you’d like to transmit weather data over the internet automatically, then you’re going to need to invest in a home weather station, and then you need to purchase the appropriate software. Take for example the popular website wunderground.com. There you can upload weather conditions using free weather software on your computer. It’s important to keep in mind that if you plan on reporting weather you want to make sure that your computer is up to date with the specific system requirements.
Price Considerations
Most indoor outdoor thermometers are quite affordable, only setting you back about $10-$25 a pop. Home weather stations are going to range in price dependent upon their features, but they can run up to several hundred dollars, and are able to connect to your computer. There are also some models that fall in between these two categories, and the price will reflect this. You can find high quality thermometers or weather stations at a number of local stores, such as Radio Shack or Sears, but it’s also possible to purchase one online at a number of different websites.
Glass Thermometers
An indoor outdoor thermometer sometimes uses a conventional liquid-in-glass technology, where the stem of the device is connected to a bulb by a flexible or semi-rigid capillary. You’ll find the temperature scale marked on the stem, however the temperature is actually being measured by the bulb. This is the most traditional kind of thermometer, however most modern devices use technology that is more sophisticated.
Using this kind of system, it’s difficult to get ambient corrections. That means that the traditional thermometer is not as accurate as the modern precision thermometer. But, this is a great low-cost option that you can still place outside for mostly accurate readings. The liquid solution that you’ll often find in this kind of thermometer is toluene and alcohol. These have large temperature coefficients of expansion, and both of these liquids will not freeze when temperatures drop quite low. If you simply want to have a thermometer for your garden or yard, then this is a good choice, however, this guide advocates that you buy something more sophisticated that will transmit temperature reading inside of your home, so that you know the climate before you step outside.
Electronic Thermometers
All of the top rated thermometers mentioned above are electronic thermometers. These represent the latest technology and will give you the most accurate reading. Wireless indoor outdoor thermometers use sensors to gauge the temperature, then this reading is sent to a receiver within your home. Many thermometers on the market today are totally wireless, and they require no physical connection of any kind outside of your home. Many of these are battery operated, so keep in mind that you need to replace these.
Usage
The main purpose for purchasing an indoor outdoor thermometer is to give you an accurate outdoor temperature reading that is then transmitted into the building. This removes the need for you to go outside to get a temperature reading. These kinds of thermometers are great for building maintenance workers who will use the thermometer to get a quick reading of the air outside or inside of a building.
Conclusion
Owning an indoor outdoor thermometer is a fantastic way of knowing what the temperature outside is before you step through your door. We all know that weather reports on our phones aren’t always accurate, so it’s nice to be able to know what the exact climate is like right around your house. These thermometers are fairly cheap, so adding one to your home is not a big deal. They offer great convenience when it comes to knowing what the weather is like and then being able to dress appropriately. When it comes to finding the right one for your home, it’s all about understanding your options. We highlighted the various features that you should look out for when purchasing a thermometer, so understand what it is that you’re interested in before you shop.
Also, keep in mind that reading reviews online is a fantastic way to find a great thermometer. By doing this, you can get a sense of what customers have really come to value, and what has worked for most people. Thermometers are sophisticated devices, but they’re also quite simple. So, it’s easy to get the hang of how to use and maintain a thermometer around your home. Do be sure to read all the instructions in the owner’s manual before you operate your thermometer, so that you can get the most accurate reading possible. Lastly, ask your friends and neighbors what model they prefer as this will help to further guide you in your quest.
Resources
- https://lacrossetechnology.com/9160/index.php
- http://www.acurite.com/digital-indoor-outdoor-temperature
- http://www.ambientweather.com/amws04white.html
