Spring Cleaning: Weather Station Maintenance Tips
This article was originally published in 2018. We updated it March of 2021 to include cleaning tips for new products.
I welcome spring with my spring cleaning tasks around the house, including my backyard weather station maintenance! Especially after winter storms with strong winds and heavy rainfall, I like to go take a peek at the status of my weather station. I check to see if the anemometer made it through the winter unharmed with no cracks and can spin freely, and I also make sure the rain bucket is clear of leaves, bugs and spiders, and even bird poo! Whether you have the AcuRite Iris™ (5-in-1) or AcuRite Atlas®, the below tips and tricks will help you measure your true backyard weather conditions, which can be seen in your My AcuRite® app.
Check Rain Bucket
Is your rain gauge reporting 0 inches of rain when it has been raining all day? If so, your rain gauge may be clogged! It is recommended to rinse it out a few times with warm, soapy water to remove all the gunk inside.
To eliminate any erroneous rainfall measurements to your My AcuRite dashboard, just simply remove the batteries from the weather station before cleaning out the system (or the rain gauge if you have the stand alone unit). Without the batteries, the unit will not transmit any data to the Access so erroneous rainfall data will not transfer to your My AcuRite dashboard or graphs.
Ensure Accurate Wind Information
Make sure your wind speed and direction measurements are accurate by ensuring your cup anemometer and wind vane are able to spin freely. Dirt or dust can get in and disrupt the bearings, and you can fix this by cleaning the sensor with warm water. Additionally, ice can freeze the anemometer and stop it from spinning freely, so also make sure to check the station after winter storms!
If any parts are cracked or broken, or not spinning freely, you can order new wind cups or wind vane for your AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) directly from AcuRite. If there was major damage this winter, then you may want to order a new wind cup assembly or upgrade to the Pro version.
The anemometer on the Atlas requires different parts than the AcuRite Iris (5-in-1). Check all available AcuRite Atlas replacement parts if any parts are broken, or if you just want to add a new feature like lightning sensor or wind extension!
Clean Solar Panels
Your solar panels must be cleaned regularly to maintain highest functionality possible. When the photovoltaics are dirty or dusty, the station is not receiving maximum power available. Warm water and soap will do the trick. Also, for highest efficiency the solar panel should face due south in the northern hemisphere (north in the southern hemisphere).
Our Advice? Clean the entire unit, whether you have a AcuRite Iris (5-in-1) or an AcuRite Atlas!
Simply clean off the entire unit using a rag and warm soapy water. This will clear bugs, spiders, and spider webs away from any inlet areas in the solar radiation shield for more realistic temperature and humidity measurements. It is recommended to clean your weather station at least twice a year, so you'll likely hear from me again in the fall reminding you to go clean your weather station!
With the additional sensors on the AcuRite Atlas, you can start to track the longer days. Watch the light intensity and hours of daylight increase as we approach the summer solstice, and watch the UV Index so you can stay ahead of potential sunburns!
Bonus Tip! Optional Solar Radiation Shield
When outside temperature and humidity sensors are placed in direct sunlight, they perform best with a radiation shield. By shading the sensor from the sun, it reports more accurate temperature and humidity readings by measuring the free-flow of ambient air. The same goes for our lightning sensor, which also measures temperature and humidity. Inspect and clean the radiation shield regularly; it’s a great place for bugs, spiders, and cobwebs to hide.
Good luck and happy spring!
March 21, 2021
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Comments
April 13, 2018 at 4:02 PM
Question, with the spring cleaning is it suggested to open up the 5 in 1 and clean it out as well to make sure no bugs got inside?
April 13, 2018 at 4:21 PM
Yes, that's a good point. If you feel comfortable opening up the unit from the bottom with a long screwdriver to reach those deep screws, then go ahead and open it up to clean out any bugs, leaves, etc. Just be sure to not adjust the rain calibration screws which are also on the bottom of the unit.
April 13, 2018 at 7:35 PM
Another thing to do when it is open is to add a couple of moth balls held in place with some duct tape to keep the spiders out. It does work!
April 13, 2018 at 7:35 PM
I had really bad problems with spiders inside mine and did the moth ball trick which works for maybe a month. I came up with the bright idea to use a small piece of the dogs flee collar, walla at least a yrs protection+. I use a piece about 2-3" long. It doesn't have to be taped in or anything, it will stay in place.
September 1, 2018 at 3:07 PM
Had a few sprinkles the other day and wondered why the rain gauge didn't register anything. I opened up the unit and found two wasp nests inside with wasps! What a surprise.
September 26, 2018 at 10:51 AM
I live in the northeast so I am concerned about freezing temps.Will the mechanics function properly after freezing?
September 26, 2018 at 11:49 AM
Yep, the 5-in-1 weather station functions from -40 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit; -40 to 70 degrees Celsius. Specs are defined here: https://www.acurite.com/pro-5-in-1-weather-station-with-high-definition-display-and-my-acurite-remote-monitoring.html
June 16, 2019 at 1:35 PM
Rain gauge was not working. Changed the battery first....nope. Took it apart like directions said. Spider with web and eggs were keeping the float from moving. Cleaned it out, put it together, works!
June 17, 2019 at 3:39 PM
We are happy to hear that you were able to get your rain gauge working again!
June 24, 2019 at 6:04 PM
My anemometer doesn’t accurately record major wind gusts. I know we’ve had gusts up to 70mph but my record gust is 22. I’m going to try cleaning it out like suggested above. Any other ideas?
June 24, 2019 at 6:04 PM
I'm a firm believer that of all the elements the 5 in 1 or Atlas measures, the wind speed and direction has to be the most challenging when comparing data with official NWS (such as the nearest airport). Wind speed readings from official NWS has their equipment in wide open spaces and usually at their standard 33ft elevation from ground level. If you have a 5 in 1 or Atlas in your backyard and live in a sub-division, you are likely to have obstructions such as trees, housing, etc. to block/reflect the wind causing wind speed to be lower and wind direction to be more variable than compared to the NWS.
June 26, 2019 at 10:29 AM
Make sure that your wind cups are spinning freely and that your sensor is in a location without any obstructions near by. Please reach out to our support team if you need further assistance.
July 2, 2019 at 11:08 PM
Watched a bird land on the rain gauge funnel. Every time the windvane swung and hit him he would jump and re-land. Obviously used to it. Checked the rain funnel and results are in the picture. No wonder light rain would not register! Now trying to figure out a good way to block birds from landing on the funnel. sigh.
October 12, 2019 at 8:17 PM
Rain gauge was not working. Cleaned it of wasp
best and spider webs, buckets work but still not registering any rain fall.
What else can I do?
Thanks in advance.
October 14, 2019 at 4:02 PM
You may need to perform a hard reset with the display unit in order to get the rainfall feature to function again. Please follow the steps carefully as the order is crucial to the success of the reset.
You would want to ensure the following first:
1. Verify that the A-B-C switch in the battery compartments of both the display and sensor are set to the same letter. You may choose A, B or C; but both units must match to sync up.
2. Relocate the display unit and/or the 5-in-1 sensor. Under optimal conditions, the units can be located up to 330 ft (100 m) of each other.
3. Units should be placed at least 3 feet (.9 m) away from electronics that may interfere with wireless communication (such as TVs, microwaves, computers, etc).
4. Use standard alkaline batteries. We do not recommend using heavy-duty, lithium, high energy, or rechargeable batteries.
Hard Reset:
1. Bring both the sensor and display units together and power down by removing all batteries from each and/or removing the power cord.
2. Change the A-B-C switch on both units to a new, matching channel.
3. Reinstall the batteries in the outdoor sensor.
4. Reinstall batteries and/or power cord into the display unit.
5. Let the units sit within a couple of feet of each other for approximately 5 minutes or until you see a solid sensor signal.
If this does not correct the issue, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request.
March 13, 2020 at 2:37 AM
We live in the southern hemisphere. Therefore the solar panels have to face north. As a result, the wind directions are incorrect. Is there any way to change the settings.
March 13, 2020 at 9:12 AM
Absolutely! Depending on the model of sensor that you have, there are procedures for reversing the wind vane so that it will read direction correctly in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you have a 5-in-1 sensor:
1. Pull off the wind vane, located on the bottom of the sensor. This will require some force to "pop" it off.
2. Observe the hole in the wind vane (where it attaches to the metal shaft on the 5-in-1 sensor) and notice that it is not a perfectly round hole. Mark the location of the flat spot on the hole in the wind vane.
3. Drill out, or otherwise round out the flat spot in the hole so that it becomes a perfectly round hole in the wind vane. DO NOT enlarge the hole, simply round it out.
4. Line up the hole of the wind vane with the metal shaft on the 5-in-1 sensor, but use your marking on the flat spot (from step 2) to line up the wind vane facing the OPPOSITE way from how it was originally designed. Press the wind vane firmly and carefully on the metal shaft of the 5-in-1 sensor.
The 5-in-1 sensor is now ready for use in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you have the Atlas sensor:
1. In the battery compartment of the outdoor device, locate and press the calibration button. The red LED starts flashing rapidly.
2. Point the wind vane to north. You may need a compass to find the proper north orientation.
3. While holding the vane facing north, press the calibration button in the battery compartment again. The LED will stop flashing rapidly. Wind direction information will now use the new orientation.
If you have further questions, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.
March 23, 2020 at 8:27 PM
I read where it is recommended to also spray the weather station with a spray on wax to protect the plastic. Do you still recommend this?
March 24, 2020 at 8:31 AM
Yes, we do recommend using car wax or cooking spray on the exterior of the outdoor sensor, however, its purpose is to help snow to slip off and prevent it from building up on the sensor. This won't necessarily protect the sensor, in fact, it may even discolor it slightly.
April 20, 2020 at 10:47 AM
To lubricate the anemometer, we recommend using WD-40, graphite powder, or a similar product.
June 19, 2020 at 10:01 AM
Hi, looks nice. How can grab a home weather station in India. Do you ship it to india? or do you have local distributors here? thank you
June 22, 2020 at 6:02 PM
We are only able to ship within the US and Canada at this time. You may be able to purchase our products from one of our authorized retailers in your area! Here is a list of our retailers: https://www.acurite.com/retailers
August 25, 2020 at 2:53 PM
I have wasps inside the unit that are preventing rainfall measurements. Can I spray wasp killer up underneath to kill wasps before cleaning it out? or will this damage sensors?
August 26, 2020 at 10:08 AM
When using insect spray in the sensor you will need to make sure that you do not spray any of the electronic components. If you are able, we recommend opening the sensor before spraying so that you can see these components and avoid damaging them.
November 8, 2020 at 3:22 PM
Mine is noisy & rain readings are wrong. Before I take it down, will cleaning the inside correct the noisiness?
November 9, 2020 at 1:26 PM
There may be some debris in the path of the aspirating fan causing the noise. We recommend using the steps in the following link to access and inspect the aspirating fan:
https://support.acurite.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009127133-AcuRite-Iris-5-in-1-Temperature-Reading-Too-High-
Please feel free to reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website for further assistance!
January 2, 2021 at 9:16 AM
My weather station emits a steady, rapid clicking sound. The rapidity of the clicking is constant, regardless of wind speed. Any ideas?
January 2, 2021 at 11:48 AM
This sound is most likely coming from the aspirating fan that is powered by the solar panels. Some debris may have shifted into the path of the fan blades causing the noise. I recommend using the steps in the following link to access and inspect the aspirating fan.
https://support.acurite.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009127133-AcuRite-Iris-5-in-1-Temperature-Reading-Too-High-
For further assistance, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.
March 5, 2021 at 9:03 AM
The solar panels on my 5-in-1 seem to be opaque and a film is peeling off. I’ve tried cleaning them with soap and water but that doesn’t have any effect. I think they are not putting out any energy as the batteries are draining quickly. Can the solar panels be replaced?
March 8, 2021 at 3:09 PM
Yes, the wind assembly which includes the solar panels, can be replaced. However, since the solar panels only power the aspirating fan, they are most likely not affecting your battery life.
Here are links to the replacement wind assemblies for your convenience:
Single solar panel: https://www.acurite.com/replacement-5-in-1-sensor-assembly-wind-cups-5n1wcbsa.html
Dual solar panels: https://www.acurite.com/pro-plus-upgrade-for-5-in-1-weather-sensor.html
For assistance with the battery life issue, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.
March 5, 2021 at 10:08 AM
As someone who lives in a northern climate (Canada), with lots of snow and sub freezing temperatures for 4-5 months of the year, are there any special precautions/prep/maintenance that should be performed? I own an Atlas.
March 8, 2021 at 3:12 PM
The AcuRite Atlas sensor is designed to remain outdoors all year long and withstand these types of conditions. One thing that you may want to do is spray the exterior of the sensor with cooking or car wax spray to help the snow slip off and not build up on the sensor.
March 5, 2021 at 11:02 AM
We live on the coast in central Oregon. Our 5 in 1 is subject to a lot of salty air from the sea. I have replaced the 5 in 1 twice due to the wind components rusting. I would suggest you replace those parts with a good quality stainless shaft and fittings.
March 8, 2021 at 3:14 PM
Thank you for your feedback, we will certainly pass it along to the appropriate parties!
March 5, 2021 at 5:40 PM
My temperature reading is way off on a sunny day and about right in the evening and on a cloudy day. Doesn't appear to have any debris internally and the batteries have been changed. Any suggestions other than get a replacement unit?
March 8, 2021 at 3:18 PM
It sounds like there may be an issue with your aspirating fan! We recommend reviewing the suggestions in the following link to make sure that your aspirating fan is still operating properly.
https://support.acurite.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009127133-AcuRite-Iris-5-in-1-Temperature-Reading-Too-High-
Please feel free to reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website for further assistance.
March 11, 2021 at 6:41 PM
Is there any way to post edit the MyAcurite data? Right around 6AM this morning my rain gauge recorded a .65 inch data anomaly. It was not raining and no one was watering the plants near it at the time. I would like to remove the .65 inches of rain that appears to be one bad data point.
March 12, 2021 at 9:26 AM
We apologize, data recorded on My AcuRite cannot be edited or deleted. If this happens again, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.
March 15, 2021 at 8:44 PM
I have 2 (two) 5 in 1 Acurite weather stations, located at 2 different residences. Both have anemometer issues: they don't seem to be spinning as easily in low wind speeds. In fact lower wind speeds fail to move the wind cups.
No debris buildup noted or cup deformity seen. Unit is still level and nothing is remotely close to interfering with cup rotation. I see comments regarding lubrication; Is lubrication just be done by spraying up under the cup post or can the 3 cup unit be removed and cleaned, bushing or bearings to be serviced or replaced.
Thanks
March 16, 2021 at 9:42 AM
Here is a helpful link that details lubricating the 5-in-1 anemometer:
https://support.acurite.com/hc/en-us/articles/360007473613-AcuRite-Iris-5-in-1-Inaccurate-Wind-Readings
Please feel free to reach out to our support team via live chat or email request if we can further assist!
March 20, 2021 at 9:54 AM
A recent storm brought sustained winds reading 40mph and gusts up to 55mph. There was no rain, yet the device recorded 7.9in of rain. Is there anything I can do to prevent high winds from altering the rain data?
March 22, 2021 at 12:18 PM
We recommend making sure that your sensor is securely mounted. If your sensor or the pole that it is mounted on is able to sway at all in high winds, this will cause false rainfall readings. For further assistance, please feel free to reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.
March 30, 2021 at 9:04 AM
I recently purchased an Acurite model 01540, and since the initial setup, it has continued to register rain when there has been no rain. It usually clears itself after 24 hours, but within minutes new rain total of anywhere from .01 to .25+ will appear. I have verified that both ABC switches match. Any ideas how to fix this problem?
March 31, 2021 at 12:25 PM
The most common cause of false rainfall is an improperly mounted sensor. Please make sure that the sensor is mounted securely and level. If the sensor or the pole that it is mounted on is able to sway at all in high winds, this will trigger false rainfall.
For further assistance, please reach out to our support team via live chat or email request on the AcuRite Support website.