LED walls are a highlight at outdoor events like festivals or concerts. They defy wind, weather and extreme conditions – but after their use, an invisible danger is lurking: moisture. If the walls are not dried and stored correctly, moisture can cause great damage. Here you can find out how moisture damage occurs, how to prevent it and what to do in an emergency.

Moisture damage: what is it?

Moisture damage on LED walls occurs if moisture gets into the cabinets or the transport boxes and is not removed entirely. The standing moisture facilitates the grow of mould that can damage the upholstery of the cases and even the function of the LEDs so that the affected cabinets disturb the overall image of the LED wall.

  • Defekte LEDs durch Feuchtigkeitsschaden
  • Schimmel in Flightcase

Moisture damage on an LED wall and cases, source: LEDTEK

But the walls are suitable for outdoor use, aren’t they?

That is correct. For the use outdoors, the walls are water- and dustproof proof thanks to the IP code IP65 – however, this outdoor capability only applies for the time of operation. While the cabinets are in use, the LEDs generate heat that effectively causes moisture to evaporate. Problems occur when cabinets are stored when they are not entirely dry or when they are stored incorrectly. Not only the wet modules cause problems, but also cases that were insufficiently dried or stored incorrectly. If this moisture is then trapped in poorly ventilated storage areas, it creates an ideal breeding ground for mould spores.

No clue about mildew: prevention

To ensure that your LED walls retain their full function and radiance in the long term, it is important to prepare the LED walls correctly for storage after outdoor use. With a few easy measures, mould cannot only be prevented, but the service life of your cabinets can be increased.

  • Drying before storage: before storage, the LED cabinets need to be entirely dry. An effective method is to set the wall to white at maximum brightness in order to evaporate residual moisture through heating. With heavy wetness, this process takes around 40-50 minutes. Besides that, the transport cases need to be clean and dry before you store the LED cabinets in them. During the duration of the event, the cases can be protected with a tarp and a dry ground in a covered area. Silica-gel or other moisture absorber can also be helpful.
  • Dry storage conditions: none of this helps if the cabinets are stored in a moist environment. For the long-term value retention of your LED cabinets, it is inevitable to store the transport boxes in a dry and safe place. The storage unit needs to be indoors, covered and have a low humidity.

Handling and repair: when the LEDs are already spilt

If moisture damage has already occurred, a quick response is necessary:

  • Damage to the cases: smaller moisture damage to the cases can often be removed with a suitable cleaning detergent. However, a superficial cleaning is not sufficient. It is important to clean the affected area thoroughly, to let the boxes dry completely and only store the LED cabinets afterwards. Like this you prevent moisture and mould spores to spread to the cabinets.
  • Damage to the LEDs: if damage to the LEDs of the cabinets is detected after a technical inspection, the wall should be checked by an expert. Defective LEDs can be replaced depending on the extent of damage, however, are not covered by the warranty. It is therefore essential to check for signs of moisture on the cases and defects in the LEDs after each use

In conclusion: everything cut and dried

Moisture damage to LED walls is not an inevitable matter of fate. With careful drying, thoughtful storage and regular maintenance, you can extend the life of your modules and ensure optimum image quality at every event. Correct handling often means that the more favourable route of prevention can be taken, and repairs can be avoided.

LEDTEK customer service

In conclusion, your LED wall can be standing in the rain. But we will not leave you there. If you have further questions, you can give us a call at +49 551 492 493 44 or send an email to vertrieb@ledtek.de. You can also benefit from our 3-year guarantee, the easy-to-use service portal and our 48-hour spare parts service.