A:
Get a temperature and humidity sensor for your patio and measure the humidity inside of the patio cover. If it frequently exceeds the humidity inside your house by a large number I would say you need a cover. For example, my house usually remains around 50% humidity during the day time in San Diego. Outside usually averages around the same. But at night when the marine layer, fog, and other elements move in, that number outside can increase to 80% or more. At that level, the humidity is going to be doing damage to the electronic components, not immediately but over a year or two it could cause the product to stop working as it corrodes down the electronics inside. So, I would recommend, at a bare minimum covering it up during rainy weather and also during the nigths where there is a heavy overcast layer or fog. You may be better off getting the Play 1 for your backyard, maybe a pair of them. The Play 1 is labeled "humidity resistant - designed for use in bathrooms and patios" - so i think that would be better.