Other Questions & Answers

We have created this additional FAQ for questions that you might have, but are not directly related to an order with us.

I lost the manual! What do I do?

No worries, it is 2025 after all! Every time you order something from us, digital copies of the instruction manuals and other materials can always be found within My Account. If you haven’t ordered from us, just check the product page, it should be near the bottom.

Do I need WeatherLink Pro to use my Davis station?

No, free WeatherLink will work just fine; however, you will be missing some functionality and historical data recall.

I didn’t buy from you, but I need help. Can I e-mail you?

Of course. Our mantra is, ‘if we sell it, we support it.’ Please understand that current customers have priority, so it may take a day or so for us to return your email. It’s our way of showing why you should buy your next weather station from us, too!

Can you help with warranty issues?

Yes, if you’d like to address minor issues, you can reach out to us directly. However, for more complex problems, we strongly recommend contacting the manufacturer directly to speed up the process (we’d have to do the same, honestly!).

I had a great experience and want to tell people about it. How do I do that?

Why, thank you! Customer reviews are like gold, so we’d especially appreciate it if you respond to Trustpilot’s review request emails, which typically appear a few days after delivery. You can also search for our Google listing and leave a review there, too. And word-of-mouth is always great too! Thank you so much for spreading the word!

I see “Application Notes” on product pages. What are those?

Over the past three decades, Davis has supplemented documentation with what they call Application Notes, which offer additional guidance above and beyond the user manual for certain situations. Even though some of these are 10-20 years old, Davis stations have not changed dramatically, so the information is still relevant.

My Davis station says I need to replace the battery. How/where do I do that?

Most do not realize it initially because of the solar panel, but a CR123 battery is included inside the ISS. Our experience in the mid-latitudes with a lithium ion battery has resulted in about 3 years or so before we’ve had to change it. High latitude installs may need to change the battery as often as every year, and locations closer to the equator may get slightly longer battery life.

On the Vantage Vue, the battery compartment is found on the underside of the ISS, here:

On the Vantage Pro2:

My Tempest is no longer holding a charge at night. Can I replace the battery?

No, Tempests have a non-replaceable battery. The entire sensor suite will need to be replaced. The average lifespan is approximately 3-5 years based on our experience.

How often should I clean my weather instrumentation?

At a minimum once a year, however, we strongly recommend at least twice a year (in fall and spring). But for the best results and accuracy, you should be checking your weather station regularly, as often as every few weeks, during seasons like fall and winter. Debris can build up inside your rain gauge, and insects can build nests faster than you think!

Do bird spikes affect rain gauge accuracy?

Yes, but the effect is negligible. Additional rainfall might be caught by the spikes themselves, sliding into the funnel and through the gauge. However, the surface area of the spikes is not significant, so the additional rainwater directed into the gauge should not cause the gauge to significantly overcount.

For haptic rain gauges, DO NOT use bird spikes. Since haptic gauges rely on rain reaching the haptic sensor, any obstruction above will cause significant issues with accuracy.

If you own the Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus, the bird spikes may also present an issue with the accuracy of UV and solar radiation readings. This application note from Davis describes the issue in more detail.

What are the signs that my weather station may be failing?

Weather stations rarely fail outright in our experience: typically, the first signs of failure are a certain sensor failing to report or reporting obviously nonsense data. Be careful, however: a dying internal battery can mimic a sensor issue, too! Other signs might be the wind vane or anemometer cups no longer spinning freely. The solar panel face may also become cloudy, making battery changes more frequent.

The good news is that with Davis, many of these parts are self-serviceable. We can help you source spare parts as well. However, with time, the less serviceable portions of your station will fail, too. At that point, it becomes a judgment call on how much you’re willing to spend to bring the station back. For a cheaper model like the Vantage Vue, the price of replacement parts may make replacement or upgrading a wiser option.

Can I leave my Climalytic TROPO outdoors year-round?

Yes, but remove the inner cylinder and funnel during the snow season, and do not allow melted rainwater to remain within the gauge if temperatures are expected to fall below freezing. While the TROPO is more durable than most gauges, the expansion of water as it freezes can still be enough to crack the outer cylinder.

Do I need guy wires for my weather station mount?

For basic near-ground installations, guy wires are generally not necessary unless surface wind conditions are regularly strong (20+mph). Guy wires also shouldn’t be necessary for awning or chimney mounts, as they typically have additional stabilization built in. If you have your station on a taller mount (10+ feet), guy wires are strongly recommended for stability and to prevent sway.