Fireplaces can pose a significant danger to televisions. The heat generated by the fire can damage or even cause the TV to catch fire. Therefore, taking steps to protect your family and your TV is essential. This article will provide some tips on how to safeguard your TV from the heat of a fireplace.
The most effective way to prevent heat damage is to relocate your TV away from the fireplace. However, if that is not possible, there are other measures you can take. For instance, you can place the TV on top of an ottoman, with cushions placed behind it, so that it is not directly facing the fire. Keep reading to learn more about protecting your TV from the dangers of a fireplace. Here are ten ways to protect your TV from fireplace heat:
How to protect the TV from fireplace heat?
Hang Curtains around a TV
One way to protect your TV from fireplace heat is to hang curtains around it. These curtains can be mounted on the walls surrounding your TV and hung a few inches above the top of the screen. It can protect your TV from rising heat and reduce radiant and convection heat damage to the back of the TV.
Use Fireplace Reflectors
Fireplace reflectors can help brighten your living room by bouncing light back into the room. Most TV stands are constructed using tempered glass and metal. This design offers additional protection for your television by diverting heat away from it.
Move Fireplace Back
If you have a traditional fireplace, it’s important to remember that it can generate heat that could potentially damage nearby electronics, such as your TV. To prevent this from happening, adding some distance between your TV and the fireplace is recommended. If you have the space, consider moving your fireplace back to create more distance between it and your TV. Consider using bookshelves or cabinets as barriers to provide extra protection for your TV.
Install a Heat Shield
You can build an aluminum shield to fit above your TV, forcing hot air away from the equipment and venting it outside. Many designs are available online, and most can be made quickly with aluminium foil and duct tape. You can also consider hiring a professional if this is beyond your skills.
Put Fireplace Doors
Installing fireplace doors can help redirect heat away from your TV and into the room, reducing the potential damage to your TV while still allowing you to enjoy the warmth of the fire and watch your flat-screen TV without any concerns.
Move TV to Less Heat-Prone Area
If your TV is in a hot room or near a heating duct, it may be too challenging for the television to manage. It causes the internal components of your TV to overheat and potentially cause damage. In this case, you must relocate or shield your television from the heat.
Use Blankets or Curtains to Block Radiant
Heat Covering your TV with blankets or placing curtains in front of it can provide an extra layer of protection by blocking radiant heat from radiating directly onto your TV set.
Use Reflective
Glass Reflective glass can help reduce the heat absorbed by your TV. If your TV is not mounted on the wall and is close to the fireplace, using reflective glass is a smart choice. It will reflect heat away from the screen rather than absorbing it. However, it’s important to note that this won’t protect against damage from convection or air-borne heat sources, which can also harm your TV.
Use a Gas Fireplace
Choosing a gas fireplace over traditional wood-burning one offers improved heat control and reduces the risk of causing any damage to your television. Gas fires are a more efficient option for those who wish to use a fireplace near their TV, as they burn fuel more effectively and emit less radiation and smoke.
Use LED or Plasma
If you’re concerned about heat-related damage to your TV, it’s worth noting that LED and plasma TVs are better equipped to handle it than traditional CRT screens. If you currently have a CRT TV, upgrading to an LED or plasma model could improve its heat resistance.
Why protect the TV from fireplace heat?
Protecting your TV from fireplace heat is crucial due to the potential hazards that come with having a fireplace. Electric fireplace logs are a popular and convenient alternative to traditional fireplaces, as they don’t require wood or installation. However, accidents can still happen, especially when dealing with an open flame close to combustible materials.
Fireplaces can generate significant heat, affecting your entire room, including your TV. Placing the electric fireplace logs too close to your television can increase the risk of a fire starting. Therefore, to keep your TV near the fireplace, you must take necessary precautions, such as using an oven mitt or mat to protect the TV from heat damage.
Tips for Placing a TV near a Fireplace without Heat Damage
If you’re considering placing your TV near a fireplace, there are some things you should consider to prevent heat damage. The heat from a fireplace can cause significant damage to electronic devices, including TVs, so it’s essential to take precautions to ensure your TV is safe.
Avoid Blocking Vents or Air Intakes
Fireplace heat can damage electronic devices in two ways: high temperatures and combustion products. TVs are highly susceptible to heat damage due to their large, heat-sensitive components. It’s crucial to ensure that vents and air intakes near the fireplace are not blocked to prevent overheating.
Keep Appliances That Produce Heat Away
Appliances such as dishwashers and microwaves produce high levels of heat that can cause fire damage. Placing them near the fireplace can be dangerous, and microwaves can interfere with cable and satellite reception if placed too close to a TV set.
Be Mindful of Cabinets behind the TV
If cabinets are flush against the wall directly behind your TV, moving them away from the wall is best. Blocking ventilation grills or air intakes near your TV set’s back can cause overheating, which cabinets can cause.
Don’t Block Ventilation Openings on the TV
Objects on top of the TV can block ventilation openings, causing airflow problems and contributing to overheating. It is especially important in climates where central heating or air conditioning prevents heat build-up.
Protect Electric Plug and Switch
To keep children safe, ensure the switch box is out of their reach. Also, avoid using extension cords or multiple outlet strips when plugging in your TV. It’s best to use the original electric outlet for your TV alone, limiting power fluctuations from other appliances plugged into the same circuit as the TV.
Avoid Placing the TV Directly Above or Close to the Fireplace
Placing your TV directly above or close to the opening of a gas, wood, or coal fire can cause damage due to the heat generated. This issue worsens in areas where people use central heating or air conditioning during winter.
Turn off the TV When Not in Use
TVs still use electricity even when they are turned off. Turning off plasma TVs when not in use is important because they contain fluorescent lamps and are more susceptible to heat damage than LCD sets. Keep the switch on the back of your TV set in the Power standby position to conserve power. It will allow the TV to receive low power from an internal battery.
Conclusion:
Protecting your TV from fireplace heat requires careful consideration of several factors. By keeping the air vents and intakes clear, avoiding placing appliances that emit high levels of heat near the fireplace, being mindful of the position of cabinets behind the TV, avoiding placing objects on top of the TV, protecting the electric plug and switch, avoiding placing the TV on top of the fireplace, and switching off the TV when not in use, you can reduce the risk of damage from heat. It is important to remember that heat damage can cause erratic behaviour and permanent damage to electronic devices such as TVs. It is worth taking steps to prevent this from happening. With these precautions in mind, you can enjoy watching your favourite shows and movies without worrying about the damaging effects of fireplace heat on your TV.
