Think again-
Mounting your TV above the fireplace might be convenient, but it brings big issues.
The following written content by Geoffrey Morrison
Mounting a TV above a fireplace seems like the most logical spot. It’s out of the way, looks nice and is often the most convenient place to put it in a room. However, there are serious issues with such placement.
If you’re only planning to watch this TV occasionally, then it’s probably fine. But if it’s your main TV you’re going to watch for hours every day, make sure you read about all the potential issues mentioned below.
If you’re considering above-the-fireplace mounting, I’ll presume you’ve already considered how you’re going to run power and signal (HDMI or wireless) to the TV, and how you’re mounting it to the brick/stone/whatever. These are concerns too, but easily fixable. There are bigger issues, though.
Viewing angle: Yes, a TV over a fireplace is too high
There is no best seat in this house, at least for watching TV.Cavan Images/Getty Images
Ever sit in the front row of a movie theater? Some people like it; most don’t. That sore neck you get from staring up at the screen? Imagine that every time you watch TV. Most people find staring up at something for long periods to be uncomfortable. Worse, it might seem fine at first, but then you develop a neck issue later.
Not surprisingly, one of the first Google autocomplete results after “TV over fireplace…” is “too high.” This isn’t a rare issue.
Sure, this won’t be a problem in some rooms. The fireplace might be low, you might be reclining to watch TV, you might be far enough away that you’re just barely looking “up” at it. But if you’ve ever had neck issues, often from something work-related, this aspect is something to consider as it could make such an injury worse.
Most of us would much rather look slightly down at a TV. It’s a much more natural position (similar to what’s recommended by OSHA for monitors). Ideally you should be able to keep a neutral/relaxed neck position to watch your TV, which will vary depending on your sofa/seating position and so on.
Your TV will be off-axis
Nearly every TV on the market today is an LCD. There are higher-end models from LG, Sony, and Vizio that are OLED, but otherwise, regardless of the marketing name, it’s an LCD.
Most LCDs look significantly worse if you’re not looking at them straight on. Even the few degrees below their centerline, like you’d have sitting on a sofa looking up at the TV, can make the image look profoundly different than what it looks like directly on-axis.
This is fairly easy to fix, though you’ll need specific equipment. Some wall-mounting brackets let you pivot the TV downward, so it’s directly facing the seating area. Keep an eye out for models that do. Flat-mounting the TV on the wall (the cheapest solution) might make your TV look worse.
Heat and soot damage to your TV
There is nothing worse for an electronics product than heat (OK, maybe water or kicking it could be worse, but you get my point). Increasing the operating temperature of the TV can shorten what should be a lively and reliably long life.
Worse, the soot from the fire can get into the TV’s innards, doing nothing good. Worse worse, the damage will be slow and over time, not right away, so the TV will likely fail sooner than it would have otherwise, but still beyond the length of your warranty. Read more from Cnet.
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