Should You Mount a TV Over Your Fireplace? Here's What I Tell Every Customer
One of the most common questions I get is: can I put my TV over the fireplace? Done right, it looks great and saves a ton of space. Done wrong, it can damage your TV, or worse. Here's what I tell every customer who asks.
The first question I always ask: is it an active fireplace or a dormant fireplace?
If it's dormant, it's mostly about looks and viewing height. If it's active, heat becomes a real factor.
Heat and the mantel trick
If you're putting a TV above an active fireplace, I always ask if you plan to put something on the mantel. And if you don't have a mantel, I always suggest installing or purchasing one. A mantel acts as a fire shield that protects the TV from the heat coming off the fireplace.
Viewing height
A TV mounted too high will strain your neck, so placement depends on the room. In a large living room, where you're sitting farther back, I mount it at a height that's perfect for the viewing angle from that distance. In a small or tighter living room, I'll install or suggest a drop-down mount so you can pull the TV down to eye level.
Most of the TVs I install are on pan-tilt, full-articulating mounts, so you can angle the screen exactly how you want it. I don't recommend a standard fixed mount unless you're going for that very thin, flush-on-the-wall look.
Power and cables
Fireplaces rarely have outlets up high. We don't deal with power - that's all low voltage on our side - so if there's no outlet, you'll need an electrician to add one. Usually we can make an entrance from the side.
For HDMI and the rest of the cables, we hide everything behind the TV so it looks nice and clean. No cables running down the wall.
The biggest mistake I see
The biggest mistake is people trying to do it themselves without really knowing what's behind the fireplace. Usually there's a chimney back there. If you puncture it and it's an active fireplace, carbon monoxide can leak back into your home, which is never good. This is why you should always reach out to a professional.
Thinking about a TV over your fireplace? Give us a call at 201-835-3494. MediaMonkeys is based in Midland Park, NJ, and we install TVs, home theaters and whole-home audio across Bergen County, North Jersey and Westchester.