Thursday, January 31, 2008

Before you pop that TV over a fireplace, consider some sage advice from the pros.

A screen displayed too high can be a pain in the neck in a small room or a close-in seating arrangement. To avoid having to look up rather than straight ahead -- that "first row of a movie theater" feeling -- you'll want to sit 13 to 15 feet from the fireplace if the mantel is 64 inches off the floor, says Jean-Pierre Garcia, a home theater consultant at the Big Screen Store in Rockville.

When building or renovating a room for viewing, Silver Spring designer Debbie Wiener suggests using a low mantel and fireplace surround for closer-in seating.

Be sure the TV can be set back far enough on the mantel to be protected from rising heat or smoke -- 12 inches if possible, says Garcia. Test heat levels -- gas logs and wood-stove inserts burn especially hot -- by taping a thermometer on the wall above a burning fire for at least 90 minutes, says home inspector John Vaughn of At Home Inspections in Monrovia. If the mercury hits 90 degrees, consider installing a glass fireplace screen or putting the television elsewhere. By all means, check the owner's manual regarding your TV's temperature tolerance. Design assistant Will Winebrenner neglected to take this step. "I ruined my own TV that way -- a $3,000 mistake."

Before mounting the set over a masonry fireplace in older homes, have a certified Fireplace Investigation, Research and Education (FIRE) inspector check the wall, firebox, smoke chamber and flue, Vaughn urges. Masonry damaged during hardware installation can create a hazard. Call in a certified electrician to install the outlet.

Wherever you display the TV, do not wedge it tightly into a niche or cabinet. The electronics generate heat and need room for air circulation, Garcia says.

Annie Groer