Mounting your flat panel TV

Mounting your flat panel TV is a simple enough job and takes approximately an hour to accomplish. However, the stability of the TV mount and therefore, the fate of your electronic item is to a large extent dependent on the quality of workmanship.

Unless the set is professionally installed, the force of gravity could bring it down and along with that shatter your dream purchase. It would therefore pay to be careful, use the right set of tools, get the proper mounting instruments and then get set up for the job.

Different TV mounts have different weight ratings, which act as a guide to help you decide on the right fit for your television. The weight rating indicates the amount of weight the mount can withstand. Therefore, first check on the weight of your LCD or plasma TV. Generally, LCD televisions weigh lesser than plasmas, but all big televisions have significant weight nevertheless.

Note also that TV mounts can only be sunk into concrete walls and not on to hollow walls. You can use a stud finder to locate the place where you can mount your set. As a rule, single studs can withstand the weight of televisions that weigh eighty pounds or lesser. For anything that is higher in weight, you should use two studs to mount the set. Moreover, select the spot on the wall very carefully as you need to ensure that the television screen should not catch the glares from the window.

Manufacturers of television sets can also supply mounting kits. However, buying a kit from them may not always be the most economical choice. Standardized kits are available in the markets and you can get the right one for yourself by checking on the weight ratings of the TV mount. Bear in mind that the mount needs to be sturdy and check the joint mechanisms of the mount. For example, a mount with a ball-joint facility would allow you to mount your television in a way that allows for motion and tilting of the TV. Mounts have evolved largely and some manufacturers even offer remote control facilities for your mounts.

A TV mount would come with two main parts. One part would attach to the wall and the other would fit on to the back of your television. The wall bracket should be used to mark the position of the holes. Ensure that you have heavy-duty large screws and a socket wrench to fit the screws on to the studs. Once both the brackets are secure, ensure that you have sufficient helping hands to assist you in lifting the television onto the wall. Clip the TV bracket on to the wall bracket and run some tug tests to ensure that your television is securely in place. Ensure to check that your television set is still in place after some time and if it has not fallen off or tilted from its place by then, you can be sure that the mount is securely fitted and can withstand the weight of your television set.