Mounting TV Above Wood Burning Fireplace

[cidley69]

I've read about equal opinions on both sides, plenty saying "don't do it you'll cook the tv with heat/smoke" and just as many saying it will be fine.

Anyone have their TV mounted above an open fireplace?

Any issues? How long have you had it mounted like this?

:dunno:

[speedog]

For people that have done what the OP is proposing, what's it like looking up all the time? I realize that the mounts can be tilted, but this still means that one is craning either one's neck into an unnatural position to view a high mounted screen or one's eyes are shifting to look up - both of which could cause muscle strain.

[ExtraSlow]

I'm in the process of mounting a TV above a gas fireplace, hopfully have it up this week.

I tried to find some resources about how the TV handles the heat, but could find nothing definitive. I'm just going to try it, and see what happens.

As for a wood firelace vs gas, I'd expect that wood will be "worse" but hard to say how much worse. the particulate matter (smoke, soot) isn't great for any electronics.

As for the viewing angle, if you were mounting a TV on a wall without a fireplace, how high would you mount it? I don't think the fireplace moves it up as much as you think.

[project240]

I would never do it, but it has nothing to do with the fireplace... I just don't understand why so many people mount their TVs so high. I've watched a few movies at friends' houses and get a headache almost every time.

With that being said, if you are burning your fireplace properly (seasoned wood), you should have no smoke inside anyways and really not enough radiant heat to even warm up your tv, let alone damage it.

[CapnCrunch]

Is the fireplace enclosed? (glass door) Does it have a fan to pump heat out?

Enclosed with no fan, go for it.

I personally think it looks tacky as hell, but everyone has an asshole.

[cidley69]

Fireplace is not enclosed, and has no fan. Has a screen to stop sparks.

[whiskas]

Put a thermometer where the TV will be and turn the fireplace on.

Check if the temperature ever exceeds the TV's accepted temperature range.

[JfuckinC]

At both my parents houses they have had them over the fireplace for years (both gas though) No one seems to get headaches or strained necks.. The TV's have always operated with zero issues as well.

Doesn't seem to tacky if you ask me.. It nicely centers the TV in the room seeing as how the fireplace is always dead center.

[bspot]

I HATE watching TV at people's places that have it above their fireplace. TV's should be mounted centred at eye level, which means the centre of the TV is about 4ft off the ground, not 6ft above a fireplace.

[codetrap]

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[B20EF]

If its wood burning then you probably have an older house with brick? That is my current setup. The mantel dispurses virtually all the heat before it would hit the tv. And I checked the brick with a temp gun after running a fire for while and it didnt fluctuate at all. I do have glass doors on mine but really no soot should be coming in your house, it should all go up the chimney.

[Lex350]

Worst place to mount a TV from an ergonomic point of view.

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by codetrap
Eyestrain? Headaches? From a TV that's a little bit high? Jesus.. you guys are a bunch of pussies. :poosie:

I've had a TV up there since 2005 when we bought the house. NEVER had an issue with anything like that. Also, the TV has never overheated either, though I do typically run the ceiling fan to spread the heat out, and I have a built in fan in the fireplace.

Lol, your tv is recessed. Of course the heat won't affect it.

Wood burning fireplaces don't get recesses above them. That's where the chimney flue is.

Tacky as fuck btw. Looks like your using it as a pantry.

[TrU-PaK]

I have a speaker bar as well as TV mounted starting at about 12" above my gas fireplace....I also had a fan installed in the fireplace to blow out the hot air rather then it rising above. With the proper use it looks and works great...................

BUT sure enough one day my wife forgot to turn on the fan when the fireplace was running.....3 hours later the bracket or some attachment piece on the back of my speaker bar melted and is stuck now. The speaker bar still works fine however it is now angled 45 degrees towards the ground.

It can be done however you need to use caution and common sense before you ruin your equipment.

[ipeefreely]

Originally posted by CapnCrunch


Lol, your tv is recessed. Of course the heat won't affect it.

Wood burning fireplaces don't get recesses above them. That's where the chimney flue is.

Tacky as fuck btw. Looks like your using it as a pantry.
:rofl: :rofl:

+10
I hate when people mount their tv too high! :nut:

[codetrap]

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[codetrap]

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[rage2]

I care about ergonomics. I cant stand tvs on the mantle area. Here's my setup, not perfect but almost there. Need a better cabinet to hide shit.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/rage2amg/C17D78C0-B237-46F9-AD5A-58B9702C5798-466-0000001F3A7F1C9B_zpsdf3b5a3e.jpg

[Lex350]

Originally posted by rage2
I care about ergonomics. I cant stand tvs on the mantle area. Here's my setup, not perfect but almost there. Need a better cabinet to hide shit.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/rage2amg/C17D78C0-B237-46F9-AD5A-58B9702C5798-466-0000001F3A7F1C9B_zpsdf3b5a3e.jpg

That is very similar ro the height I have it. Mine is a tad lower only because I have a low slung sofa. Very comfortable to watch TV either sitting up or lying down.

[codetrap]

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[project240]

Originally posted by codetrap
I'm pretty sure that if you want to eliminate any "eyestrain" ergonomics issues, just simply lean back in the couch a little farther, and tilt the TV forward a bit.


I hardly watch any tv anyways, but when I do I'd prefer to actually be comfortable while watching and not have to adjust myself to accommodate for the tv being 5 ft off the ground and my couch 18 inches...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's ridiculous to put a tv up so high... To each their own I guess...

[codetrap]

^ Yup. Ultimately, you gotta do what you gotta do. I don't have any issues with the TV being on top of the fireplace in our kitchen/main floor area. It's the only place where it "feels" right. Also, it's out of the way, and since TV isn't our primary use of that space, that works for us. The blue room, which is primarily for watching movies etc, is much more designed around the TV.

[bspot]

Originally posted by rage2
I care about ergonomics. I cant stand tvs on the mantle area. Here's my setup, not perfect but almost there. Need a better cabinet to hide shit.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/rage2amg/C17D78C0-B237-46F9-AD5A-58B9702C5798-466-0000001F3A7F1C9B_zpsdf3b5a3e.jpg

I went with the cabinet above the TV to leave more open floor space to make the room look bigger (smaller living room). I rigged a fresh air inlet on the side facing the right wall (can't see it ever) and an exhaust up top with a PC fan to keep the temps down, and my ghetto nexxtech IR relay you can see dangling (need to get a real one some day).

It's also a bit higher because I'm giant (6'7).

And yes, my iPhone is scratched right on the camera lens :(

[Supa Dexta]

Originally posted by rage2
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/rage2amg/C17D78C0-B237-46F9-AD5A-58B9702C5798-466-0000001F3A7F1C9B_zpsdf3b5a3e.jpg

Weeeeird.. I was in a house eerily similar to that setup, for super bowl, with a bunch of strippers.. :rofl:

[wtf im nameless]

Most first world problems can be solved with money:

http://www.futureautomation.co.uk/Product/Details/EAD

+

http://www.control4.com/residential/products/climate/fireplace-switch/

= Problem solved.

When you turn the TV on, the fireplace shuts off and the TV drops down.

[albinoreptile]

Originally posted by wtf im nameless
Most first world problems can be solved with money:

http://www.futureautomation.co.uk/Product/Details/EAD

+

http://www.control4.com/residential/products/climate/fireplace-switch/

= Problem solved.

When you turn the TV on, the fireplace shuts off and the TV drops down.

That's too funny. I just joined beyond.ca today and I stumbled on this thread. I represent the Future Automation brand here in Alberta. I sell quite a few of the EAD's. Good one nameless. :)

[B20EF]

^^^So how much do those cost?