Installing a Plasma over the Fireplace

Furthermore, as expressed in the first part of our Plasma TV Installation Guide, the availability of different wall mounts renders wall mounting a plasma TV a relatively easy job that can be handled by most end users.

However, there are specific situations where wall mounting a plasma TV may turn out to be somewhat more complicated; mounting a plasma over the fireplace can be one of these.

We are not saying that wall mounting a plasma above the fireplace is not do-able by most end users. In reality, this task can range from a simple straightforward installation similar to installing a plasma TV wall mount over an ordinary wall, to one which is very difficult and best left to a professional installer.

This depends on how your home is built. For example, we know that a wall mounted plasma would look at its best when all connecting cables are hidden. Now, if the wall above the mantel is hollow and can be easily accessed somehow from behind, hiding and running cables should be relatively easy, otherwise things start to get complicated.

In a similar manner, if the wall above the fireplace is made of bricks or stone, then you can make use of the appropriate anchor bolts to fix the plasma TV mount. On the other hand, if it is drywall, special care should be taken to ensure that the whole fixture will be able to take the load of the display panel.

In this Plasma TV Installation Guide, we focus on the main issues that normally arise when it comes to mounting a plasma over the fireplace.

Editor's Note: Issues discussed in this article apply equally well to mounting an LCD or LED TV above the fireplace. Just ensure that the ambient temperature around your LCD display panel is within the operating temperature range as detailed in the accompanying product technical specifications.

Plasma over the Fireplace Installation
Basic Considerations

Will the heat from the fireplace harm the plasma TV?

Plasma displays are normally specified to operate within a temperature range of 32 - 100 degrees Fahrenheit (0 - 40 degrees Celsius).  The actual supported ambient operating temperature range varies from model to model, so please check with the accompanying product literature. This information is normally included as part of the product technical specifications and covers details for temperature and humidity ranges applicable to both operating and storage conditions.

Operating your plasma TV at temperatures above 100 degrees or so, may lead to premature damage to the electronics - shortening the display lifetime. On the other hand, operating at excessive low temperature may lead to a deteriorating on operational performance.

Thus, prior to proceeding with mounting your plasma over the fireplace, you first need to check the ambient temperature above the mantel when the fireplace is in use.

The best way to do this is to tape a thermometer at the point above the mantel where you plan to place your plasma TV set.  Then build a fire and let it burn for some time. Once the temperature stabilizes, take your readings. If it is close to or above the 100 degrees Fahrenheit, then the area is receiving too much heat - either escaping from the front of the fireplace and rising up the face, or radiating through the chimney wall.

Should this be the case, it would be unwise to mount your plasma over the fireplace - especially if you plan to run your plasma TV for long periods while the fireplace is in use. Though plasma TVs have their own cooling mechanism, operating the unit at high ambient temperatures reduces the effectiveness of the plasma cooling system - thus increasing your risk of premature damage to your plasma TV. You may always opt to use your plasma TV while the fireplace is off but...

Do not forget that operating your plasma television set at relatively high ambient temperatures for extended periods may also voids the product warranty since you will not be making use of your plasma in the environment it was designed for.

Note: Burning a fire with the plasma over the fireplace while your plasma TV is off will not harm your flat-panel TV. This being so as long as the ambient temperature is within the storage temperature range for your plasma TV; the latter is typically from 15 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (approx. -10 to 50 degrees Celsius).

How should you mount the plasma over the fireplace?

The simplest way is to put the plasma on the mantel as long as the latter is deep enough to take a tabletop stand for your plasma TV. However, a better- looking option is to wall mount your plasma over the fireplace.

The whole process of fixing the plasma TV wall mount - irrespective of the nature of the wall above the mantel - is described in detail in the second part of our Plasma TV Installation Guide. If it is drywall, use appropriate fixtures to penetrate the studs, if it is a brick wall, use anchor-blots.

The main issue here is to pay attention to the amount of heat to which your plasma TV is exposed; this should always be of a concern when mounting your plasma over the fireplace. In particular, be aware that some bricks tend to radiate more heat than others.

In addition, it is not recommended to opt for a recessed installation when mounting your plasma over the fireplace; you may easily have issues with overheating. Furthermore, while aesthetically, a recessed installation is an interesting option, yet you may have issues with the size of your recess should you desire to replace or upgrade your plasma sometime in the future.

Plasma TV too high - How can you go about it?

One issue we touched upon in the first part of our Plasma TV Installation Guide is correct screen height. When mounting a plasma over the fireplace, there is a real risk that your plasma TV will be too high for real comfortable viewing while seated, especially if the mantel is a bit higher than average.

In these circumstances, it is best to make use of a tilting plasma TV wall mount. Tilting wall mounts provide for a change in the vertical angle of view (typically ±15 degrees) of the television, depending on the viewer position. These flat-panel TV wall mounts are best suited where the ideal mounting height is not feasible. A tilting wall-mount would typically add no more than 0.5 to 1 inch to the overall depth in comparison to a fixed wall mount. More on flat-panel TV mounts can be found in our Guide to LCD TV Mounts.

Note: The use of a tilting wall mount represents only a partial solution to a too high a plasma TV installation. You may still suffer from a strained neck especially if you do not have appropriate recliners for your seating. Nevertheless, if you can manage to maintain the bottom frame of the plasma screen at least at eye level when seated, you should still enjoy acceptable comfortable viewing experience.

Do you need to call in professional assistance?

If you are not sure that you can handle a plasma over the fireplace installation, our best advice is to call professional help. Contact some local Audio/Video or home theater store in your area and ask for recommendations for an installer. Also, look for Home Theater in the yellow pages. Finding a professional installer should not be difficult but...

Unfortunately, there are many out there who think they know what they are doing. Be careful! Check their past experience by asking specific questions about plasma television sets they have installed - including about LCD and plasma over the fireplace installations. Be ready to pay for them to come and do a site survey; a good installer will surely want to do this first.

A Final Recommendation

You have gone all the way to install your HDTV and mount your plasma over the fireplace the professional way. For sure, you will want to get the very best out of your flat-panel TV, but there is still one more thing you have to do: Adjust the various settings on your plasma TV for an optimum viewing experience. The best way to do this is to invest in a good set-up DVD.

A great calibration disc is the Avia II Home Theater Set-up DVD, an exceptional AV calibration tool for both the novice and the expert.

Other interesting calibration discs worth considering include Digital Video Essentials HD Basics and Spears & Munsil High-Definition Benchmark, both of which come in Blu-ray edition.

For more information, please check our Guide to Home Theater Set-Up DVDs.