How to Evade Disaster While Hanging a Television

Most TV mounts come with the necessary parts for a quick and easy installation. However, it is important to know what to do with these parts and the CORRECT way to install them to avoid costly mistakes. A new TV is an expensive investment, so you want to make sure it is installed securely on the wall, without the possibility of falling. If it falls, you will have the cost of replacing the TV, repairing your wall, replacing whatever else it damaged; and hope that no one gets injured!

DIY Failure

Don’t be a DIY Fail! Here’s an example of how NOT to mount your new television: Not only did this person think their self-made shelves would hold the TV, but just in case, they thought it was a good idea to wrap the TV in bungee cords! It’s important to have clear knowledge of what you are doing. Also, remember that all TV’s don’t need to be mounted on the wall, some people prefer televisions on stands. To see which option might be best for you, click here.

Helpful Tips:

Anchors – Use drywall anchors that are sufficient enough to hold the weight of the TV. Check your drywall to make sure it is sturdy and not crumbling. Toggle bolts, especially snap toggle bolts, are effective when mounting a TV to drywall. Make sure you check the load capacity for each bolt, and use the correct number. If your wall seems flimsy, it’s safer to drill directly into the studs and secure the mount with lag bolts. Make sure your bolts are long enough to reach into the stud to hold the weight of the TV; otherwise it’s just the sheetrock that is holding the weight of the TV, and it WILL eventually give way and fall off the wall.

Studs – Every home’s skeleton is made from sturdy studs…or so we hope! Typical walls are made with studs spaced either 16″ or 24″ apart on center. You can find studs with a “stud finder” (retails for $10-$50), the old knocking technique, or simply find a corner of a wall, a window, or an outlet and measure 16″ over from that location and you should hit a stud.

Mount Bracket – Wall mounting brackets are specifically made to hold a certain weight, so you want to make sure your bracket is designed to hold the size and weight of your television. Some people actually try to DIY their own brackets to save money.  We would NOT recommend this as you might think you are saving money from not purchasing brackets, but chances are you will need money to replace the TV that will probably fall off your wall sometime in the near future. Another tip is to make sure your mount and TV both level and plumb to the wall.

Leave it to the Experts

We recommend leaving it to the experts when it comes to hanging televisions. Our technicians can also help with answering questions on what is the best mount to use for your flat panel TV? When hiring a professional, reputable company to install your television, you can be assured it will be done correctly. Most professionals will warranty their work, as well as the product, if you purchase it from them. Why risk it? Call us at (804) 379-1348 or schedule an appointment online with one of our specialists.