If you want your TV to entertain you for a number of years to come, you’ll want to be aware of any potential problems as they pop up. But how are you supposed to know what is actually causing damage to it? What are some of the most common threats to the longevity of a beloved TV?
If you’re particularly fond of your TV, then you won’t want to miss our guide down below. We’re going to show you all you need to know about guarding your TV and helping it to live a long and fulfilling life!
What Could Shorten The Life Of A TV?
Leaving The Screen On
Ever pause a show on Netflix to quickly carry out a task, only to forget about the TV for a number of hours? Don’t worry, we’ve all done it. However, consistently leaving a TV screen powered on when not actually in use can very easily shorten its total lifespan. Whenever you know you’ll need to step away from the TV for a good amount of time, it’s good practice to turn it off!
No matter what kind of TV you have, leaving the screen on is simply a significant waste of energy. Whether you leave the TV paused on a static image, or you leave a footy match playing with no one around to watch it, your TV will be using up a lot of energy for no reason. This could lead to components being overloaded and damaged!
The worst thing you could do for your TV is to leave it idle! When left idle, your TV will continue consuming electricity. The components will begin to wear down, and your bills will go up!
If you have an OLED TV, you should be especially wary of leaving the screen on. OLED TVs create images through self-illuminating pixels. These pixels need to use a significant amount of energy to maintain a specific colour. If you were to leave your OLED screen to hold a static image, the pixels would be overloaded. If left for too long, the pixels can quite literally burn out. This will leave the impression of a static image on the screen even while playing video. This is referred to as screen burn, and it’s incredibly costly to repair!
Intense Brightness
The higher the brightness of your TV, the more energy it consumes. This applies to all kinds of TVs, no matter what kind of illumination they use. OLED TV pixels are vulnerable to burning out if subjected to too much consistent power. LED and QLED backlights can easily last more than 10 years before needing to be replaced, but maxing out their brightness will significantly reduce their total lifespan.
We’re not saying that you have to dim your TV down until it’s nearly unwatchable. Instead, we recommend that you frequently toggle the brightness of your TV to ensure it’s not constantly maxed out. You might need to max out the brightness for certain films or shows, but just be sure to crank the brightness back down after you’ve finished watching!
Infrequent Maintenance
Many people set their TV down in the perfect place, and then never touch it directly for a number of years. After all, with voice controls and smartphone connectivity being so prevalent in modern smart TVs, why would you need to move from the sofa and interact with the TV directly?
However, even if you trust in the durability of your TV, it’s important to maintain it regularly. Leaving your TV unmaintained leaves it vulnerable to all kinds of small threats. From dust that builds up in the air vents to dirt and grime that builds up on the screen. You might think that these things could only ever cause the smallest of problems, but they can easily have a big impact.
Dust that sneaks into your TV can easily build up on internal components, putting them at risk. Dirt and grime can also eat away at the surface of the TV screen, leaving it even more vulnerable to future threats!
Bad Cable Management
TVs can easily play host to tangled nests of cables building up in the background. Cables themselves don’t pose too much of a risk. Just ensure that they are plugged in safely and sufficiently. However, having too many unorganised and tangled wires can very easily pose a risk to your TV’s longevity. When wires become tangled up with each other, they’re often easily bent into all kinds of unnatural directions.
When wires are harshly bent in specific directions, it can lead to them fraying. This can pose a problem if it occurs to your TV’s power cable. Sourcing out new power cables for specific TV models can be quite a tricky endeavour! As well as this, frayed wires are simply a fire hazard.
Make sure not to neglect any wires that protrude from the TV. You don’t want any of them to become a tripping hazard. Tripping over a TV cable could not only see damage being done to the cable but could also see the TV flying off of the TV stand!
Improper Cleaning
We mentioned earlier that maintaining your TV is important. However, it’s equally important that you use the right materials when maintaining your TV. When many people set out to clean their TV screens, they make use of standard cleaning products. These products often contain harsh chemicals that can actually eat away at the protective film that covers the screen.
When cleaning your TV screen, it’s best to simply use a microfiber cloth and a little bit of warm water. And when it comes time to dust your TV, all you need is a simple feather duster!
Power Surges
Unfortunately, power surges can’t really be predicted, and there’s very little you can do to stop them. This makes them particularly worrying to many people, as they can do irreparable damage to a TV in mere seconds.
Power surges will cause certain components within your TV to be subjected to dangerously high peaks of electricity. This can lead to permanent damage that’s costly and difficult to repair.
Poor Environment
If you want your TV to live a number of years, it’s also important to consider the environment you’re keeping it in. Preferably, you should aim to keep your TV in a dry, well-ventilated, and cool environment.
Finding the right place for your TV not only makes it easier to watch but also ensures it will work perfectly for years to come. Keep your TV in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated space!
There are countless environmental factors within a room that can affect your TV, such as dust, humidity, and extreme heat.
Many people choose to keep their TVs above a fireplace to create a cosy and modern-looking space. While this certainly does look good, it can very quickly lead to damage to your TV. The heat from an active fire will rise up to your TV and heat up its internal components. This puts a significant strain on the TV when it’s in use. The excess heat makes it more difficult for your TV to ventilate and keep components cool!
How To Make A TV Last Longer
So far, this article may seem a little “Doom and gloom”! But don’t worry, there are plenty of great things you can do to help extend the life of your TV and allow it to last a lot longer! Let’s take a look.
Regular Maintenance
Don’t fret! We’re not giving you another chore to add to the backlog! Maintaining your TV is incredibly simple, and can be done in a matter of minutes.
All you really need is a dry cloth and a feather duster. With your cloth, you can easily wipe away dirt and grime from the screen. Just be sure not to use any chemicals. All you need is a very small amount of water. Make sure to use a light touch when cleaning your TV. You don’t want to put too much pressure on the screen and risk damaging the pixels.
With the feather duster, all you need to do is give the TV a quick once-over. Make sure to focus on the back of the TV, towards the oft-neglected vents. These are areas where dust can easily infiltrate and wreak havoc on your TV!
We’d recommend performing this quick maintenance check at least once a month, to stay on top of your TV’s health! A few minutes can help to extend its life by years!
Prioritise Ventilation
It’s easy to end up neglecting the ventilation ports on a TV. They’re usually found towards the back of the unit, so it’s easy to forget about them. However, you should neglect your TV’s ventilation at your own risk!
Ventilation helps to keep your TV cool, and extracts heat from specific components. As such, you’ll want to make sure to never cover the ventilation system, or otherwise block it. This will cause heat to build up in the TV and eat away at its lifespan.
Make sure that there is also plenty of space around your TV, to ensure that there is plenty of air reaching it. This will not only help the vents to work more optimally but will also keep the unit cool!
Install Surge Protection
We highlighted the potential threat that unexpected power surges can present to your TV. Luckily, there is a very simple solution! Surge protectors help to prevent power surges from reaching your favourite devices. In order to do this, surge protectors are designed to extract excess electricity.
We’d recommend contacting a local electrician to arrange the installation of surge protection. The cost of the service can vary from provider to provider, but it’s worth every single penny!
Turn It Off!
We’re not suggesting that you never watch your TV again! That would be madness! Instead, we’re recommending that you turn the TV off whenever it’s not in use. It’s incredibly easy to leave a TV on, insisting that you’ll be back to it “In a second” only to find it still on hours later!
If you’re prone to forgetfulness, then we’d recommend making use of some of the built-in auto-shut-down functions found in most TVs. These functions allow your TV to detect when it has been left idle for a significant length of time, and turn itself off!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Shortens The Life Of A TV?
There are numerous potential threats that could put a swift end to your TV. These can include dust, high temperatures, power surges, and other environmental factors. A TV’s life can also be shortened by misuse. If you were to leave your TV on when not in use, its lifespan would be significantly shortened. Be sure to place your TV in a suitable room, and take frequent care of it!
How Long Should A TV Last?
TVs can very often last more than 10 years of frequent use. However, certain conditions need to be met to facilitate this. First, you’ll need to make sure that your TV is placed in a suitable space in the home. Protected from external threats. Second, you’ll need to be sure to take good care of it. Regularly clean the TV, and be sure to turn it off when not in use!
How Do You Know When You Need To Replace Your TV?
You’ll know that your TV needs replacing if it stops working as it’s supposed to. If the screen appears dull, the TV stops responding to commands, or it simply won’t turn on, then it may be time to replace it! If your TV is only a few years old, however, then certain problems may be fixed for only a small amount of cash!
Is An 8 Year Old TV Old?
Considering that TVs can easily last 10 years of happy use, 8 years is a very healthy lifespan for a TV. If your TV is 8 years old, there is probably plenty of mileage left in it yet. Just be sure to take good care of it, as this will help it to reach its full potential.
