if I use the fireplace?

12/5/2008 1:06:35 PM

not going to provide any other details?

with this information i'll say no

12/5/2008 1:22:56 PM

It's possible. Put a thermometer up there and keep an eye on things.

12/5/2008 1:25:15 PM

If the fireplace is enclosed and you notice heat radiated above it and hitting the television, then I'd say yes it's possible but very unlikely it will damage the television. They are made to withstand fairly warm 'ambient' conditions. If it is sitting over an open flame where heat has much more of a potential to impact the system then I'd be concerned.

12/5/2008 1:30:09 PM

I wouldn't do it.

12/5/2008 2:51:03 PM

you better never forget to open the damper. the smoke will roll straight up the wall into your tv.

trust me.

12/5/2008 3:07:34 PM

before sticking the tv up there fire up the fireplace as much as possible, get a IR gun thermometer, get a reading on the wall, and/or feel with your hand...

it's very unlikely, if you have a mantel at all you should also be ok...

12/5/2008 3:15:10 PM

Generally no, if you use some common sense by not putting it too close.

It also turns you in to a soulless yuppie.

12/5/2008 3:21:14 PM

cool. I have a fireplace that can burn wood but I also have the option to hook it into my natural gas. (there is a valve in the fireplace.)
The fireplace has a ~6inch mantle below the TV.

I'm also contemplating getting ventless logs for heat purposes... (they are a lot more efficient than vented logs, gas or wood.)

12/5/2008 4:11:19 PM

you may have already thought of this, but you may want to consider the fact that you would constantly have to look up to watch it.

occasionally looking up at a bar to watch a game or something is one thing. but doing so all the time would annoy the shit out of me. plus, do you have speakers/surround? I guess you could put the center channel on the mantel, what about the left and right?

12/5/2008 4:42:51 PM

I debated this when I got my TV. A friend of mine has has his on his fireplace for a few years and burns wood all winter and never had a problem. But I was too nervous..Plus my mantle is so high that I would have had to move it down or remove it all together to fit my TV so I decided against it. In my opinion.. I wouldn't do it.. Unless its gas only and its not sitting too high.

12/5/2008 4:48:38 PM

mine was above my fireplace for 2 years with no probs (light use save for a month or two one winter, slightly tilted).

to answer other questions...

1) tilting your head up while sitting is semi annoying, but nice when in a recliner. also nice while laying down. since you are naturally facing slightly up.

2) i have surround sound. center is under the tv. 2 floorstanding speakers on either side of the fireplace, regular surround sound speakers.

[Edited on December 5, 2008 at 4:53 PM. Reason : .]

12/5/2008 4:51:15 PM

oh, something i failed to mention... I hung my TV up there the day I moved into the house back in Feb. the mantle is very low as far as fire places go, and the TV is at a perfectly natural height.

I was more coming from the angle as to whether or not I should USE the fireplace.

I have an entertainment stand thing beside it with my receiver, cable box, PS3, and Wii. the surround sound is in the corners of the room with the center channel on top of the TV. (I did have it on the bottom. doesn't sound different to me either way, so I put it on top.

[Edited on December 6, 2008 at 10:22 AM. Reason : ]

12/6/2008 10:15:02 AM

it'll be fine

make sure to douse it in gasoline too

12/6/2008 10:58:27 AM

12/6/2008 11:26:40 AM

I think the size of your mantel will also come into play, if you have one that juts our a bit it'll knock some of the direct heat off the TV.

12/6/2008 12:58:01 PM

if you have a fire going while watching tv i would think the light from the fire would be distracting in your peripheral as you're tilting your neck back to see the tv

12/6/2008 1:09:08 PM

i don't have to tilt my neck to watch tv.

12/7/2008 12:15:33 AM

Quote :

"I wouldn't do it."

That and I feel like the whole "tv over the fireplace" thing is overdone.

12/7/2008 11:22:30 PM

quite frankly i think the whole crappy ass tv stand is overdone, at least you don't have more excess furniture in your living room with the TV on the wall/mantle.

12/7/2008 11:56:15 PM

12/8/2008 12:51:05 AM

please do it and prove these naysayers wrong

12/8/2008 12:54:50 AM

the whole "its overdone" thing is kinda pointless

its "over done" because it generally makes the room a little more usable

instead of having a setup where you have to work hard to maximize the seating to use the TV and the Fireplace, you are basically going to have an open seating arrangement that allows the most people to use them both when visiting

and as some people have said - as long as you're lounging the up high mounting isn't bad at all

i've got mine at about eye-level when i'm standing and i love it
"my" seat is about 13 feet away from the tv, so i'm not sure what kind of angle that is, but its not bad, plus i can angle the tv down a bit

12/8/2008 1:42:33 AM