No, you shouldn’t put the TV near a radiator because it can cause internal metallic structures to heat up and damage your television. We’ll explain this in-depth and give you some alternatives to consider.
When the weather starts getting a bit chillier, our first instinct is to pull out the blankets and turn on the heaters. However, deciding where to set up one’s heater is a really tricky question.
The TV lounge is the most logical choice here since it’s the most used part of the home. Still, many people are also worried about what a radiator will end up doing to their TV. It’s a legitimate concern to have and one that we will address in this article.
How Does Heat Affect The TV?
There are a few ways extended exposure to heat can affect a TV set. An extended exposure can cause internal metallic structures to heat up and distort the set’s circuitry. And if the structures end up melting, the damage can extend to other parts of the TV, causing irreparable damage.
Apart from that, extended heat exposure can affect the TV image. Certain pixels stop loading after being heated up for too long, therefore resulting in either desaturated pictures or a very noticeable loss of color. This is why it’s often advised not to keep TVs in packaging or cars for an extended period of time. As trivial as humidity, cold, and warmth may seem to us, they can prove problematic when TVs are involved.
Related article: Does A Heater Reduce Humidity?
What Sort of Radiator Do You Have Installed?
What heater you have installed determines how heat is being dissipated across the TV lounge. Older heaters, for example, relied on radiating heat outwards. This would mean that objects near them would warm up very quickly, especially in front of them.
If you’re not too careful, any number of problems could arise. This can be contrasted with current heaters, which rely more on convection for their heat transference.
If you can’t remember your Physics lecture, convection essentially means that heat goes upwards via the air. From there on, hot air collects until it warms the entire room. It’s a more effective mechanism for heating.
Luckily for you, it also spells good news for the TV set since very little heat is being projected directly forwards. The TV unit can therefore be placed closer to newer models of heaters.
Naturally, if you have a wall-mounted TV at hand, then a convection heater will end up hurting those more than older models will.
Related article: 6 Types Of Space Heaters
Tips to Safely Put a TV Near a Radiator
Install Full Motion / Extendable TV Wall Bracket
A full motion wall bracket is a convenient option for people who want to put the TV above their radiator. The full motion wall bracket allows you to pull out the TV when the radiator is on. You can always fold it back toward the wall once the heating is off.
Now if you live in a place where a radiator needs to be kept on 24/7, I highly recommend this option.
Use Insulation To Keep The Heat Out
This particular tip can work both ways; on the TV set as well as the heater. Strips of insulation material can be attached to a heater’s radiator, often the part that emits the most heat to make it “safer.”
Conversely, insulation material can be bound to the back of a TV set and ensure that it doesn’t heat up very quickly.
However, our suggestion is as such: either insulate both or just insulate the radiator. The reason is that insulation, while very effective at blocking heat, is just as good at trapping it. Not only will a TV set eventually start heating up, but the trapped heat will keep it at high temperatures for a relatively long period.
A radiator cover is a great way to insulate your radiator.
Use A Floating Shelf For The TV
If you are installing a TV above the radiator, better put it on a floating shelf. That way the heat rising from the radiator is mostly deflected and a floating shelf looks nice anyways.
How Far Away Should a TV Be From a Heater?
Again, as established above, this depends on the type of heater and TV. Ultimately, a decent distance of six inches or above should be considered. For the TV screen itself, 4 inches from the wall is recommended, as its own vents release heat as well.
Therefore, any goal we set with a heater in mind should be comfortably above the 4-inch mark.
What Should You Not Put Near a Radiator?
There are a few things that should never be placed near a radiator:
- Curtains. Thin curtains can start to burn if overheated. On the other hand, thick curtains obstruct the heat from flowing uniformly throughout the room.
- Lamps. They have wires whose outer covering can melt when overheated. This can create an electrocution risk or even a risk of fire in the room.
- Sofa. Your sofa should be kept as far away from the radiator as possible because it will block all the heat and stop it from dispersing across the room.
Can You Put TV Wires Behind a Radiator?
The heat from the radiator may not affect TV wires immediately. But with time, the heat will be sufficient to melt the outer casing of the wires.
TV wires should be placed at least one to two-inch away from the radiator. You can use a piece of insulation to keep your wires away from radiator pipes and ducts.
Conclusion
Ideally, TVs and heaters should be kept at a distance. Extended exposure can often irreversibly affect a TV set’s performance. However, doing so isn’t always convenient or feasible, so you can add insulation or use a floating shelf for your TV.
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