Our flat-screen LCD TV is sitting on the mantle. Will it hurt the TV to use the fireplace?

Just reassure it that you still like it and that the fireplace is not a replacement for it. That should console it.

If you’re concerned about burning the thing then turn it on and see how hot it gets. TVs put out a lot of heat so its possible you could have a problem if they’re both on at the same time.

Most likely it will; any heat radiating from the mantle or up along the aperture if the fireplace will warp the finish and likely damage the conductive layers of the LCD panel.

Thanks, sndfreQ. I guess that means it could hurt the TV whether or not the TV is turned on.

Run the fireplace for quite a while, then put your hand above it where the TV would sit to see the heat. If you can’t feel a measurable heat then you are probably fine. If it is warm-hot, probably not a good idea.

Gas fireplaces are much less hot then wood, so that’s a plus for you.

Only problem with that is that heat exiting the front vents out and up…if you plan on doing some tests (removing the LCD first), perhaps measure the ambient temp on the surface and just in front of the mantle; convection and heat naturally rising may be taken into account that way esp. w/ a digital thermometer. If I were in your shoes I’d look up the specifications on the display in the manual and look at ambient temperature tolerances before any sort of risky exposure. Good luck Ketoneus-that’s an expensive experiment otherwise ;)

I just can’t get past the irony here. You’ve got a perfectly good fireplace – something that families used to gather around and talk – and you’re gonna put the boob tube right over it! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a gamer myself. I’d love to play the Xbox all day if I could, and I didn’t install that surround sound for nothin’ – but I have to echo paulc here and say for you to NOT make eye contact with your fireplace the whole time you’re looking in it’s general direction(?!) is just cruel.

That’ll still heat the area above where the TV would be, so yes, let it go for an hour, and if it stays relatively tepid, then stick the boob tube there and all will still be well with the world.

it’s a gas fireplace, those don’t throw any heat, so it should be fine. Wood burning fireplace would be a def. No-no, IMO.

I’d suggest purchasing a DVD called, “BURNING FIREPLACE” and watching that on the TV screen, and leave the actual fireplace totally untouched.

That way, no heat is generated onto the TV screen, yet you can still watch logs burning in a fireplace image.

I believe there is also a video called, “AQUARIUM,” if you’re interested.

September 3, 2008, 1:17 AM EDT

Mav: zoiks!? Gas fireplaces give off no heat? Not the ones I’ve seen….

@JA: Ketoneus could go a step further and put the LCD in the fireplace while he’s at it!

Yes, provided that the fireplace was NOT being utilized for its created/intended purpose…

September 3, 2008, 1:37 AM EDT

Consider the following:

1. Read the manual of your TV, there should be a storage temperature range in the spec. Common sense is around 100–120F maximum

2. Have the fireplace burning for an extended period of time, measure the temperature at a few various points where your TV would be. For example, the outer edge center point and 2 edges of the mantel. Tape a thermometer on the wall also, to read the temperature closest to the wall, and try to measure a few spots betweeen the lowest and the highest point.

3. Then you have the idea of the ambient temperatures your TV will be at while the fireplace is being used. If they are close to or above the maximum storage temperature (say 100 or whatever your manual said), you should not keep the TV above the mantel when the fireplace is being used.

4. Bear in mind, the bulit-in cooling mechanism of your TV will not operate efficiently at high ambient temperatures, so if you light the fireplace and watch TV at the same time, you want to be extra careful. If I were you I won’t do both or at least not for long, unless your ambient temperature readings at step 3 are fairly low, say, in the 70s.

5. If you mantel is deep enough, you can just use the table top stand, without having to bolt into the wall.

6. Although, hanging the TV on the wall is actually a better looking option. Concealing the cables is a personal must for me too. But the whole job is such a pain in the neck, and there is more heat concern.