Modern TVs tend to be pretty delicate. That’s why you need to be extra careful when transporting, storing, or cleaning them. When moving your LED TV, is it okay to lay it flat?
You cannot lay an LED TV flat. This is because the LED screen is not designed to support its own weight, and placing the LED TV flat can result in cracks or warping. Therefore, it is important that you always keep your LED TV in an upright position.
This article will discuss this topic in more detail. I’ll discuss the dangers of laying an LED TV flat and whether there are instances where it’s okay to lay these appliances flat.
I’ll also dive into how you can minimize potential damage to your TV if you find yourself in a situation where you might have to lay it flat.
Is It Ever Okay To Lay an LED TV Flat?
It is never okay to lay your LED TV flat. While you can technically lay your LED TV flat when placing it in a box for transit or storage, the risks far outweigh the benefits. If you do not handle a laid LED TV carefully, you can damage it.
LED TVs aren’t designed to be laid flat. For starters, the screen is too delicate and incapable of supporting its weight. You can scratch or crack the screen. It’s also possible to cause internal damage that leads to issues like unsightly black spots on the screen whenever you turn the TV on.
Given how expensive LED TVs are, the last thing you want is for them to get damaged. Since accidental damage is typically not covered by warranties, you’re looking at potentially expensive repairs. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll have to replace your TV altogether.
How To Keep Your LED TV Safe During Transit
If you have to transport your LED TV from one location to another, here are the steps to do so.
- Ask another person to help you out. Considering how heavy LED TVs are, you’ll need at least one other person to hold the other end of the TV as you transport it.
- Find a box or bag that fits your TV. If you still have the box your TV came with, you can use that one. If not, use a container that fits your TV as closely as possible. Otherwise, the extra space will cause your TV to bounce around while in transit. If the only containers that can fit your TV are too large, don’t worry: I’ll go into the fixes for that later.
- Make sure the box is sturdy enough to support the TV’s weight. As you know, LED TVs can be quite heavy. Most thick cardboard boxes can do the job. You can also use bags designed to hold LED TVs, like the Arco LCD Transport Case for 27-45″ Displays (available on Amazon.com). The inside is made of material that won’t scratch your LED TV screen even if it moves around a bit.
- Hold the TV properly. Keeping the TV in an upright position, put your right hand under the TV and the left one above (or vice versa, if your left hand is stronger). The hand under the TV supports its weight, while the hand above is meant to stabilize it. Be careful not to let your fingers touch the screen. Otherwise, you’ll have to do the extra work of clearing fingerprints off of it later.
- Use proper lifting techniques if you’re lifting the TV off the floor. If you’re lifting from an elevated area like a console table, you can go straight to the next step. If not, after grabbing hold of the TV from the floor, do a squatting position. Keeping a straight posture, push off the floor with your hips and knees. By doing this, you can minimize the risk of injury to yourself and damage to the LED TV.
- Put the LED TV in the box or bag. Keeping your chosen container steady, slowly but surely put the TV in it. Be careful not to drop the TV abruptly or scratch the screen as you put it in the container.
- If the LED TV’s container is too big, put extra padding in it. Fortunately, there are a myriad of options for this. You can use the bubble wrap and styrofoam that came with your TV, for example. If you’ve thrown those away, you can use large blankets in their place.
- Transport the TV carefully. There’s no need to rush as you do so. If you need to go into tight corners, make sure the TV stays upright at all times.
- After you’ve laid your TV on the place where you intend to put it, carefully take out your TV from the container. Again, make sure you exercise the utmost care.
How To Keep Your LED TV Safe During Storage
To keep your LED TV safe during storage, here are the tips to keep in mind:
- Always lay your LED TV in an upright position. Under no circumstances should you lay your LED TV flat. Try to find a safe space in your home where it’s possible for your TV to stay upright and be protected from the elements.
- Cover your LED TV with protective material. You can use the plastic or bubble wrap your TV came with. If those are no longer available, use old, thick blankets instead.
- Avoid putting heavy objects on top of your TV. Like most electronic devices, LED TVs have hardware that’s as delicate as their software is powerful. If you have to put away your TV, make sure it doesn’t have anything else with it that can scratch it.
In the meantime, you can read my article on Smart TVs vs. LED TV: A Comparison to learn more about these appliances.
Conclusion
You can never lay an LED TV flat. Whether you’re storing or transporting it, it needs to stay upright at all times. Otherwise, you could end up damaging its delicate screen and paying for repairs that aren’t covered by the warranty.
Jason is a home theater expert with over 10 years of experience in setting up home cinema rooms and systems. What started out as a hobby soon transformed him into an authority in the audio-visual field. He is passionate about providing readers with accurate and up-to-date information on the latest audiovisual technologies and their applications for home theaters. Read more about Jason.