AV Blog from 1st Audio Visual: All Things AV

Install your new plasma by yourself, or hire a pro?

by admin on 05/01/09 at 6:57 am

Welcome back!

Install your new plasma by yourself, or hire a pro?

Just like any other piece of high priced technical equipment, when installing a plasma television, you need to make sure that you know what you’re doing.    Why?  Because you well know, these TVs aren’t cheap!  Most people wonder if they can do it themselves when they first purchase their new flat panels, and my advice to them is; if you have no experience or if you are at all unsure, it’s time to call in the pros.

There are many companies out there that offer Plasma TV installation services, but expect to pay upwards of $200.  Different companies will charge different rates depending on the amount of labour required for the install.  For example, if you want it wall mounted with hidden cables, be prepared for a substantial bill.  Having said that, it will be better to pay the professionals to do it right, rather than have you new television fall to the floor.

The first thing you must do if you are going to wall mount your new plasma is to get a stud finder.  (This is of course assuming that you will be installing into drywall & not brick or stone.  If you are installing into these surfaced, you must drill & use the appropriate wall hangers).  You will need to locate at least one stud or even perhaps two; this will depend on the weigh of your television & the recommendations in the installation manual.  Once you have found the stud(s), you will then deed to drill a hole, insert the anchor & the mount, and the hang the TV.  It will be very helpful to have friends assist you with this process.

In the wall mounting application, you will also have to decide if you would like to have the cabling exposed or if you would like to have it hidden.  Aesthetically, having the cables hidden is more pleasing to the eye, but this step is not necessary.  Accomplishing this, if hiding them is what you have decided to do, may require that you do hire a pro.

I hate to state the obvious, but wall mounting is the most difficult & the most important thing in plasma installation.  Because Plasmas are so fragile, you definitely don’t want to risk having them come loose & falling to the floor.  For this reason it is best to purchase the most expensive wall mounting kit that you can afford.  This will not only ensure the life of your TV, but it will help in the ease of the installation.

So weather you chose to install your Plasma television yourself or hire the pros, just be sure that your television mounts securely to the wall or ceiling where you have decided to place it.  Whatever option that you chose, you will be able to watch your new TV by the end of the day & enjoy it for many years to come.  And, you can be rest assured that your installation was secure & successful.