Many amateurs try to tackle TV installation and mounting by themselves because they underestimate the potential dangers that come with taking on the job without the necessary training and experience. That’s why today we are touching on seven of the dangers of DIY TV installation and mounting.
7 Dangers of DIY TV Installation and Mounting
1. A Failure to Achor Your TV Properly
The one thing that usually springs to mind when we’re talking about TV installation and mounting gone wrong, is having the TV fall off the wall. One of the reasons that this happens is because you have not anchored your television to the wall or that you have improperly anchored the TV to the wall. You should ALWAYS anchor your TV when wall mounting and when you do anchor your television to the wall, you have to be sure to use anchors that are rated for the weight of your television and designed for use with your mounting surface.
2. Dropping Your TV
It’s true that televisions are getting lighter these days, but the weight of your TV isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to being able to properly hold, lift, and install it. The shape and size of your television also play a role in being able to manage your television and this only becomes more challenging when you have to lift and mount that TV to your wall! Even with friends on hand to help you, dropping your TV is a real risk.
3. About That Power Cord…
When you tackle your own TV installation and mounting, it’s not uncommon to underestimate the length of your TV’s power cord. This is dangerous for a few reasons. Firstly, utilizing an extension cord is simply not something you should consider if you have other alternatives. Extension cords can be fire hazards and tripping hazards. Secondly, if you stretch your TV power cord to reach a power source because you underestimated the distance between the plug and your television, that stretching can compromise the integrity of the cord and pose a fire hazard or in the very least, cause your TV to malfunction.
4. Electrocution
Yes, we know, it sounds dramatic, but electrocution is a real risk when you try TV installation and mounting without experience with electrics. Firstly, if you have no idea what you are doing, there’s a chance that you could hit wiring when installing your TV mount. Although this isn’t as likely as improperly wiring your television or improperly running wiring when trying to hide it behind the wall. Our advice is that you never interfere with the electrical system in your home unless you have training as an electrician.
5. Using the Wrong Cables
Did you know that when you install your television wiring behind the wall of your home, that you have to use cables that are rated for in-wall use? When you utilize any cables for in-wall installation they have to be rated for in-wall use to ensure that they do not pose any hazards to human health and safety.
6. Problems with Mounting
When you take on TV installation and mounting yourself, it isn’t uncommon to step back when you’ve finished and to realize that you have mounted your television at the wrong level. The instinct for most people is to tug on that mount or push it upward in hopes that you can fix the issue without having to completely reinstall. Don’t. Tugging, pulling, or pushing your wall-mounted television can compromise the integrity of the solid anchor system you have put in place and that can end up with your TV falling off the wall!
7. Crippling Injury
It’s one of the last things that most people think about when considering the dangers of DIY television installation and mounting, but injury is a real risk that can wind up impacting the rest of your life. Whether you injure your back from lifting, twisting, straining, or reaching, or whether you hurt your neck while taking care of construction aspects of the install, you run the risk of an injury that will permanently affect the rest of your life. You may think that this is only a consideration for less physically fit people, but injury can happen to anyone.
Looking For TV Installation and Mounting Professionals?
If you’re looking for TV installation and mounting professionals to get the job done professionally so that you don’t risk any of the dangers listed above, call Gulf Coast Installs today at (239)-682-1077! With 19 years of professional installation experience, we are the Southwest installation company that you can trust.
