Articulating TV Wall Mounts

So you have gone out and purchased your dream television. Congratulations! You are going to enjoy countless hours of family fun while watching movies, sporting events and video games. Now that you have the television, there are two different options available to you for placement.

To start, you can place the television on a television card or entertainment center. This is the easiest option and does not require a significant amount of time, as you just slide the television into the provided stand and set it up on the entertainment center. Of course the other option, which opens up additional space in your room, is the ability to mount the television onto the wall. The television side of the mount is generally provided with the television, although you may be required to go out and purchase the actual wall mount that fixes to the wall.

When performing the wall mount, you need to make sure everything fits and is mounted correctly, as you don't want your expensive investment to come crashing down to the floor. Last thing you want to happen is you going out to purchase a new television for a second straight time.

Appropriate Weight the Mount can Hold

If you need to go out to purchase a new TV wall mount, make sure the mount is able to hold the weight of your television. Inside the television's user manual, it states all the specifications, including the overall weight of the equipment. You want to make sure the wall mount is capable of exceeding the weight of your television. This helps prevent the television from falling down and ripping out of the wall. You can find these television wall mounts at any store that sells televisions, so the wall mounting equipment is available just about anywhere. You also want to make sure the television wall mount functions with your specific model of TV.

If the wall mount does not come with the television, the individual mount states what television brands it works with (in addition to the total weight and size of the TV). As long as the mount functions with the size of your television, the brand name and the overall weight of the set, you are good to go.

Correct Anchors for Mounting

Unless you are attaching the TV wall mount to a wood frame or studs, you do need anchors to perform the installation process. The television mount comes with the screws that are designed to work with the television, but unless the screws are able to take purchase in the wall material, it does not matter how sturdy or secure the screws are. Outside of wood, just about every material a wall is made of does require some sort of an anchor. This includes drywall, brick and concrete. The anchors help a screw grip into the wall and prevents the screw from ripping out. There is a specific anchor for each material, so make sure you purchase these anchors from your local hardware store to fit the same size as the screws provided.

After your drill into the material, you need to slide the anchors in. With the anchors in place, you are then able to place the wall mount onto the wall and tighten it up. Without the anchors, the screws are not going to stay in place (especially with harder materials such as brick and concrete), and when the screws are not able to stay in place or stay attached to the wall, it just leads to bad news and your television is going to fall and possibly break.

Choose Your Best Television Location

When deciding on a location for your television, make sure you select a prime spot. You don't want windows on the opposite side of the television, as this is just going to create a blur and glare on the television. You probably don't want your room always shielded of sunlight, so try to put the television on the same wall as the windows. This prevents the light from bouncing off of the television and making the image hard to see. Also, if the only place is above a fireplace, try not to place it close to the opening of the fire. The heat of the fireplace is capable of making the screws and anchors expand, and retract, which causes the anchors and screws to shift inside the created holes, which in turn might cause the television to fall out of place.

Make sure the television is not near any heating or air duct also, as this may have the same affect as placing the set above a fireplace. You want to have constant temperatures and elements around the television, not only to increase the life of the device, but also to keep it safe and prevent it from dropping off.

Measure your Television Wall Mount

The rear of the wall mount has specific location for the screw holes. You need to measure the distance between the holes in order to properly place the anchors and the screws into the wall. You also need to make sure the screws are level, as you don't want the television tilted slightly in one directly or the other.

After you have drawn out the first hole on the wall, make sure you use a level in order to create a straight line to the second hole. Mark out the location of the second hole that is level to the first. With these to positions marked, hold up the television wall mount and make sure the measurements are accurate (you can see the markings through the screw holes on the mount). If the markings are not accurate you can remeasure. This is better than placing multiple holes in your wall before you find the correct location.

Test the TV Wall Mount

Once the wall mount is in position with the wall anchors in place, you want to make sure the mount is secure. Just because the wall mount is standing upright in the wall, it doesn't mean it is ready for the television placement. Slightly tug and place some pressure on the television wall mount. If the mount does not move, you know the mount is installed properly and you are ready to place the television onto the mount.

Of course, don't tug excessively hard on the mount, as you don't want to completely rip it out of the wall because you pulled to hard. This is going to damage your wall, especially if it is made out of drywall. If the mount shifts and moves slightly when you tug, you do need to secure it better, as the constant weight of the television is going to pull the wall mount down eventually, when not properly secure.

Install the TV

You may need a little help with this, especially if it is a larger television, but you want the wall mount to slide into the rear of the television (there is a mount connector that performs this). With the mount connected to the television, you now need to attach the TV to the mount with the provided screws. Make sure the screws are firmly tight to the mount, and that the television does not move once the equipment is attached. When it is secure you are able to step away and take in your newly mounted television.