Summary
- Turn TV off a TV when no one’s using it, no matter how much you might like having voices in the background. Screensavers still take a toll on your TV in the long run.
- Keep ports and vents clean, since dust blocks airflow, and can even lead to static shocks. Use a microfiber cloth and/or compressed air every few months.
- Control ambient temperature and humidity. To protect against power spikes, buy a surge protector rated for at least 1,000 joules, ideally 2,000 or more.
One of the biggest problems of the modern tech industry is rapid obsolescence. While a lot of people have overcome the notion that they need a new smartphone every year, any model you buy now is probably going to feel outdated in five years. In 10 years, it might as well be an antique. A gaming PC often starts to feel limited by the three-year mark, and there are people who buy new devices of all kinds every year simply out of FOMO. That even applies to PEVs — diehards will sell a perfectly good wheel because they demand the best performance.
TVs tend to be an exception to the rule. A set you bought in 2015 should still be relevant today, no matter if it’s missing the latest and greatest features. Heck, if you buy a 4K TV with support for Dolby Vision 2, it could be the last TV you ever buy, assuming companies like Apple and Google live up to their aims for augmented reality glasses. It’s hard to compete with a virtual 100-inch movie screen you can take anywhere.
To keep a TV healthy as long as possible, there are a number of practices you need to adopt. You don’t always have to be militant about them, but the stricter you are, the better your chances.
Turn off your TV when no one’s using it
Screensavers are your enemy
This tip seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who leave their TVs on for hours at a time without paying attention to them. Some people put shows on in the background because they find the audio comforting. Others, meanwhile, may want their TV ready to go the moment they sit down. More recently, some TV and media streamer manufacturers have decided to elevate screensavers, for instance producing TVs meant to look like gallery paintings.
The longer you run a TV, however, the more you’re going to wear out its components, owing to the effects of heat. The screen itself is particularly vulnerable, since just a few dead or stuck pixels can become distracting. Be especially careful with OLED TVs — these are vulnerable to burn-in, a form of damage caused by leaving static images onscreen for too long. Screensavers are nominally intended to prevent burn-in (hence the name), but shutting a TV off is always preferable.
Make powering down a habit, just like washing your hands or making your bed in the morning. If you’re prone to getting forgetful or distracted, some TVs have automatic power-off functions. Alternately, you may be able to use a smart plug to toggle power at specific times of day.
Keep your TV’s ports and vents clean
Grab an air can if you need one
Dust doesn’t generate heat, naturally, but over time, an accumulation of it can form an insulating layer, blocking airflow. The heaviest build-up risks static discharges that might shock you or your hardware. I’ve never experienced a shock myself — but I’m not eager to test the odds, either.
You don’t need to dust your TV every day, every week, or even every month. But every few months, it’s worth going behind your TV (powered off) with a microfiber cloth to wipe down exposed ports and vents. For areas that are tough to reach, consider using an air bulb or a compressed air can. Keep cans level as you spray. If you tilt them too far up or down, they may spray out liquid that you don’t want to contact any electronics. If you do accidentally get some liquid on a port or cable, dry it off as soon as possible.
Cleaning your screen is mostly a cosmetic thing, but should be done occasionally to preserve image quality and further minimize heat. Use a microfiber cloth and gentle cleaning fluid, meaning nothing like alcohol or window cleaner. Water may be enough if there aren’t any streaks.
Keep ambient temperature and humidity under control
The silent killers
A lot of the promotional images for TVs depict them in rooms flooded with sunlight, but that’s only for the sake of style. In reality, your TV should be kept out of direct sunlight as much as possible. You’ve guessed it — the added heat can become a problem. Close curtains and blinds when you can, and if necessary, reposition your TV.
If a room feels unusually warm regardless, double-check its air temperature. You should be fine as long as it’s under 80F (about 27C). Anything over that is going to put unnecessary strain on electronics, if probably not cataclysmic. A small fan may be all you need to bring things under control.
Humidity isn’t normally a threat, but if enough moisture condenses inside your TV, it can lead to a short-circuit. Some preventative solutions for this include better ventilation, running your air conditioning more often, or buying a dehumidifier.
Turn on built-in preservation options
Tweak brightness levels, while you’re at it
Since no one appreciates a broken TV, many models now have software features that can prolong runtime. I’ve already touched on two of them — screensavers and auto-power-off — but some may go further, for instance, automatically dimming your screen once ambient light falls low enough. On OLED sets, features like pixel-shifting, logo luminance adjustment, and panel refresh cycles can minimize the danger of burn-in or uneven pixel “aging.” These things are likely to be active by default, but it can’t hurt to verify that by exploring your TV’s Settings app.
If your TV doesn’t have auto-brightness functions, put on a test movie, then tweak your brightness gradually until it’s as low as possible while still presenting a pleasant image. Ideally, you should do this surrounded by the highest ambient light you expect to cope with. Leave HDR (high dynamic range) on, too. While strong highlights can technically affect longevity, that may be offset by not having to ramp up overall brightness.
Use a surge protector
Your defense against catastrophe
It’s plausible that a TV plugged into a wall or conventional power strip will stay safe the entire time you own it. Spikes can happen, however, whether because of storms, trouble with your local power grid, or issues in your house or apartment building. Many of these spikes are trivial — but large ones can fry your equipment, and you don’t want to discover that the hard way.
I don’t have any recommendations for brands, but any surge protector you buy should be rated for at least 1,000 joules (1kJ). This should cover your TV and a few peripherals. If you’ve got a full home theater setup, or you want to be absolutely secure, aim for 2,000 joules (2kJ) or more.
