Taking some simple steps to keep your TV clean and well-maintained may delay any decisions you have to make about repairs or replacement. Below are some tips for keeping it behaving like new.
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• For sets of all sizes, keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat.
• Projection TV screens can scratch easily, so be careful when cleaning them. Some regular LCD TVs and computer monitors also have plastic coatings that may get scratched by overzealous cleaning.
• Many types of TV sets give off heat and have air vents. Be sure not to block the air flow.
• For plasma and CRT types, to avoid image "burn in", avoid displaying any stationary (still) images for a long time, as well as programs with stationary images, such as logos, or areas of constant use, such as news tickers, graphics, etc. You should also keep the overall brightness (contrast setting) low, use the zoom or stretch modes as needed so images use the full screen area (no dark bars on the sides). Finally, enable the "Image Shift" and "Screen Saver" features on the TV if it has them.
• With CRT rear-projection designs, you must align the three small CRTs, as needed, for best picture performance. Bumping the set can cause misalignment. (Newer microdisplay types including LCD, DLP, or LCOS rear-projection sets don't have misalignment issues.)
• For the set's safety as well as your own, make sure wall-mounted sets are properly mounted and any furniture you use to support a set is stable and can easily stand the weight.
• If you are connecting the TV's VHF/UHF input to a roof antenna, consider getting an in-line RF surge protector. It won't save your set from a direct or very close lightning strike, but it'll improve your TV's odds of surviving a more-distant one.
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