How To Keep Your TV Safe During A Move

If you’re getting ready to move house, or you’ve done it before, then you no doubt know the anxiety and concern that comes as part and parcel of the process.

Everyone has had those nightmare visions about fragile goods breaking in the back of the car.

The ones that always seem to be focused on the boxes with the soft packaging squeezed into them in the hope that any impact on the contents will be reduced to an absolute minimum. Those are the ones that cause the majority of concern.

It’s not always the large and bulky items that are the most difficult to transport, or cause the most concern.

There’s one particular item that isn’t that large. Nor is it that heavy, compared to your fridge or dining room table.

However, it is one of the items that you would least care to see incur any kind of damage during transit anywhere. And it’s one that can be more than a little awkward to move: your TV.

The Risks Involved In Moving A TV

Back in the good old days of analogue TVs, the only real concern with transporting a TV set was the fact that it was heavy, bulky, a little odd in shape (in terms of getting it into a box) — and the screen was made from thick glass.

Since digital technology became the norm though, there have been a variety of considerably different types of TV sets utilising increasingly more complex and delicate technology, so the risks of any kind of damage or breakage may vary, but nevertheless have become a real concern.

Moving a TV these days makes people worry about delicate TV screens, whatever technology your TV uses, be it plasma, LCD, or LED.

They also worry about the likelihood of any possible, even slight damage to these highly technical screens that may result in internal problems with the workings of the highly intricate technology involved. These issues don’t always show up immediately, either.

Worst case scenario?

You get to your new home, unpack and plug in your TV, and you’re met with a blank screen. Worse still, you get those colourful lines and a big black splotch in the middle.

Transporting any kind of delicate, hi-tech, and dare we say it, expensive item is always going to be a concern. And with some of today’s TVs verging on being works of art and costing anywhere in the region of between a few hundred and a few thousand dollars, nobody wants the hassle of broken, damaged or smashed TVs.

Repair costs are generally not that cheap either, and let’s be honest, it will take forever to get a new one through any insurance claim.

So unless you are happy to hand this particular task over to an experienced interstate removals company, you might want to consider a few things about the packing arrangements and the packaging required to safely move a flat screen TV.

How To Move A TV

These days, mainly due to the complex and intricate technology that goes into the delicate workings of something like a state-of-the-art plasma TV, it’s not quite as simple as just throwing it in a box and packing it out with newspaper.

Plasma, LCD or LED?

Right now, there are basically three common types of TV set, each of which have somewhat different considerations with regard to packing and moving.

The first are plasma screen TVs which basically have a thin layer of reinforced glass that holds millions of tiny little cells that contain the microscopic, fluorescent lamps responsible for the image on the screen.

The older existing models of flat screen TVs are most likely to be of the plasma variety, which as you have probably guessed, is rather delicate.

Then we have the LCD (liquid crystal display) screen that contains millions of pixels that allow different shades of light to be displayed.

Most of the models now in production have actually replaced the LCD type of TV and are now using variations on the theme such as LED models which are slowly morphing into yet more variations in the form of MicroLED.

It’s wise then to be aware of the different types of TV screens when packing them up.

From Plasma to MicroLED, the technology and sensitivity involved, particularly in the middle and around the edges of the screen area of a flat screen TV does require particular degrees of care to be taken.

And although there is nothing inherently complicated about packing and relocating a flat screen TV, the main issue is the fact that flat screen TVs are way more delicate than some people might imagine, and as new models like those utilising technology such as the latest MicroLED are put out onto the market, the delicacy becomes more and more of an issue than even the older LCD models which are now gradually being replaced.

In short, TVs aren’t really designed to be moved at all. The manufacturer’s expectation is that you get it home, set it up, and leave it there.

You’ve probably noticed that flat screens have gradually gotten flatter and thinner, yet are able to produce the most amazing quality of picture. This says a lot about the technology involved in the screen of the TV and means being extra careful with both the packaging involved and also the handling.

Definitely for maximum damage reduction the set needs to be in a box. (Did you actually hang on to that one the set came in a couple of years back?)

Don’t worry too much if you didn’t – most people generally don’t – because you can easily pick up a box for your flat screen, just make sure to have the measurements to hand. Prices for decent boxes tend to be in the range of between $30 and $100, or more for real heavy-duty affairs.

Frontline Removals have a number of packing boxes and other quality packaging materials. Check them out HERE

How To Pack A TV For Moving

1. Remove All Cords And Cables

The very first thing to consider is that the flat screen TV needs to be completely alleviated of all cords and cables before you even think about packing it up.

To make reconnection a little easier later on, take a picture of the TV with all of the wiring and cables in place as a guide to remember where they all go – just in case you are not the technical type.

Then make sure all cords and cables are removed, coiled, and secured (labelled even?) before being packed away.

2. Detach It From The Base And Remove All Screws

This might sound a little bit obvious, but it’s much more efficient to transport flat screen TVs when they have been disconnected from any bases or wall mountings. You probably won’t be able to fit it in the box without doing so anyway.

Make sure you have all the screws that came with it in one place when you unpack your TV at the other end! (Again maybe consider small, labelled plastic bags if you feel it necessary.)

3. Put It In A Box

If you do decide to buy a packaging box for moving your TV, you might find that in addition to the box itself there are a few pieces of foam to be used for the protection of the TV’s corners and to stop it from moving during transport.

The foam pieces should be secured by wrapping the whole TV in stretch wrap to keep them in place and provide further protection.

The wrapped TV should be placed gently inside of the box, taking care to slowly ease it in, rather than just letting it drop to the bottom. Any gaps that remain should be filled in if possible to further reduce the probability of the TV moving around in the box or allowing the possibility of any pressure on the screen.

Can I Move A Flat Screen TV With No Box?

It’s not the best option by any means, and the risks to your TV are obvious.

That said, if you really do have to move that TV and you really can’t lay your hands on a good box -- then the next best option is to wrap up the TV using moving blankets. While not ideal, they’ll still provide some much-needed cushioning against any potential knocks during your move.

And (did we say yet that this is not the best option?) even with moving blankets it would still be a wise choice to use foam corner protectors if you can get your hands on them. You can pick these up at the same places you would normally buy any other packaging materials.

The stretch wrap would also again be an optimal choice here, just like if you were loading your TV into a box. The corners should be put on and the complete TV wrapped with the plastic stretch wrap.

After that the TV should be wrapped securely in the moving blankets, of which it might be wise to use more than one if it is possible.

Don’t Lay Your TV Flat

You may have heard that flat screens should not be laid flat, and the main reason for that is due to the plasma (LCD/LED crystals) inside the screen, and particularly the areas that are most vulnerable.

Gone are the days when you only had to worry about the glass getting cracked – now you have to consider the internal workings of your flat screen TV, too. By laying it flat, there is a significant risk of the plasma elements somehow becoming displaced.

There is still considerable debate as to whether any internal damage to a flat screen is possible from being laid flat, However, there is always the likelihood of external damage, especially if any other object finds its way on top of the TV while it is flat.

The main consideration here is that the weight distribution around the edges of a flat screen is constructed in such a way as to keep pressure off the delicate surface of the screen, which means that the laying down of it disrupts or misaligns this balance.

If, for instance, the weight moves too much towards the central region of the device, the TV is in inherent danger of incurring cracks that could debilitate the TV either straight away or even gradually over time.

In short, it’s not the best idea when transporting a flat screen TV to lay it flat. Try to secure a reasonable place, either propped up and wedged on the back seat of a car, or in the moving truck wedged between mattresses or other similarly soft furniture items.

How To Move A Flat Screen TV - Get A Bloke In

If you’re seriously that worried about moving your flat screen TV on your own (which you should be), it would be wise to consider hiring professional movers who can do it for you.

Then relax a little bit, and let the experts take care of moving your flat screen TV safely to wherever you are heading.

The Most Common FAQs about Moving TVs

Even though all of the relevant technical and experiential information is available for all to see, there is still a surprising amount of confusion about what you can, can’t, should and shouldn’t do when moving a TV.

Here are the most commonly asked questions which have been covered to some degree but serve the purpose of further clarification.

What Are The Differences Between LCD, LED and Plasma TVs?

As we have already outlined, the differences are mainly technological, but they are all equally delicate and vulnerable when being moved around and hence need to be handled delicately and positioned accordingly.

Can I Lay My TV Down When Moving?

In short -- no. The design and technology inherent in this kind of TV dictates that, in order to ensure even weight distribution throughout the screen (and hence limit damage) and avoid unnecessary vibration or pressure that could lead to cracks.

Should I Move My TV Myself Or Get Someone Else To Do It?

Obviously this choice is entirely yours.

We’d recommend getting a professional removalist to help with this, though also obviously, we’re a little biased here.

Conclusion

Moving a TV doesn’t have to mean literally babysitting the thing by yourself, sitting in the back of the moving van with your arms wrapped around it.

With a bit of planning, foresight, and safe thinking, you can fairly easily pack and move even the most expensive of TV.

That said, it’s always a risk when doing this yourself, so wherever possible, let a professional help you out. Give us a call today to discuss getting your TV moved safely.