What You Need To Know About Transporting A Flat Screen TV

Moving Prep

Moving your house is a challenge in itself. You have countless things to pack and a million things to take care of. The process is long, extensive, and exhausting and can make anyone feel miserable, tired, and unhappy. But does this always have to be the case when moving? The answer is NO! And here is why?

With the right organization and packaging skills or with the help of trained professionals moving can actually be fun instead of stressful. And when it comes to stress nothing beats transporting your precious flat-screen TV from one place to another. 

The decision to move that fragile screen without proper packing and safety precautions can quickly turn your move into a nightmare. After all, flat-screen TV repairs can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars and in most instances have to be scrapped when damaged. It is safe to say that overlooking the fragility of your TV can easily burn a nasty hole in your pocket. 

How to Transport A Flat Screen TV?

First and foremost you should find the box your TV came in. It might be catching up dust in your storage or you might have utilized it for keeping other items. The original TV box is your best bet for transporting your flat-screen TV since it is designed to withstand considerable stress and protect your flat-screen TV from taking damage.

If you have thrown the original box out then you can get a custom TV box instead. These boxes come in all sizes and you can get one according to the size of your screen. They can cost anywhere between $40-150 depending on how good the quality is.

Remove All The Connecting Wires

Before proceeding to dismount your flat-screen TV from its wall mount or the TV stand you must remove the power cord and other wires/cables. Depending on what other gadgets/appliances are attached to your flat-screen TV, there can be HDMI cables, ethernet cables, or USB attached to the TV ports that all have to be disconnected before packing.

You can also label these wires and use a cable tie to secure each one of them once they are coiled up. Make sure to pack them with the TV so you do not have to look for them when setting up your flat-screen TV in your new house.

Remove The Mounts Or TV Base Stand 

Most flat-screen TVs are wall-mounted or otherwise placed on a base stand. Before getting your’s into the box you should remove the mount or the base stand. These mounts and stands have screws and bolts, make sure you secure them in a zip-lock bag. Use the same labeling procedure to help you distinguish between different types of screws. Lastly, try to keep the screws and the mount/stand together in the same box.  

Packing It In The Box

As stated above, if you have the original box of your flat-screen TV with all of its content, it will be a lot easier for you to pack your TV. Flat-screen TVs come with polystyrene foam casings that enclose the TV and keep it protected.  This casing will grip all four corners of your flat-screen TV and keep it from landing on other objects.

Start by enclosing your flat-screen TV inside the polystyrene foam casings and then wrap them using a plastic cling wrap to keep them from moving. Then you can slide your flat screen TV into the box. One last thing you can do is to look for any empty spaces that can compress under load, if there are any fill them with cushioning such as foam sheets or wooly clothes. 

What To Do If You Cannot Find The Box Or Buy One?

There is a high chance that you are not able to find the original box of your TV and at the same time also not able to get hold of custom boxes. Instead of worrying, you can use packing blankets or packing sleeves. These come in various sizes and provide enough cushioning to withstand the handling and moving that happens during transportation. 

While using these blankets you should still use the foam corners to secure the flat-screen TV and wrap the casing with plastic cling wrap. Then you can cover it with packing blankets or sleeves. It is recommended to use multiple blankets to ensure that the padding is enough to withstand the tumbles in the back of the transportation vehicle.

Can You Lay Down A Flat Screen TV?

Transporting a flat-screen TV is generally difficult. The chances of cracking or causing damage to your screen panel are numerous. It is quite concerning for the handlers since these things cost a lot and they need to be very careful when handling them. However, one thing the professionals for sure do not recommend is laying down your flat screen TV during the move.  

When a TV is laid down, the chances of external damage increase. If you lay down your flat-screen TV it might get cracks that are not visible to the naked eye. It can also result in noticeable lines on the screen panel or discoloration. Since these days most flat-screen TVs have LED panels they are more prone to damage and a slight jolt on the screen when lying down can cause catastrophic damage to the screen.

LED screens are comprised of layers upon layers of LED lights which if pressed can merge and get damaged. Hence, it is never recommended to place them flat with the screen pointing downwards. Laying your TV down can not only damage the screen panel but also causes the rear casing to break or crack as its structural integrity is disturbed. 

The Best Way Of Transporting A Flat Screen TV

The recommended course of action would be to move it in your car. However, if that is not possible you can keep the packed flat-screen TV box in a standing position between soft-cushioned items such as mattresses if using a truck or van to limit its movement and add some extra protection. 

When Should You Call In The Experts?

The decision to call professional movers will depend upon how many household items you have to move because it is not logical to call the movers just to get a TV moved. You can simply follow this step-by-step guide on how to transport your flat-screen TV instead. 

However, if you have valuables such as flat-screen TVs and other expensive electronic appliances such as ovens, microwaves, HVACs, fridges, and more it is best to hire experts such as Bin it, that are able to handle all your moving needs.