OLED TVs generally look thin and fragile. But can you still transport it safely to another location? Generally, transporting TVs is an activity that you should carry out with much care to avoid accidents and damage to the unit. In this article, we guide you on transporting your OLED TV.
Why OLED TVs Should Not Be Laid Flat
OLED TVs are designed and built in such a way that the weight is majorly distributed to the sides of the TV. Consequently, the center parts of OLED TVs are usually free from any load or pressure.
Due to this design, it is not advisable to lay OLED TVs flat. If you do so, the center parts of the TV start to experience some pressure which is likely to cause the screen to crack. You can however transport an OLED TV flat if it is in its original packaging (TV box) with the styrofoam intact.
If your TV screen does not crack immediately due to flat laying, it may develop minor cracks that can quickly build up into much bigger cracks in the future and affect the operation of the TV.
Also, laying the TV flat may sometimes cause the screen to scratch. This will most likely ruin your viewing experience or expose you to hefty repair bills.
Therefore, even though some people may encourage you to transport OLED TV while laid flat just like any other TV, it is a dangerous idea that can easily cost you a lot of loss.
Popular Myths About OLED TVs That Are Not True
1. Delamination Of The TV
This is a phenomenon where the material of the TV fractures and settles at the bottom when the TV is laid flat. Some people believe this will happen to OLED TVs when laid flat. This is, however, just a myth.
The truth is, TVs do not have any form of material that floats and could easily settle at the bottom when the TV is laid in some position, whether flat, upright or upside down.
2. It Is Unsafe To Switch On OLED TVs Immediately After Transportation
This is basically an extension of the declamation myth above. Some people believe that the TV has a material that will either get disturbed or settle down during transportation and that you must give this material enough time to redistribute itself and settle after transportation.
This is not true. You can safely turn on OLED TVs immediately after transporting them to whatever distance.
3. Leave The TV To Warm Up To Room Temperature Before Switching It On
Any TV will indeed become cold in winter or probably when transported from a warm area to a cold location. However, this temperature change will not affect the functionality of your OLED TV.
OLED TVs are designed in a way that they can cope with more comprehensive ranges of temperature without affecting their operation. So, this is just but a myth.
Is There A Better Way To Keep OLED TVs During Transit Or While Wall-Mounting Them?
You already learned from the discussion above that OLED TVs should not be laid flat to avoid cracking the glass due to pressure.
Also, the glass can scratch and leave you with a lousy screen that is more expensive to repair. However, these are general issues you are likely to experience with any other TV as well.
In fact, you will always see people carry glass upright and not horizontally. Even better, you will always see vertical racks on the trucks that ferry glass to ensure the glass is only transported while upright.
It is, therefore, safer to handle OLED TVs on transit in a similar way you would handle glass on transit – keeping them upright.
Also, we recommend that you transport the TV inside the original box it came with. You should well fit the packing materials inside the box to help keep the TV upright.
You can confirm these recommendations on the official LG website. LG is a major OLED TV manufacturer.
On the other hand, you should treat wall mounting TVs the same way. Seek help from another person to help you keep the TV vertical while you screw it up on the wall.
Can You Still Move The TV Without The Original Packaging Material?
As we already mentioned, it is recommended and safer to transport OLED TV in their original packaging material.
However, you can still take precautionary steps to enhance the safety of the TV in transit even without the original box and foam. Here are some critical steps to take.
Step 1: Purchase some foam from your local store or online.
Step 2: Remove all the bases, cables, and screws from the TV before packaging it. This will protect the LED screen further as there will be no other material to come loose and damage it. Store the materials safely with labeling to make them easier to reassemble.
Step 3: Secure the corners of the OLED TV with the foam you acquired.
Step 4: Use some masking tape to tape the foam in place so that the foam does not move while you transport the TV.
Step 5: Wrap up the entire TV with some moving blankets to provide the padding required to protect the TV in case of bumps or shocks during transportation. Wrap the TV up with more blankets until you are very confident about the safety of your TV.
Step 6: Place the TV in a safe place while you prepare to transport it. Ensure the TV remains vertical until you reach the new location.
If Your Oled Tv Screen Cracks Due To Laying It Flat, Can It Be Repaired?
Even though you take precautionary measures to secure your TV, some accidents may not be avoidable. Fortunately, if the screen cracks, you can get it repaired.
However, the cost of repairing an OLED TV screen is so high, almost as much as buying a new TV.
Therefore, if you do not have a warranty to support the replacement, it would be much better to buy a new OLED TV instead of repairing the screen.
Conclusion
Finally, you have learned that OLED TVs should not be laid flat, not to avoid the myths, but to secure the TV from external damage such as a crack in the LED screen. Use this guide whenever you have an OLED TV to use and take care of, especially during transportation.