Still Not Sure About Buying MantelMount? We Answer Some of Your Most Frequent Questions
Televisions were invented nearly 100 years ago — in 1927, to be exact (though the first televisions were sold in 1929) — and one could say we’ve come a long way since then. When they first rolled off factory floors, there wasn’t a huge demand for them, initially. Many households predominantly listened to the radio. Slowly but surely though, the tv trend took off and by the ‘90s nearly every household had a tv — and a designated spot for that tv in the living room.
Today, nearly 122.4 million homes in the United States have a tv and this prevalence has led to a rise in the demand for furniture — and tv mounts — to house that tv. Depending on the layout of your home, whether it’s open concept or small and compact, you may have to get creative about where you place your tv. But those of us at MantelMount do not believe that placement should come at the expense of your tv-viewing experience. That’s why, when we created MantelMount, we sought to make a tv mount that could serve as a versatile solution for any home, tv size, and viewing preference.
In this article, we’re tackling some of the most frequently asked questions about MantelMount to ease the skepticism of those last few holdouts and highlight all of the wonderful features of this award-winning tv mount.
FAQ #1. Can you put a MantelMount over the fireplace?
Before MantelMount, the answer might have been “no.” Now, thanks to MantelMount Pull-Down Mounts, the answer is a resounding “yes”. In fact, it’s kind of our thing, you might say, and we’ve written about the merits of mounting your tv above the fireplace, in the past.
Placing a tv above the fireplace is a popular mounting option! Not only is it often the only open wall space in a room, it places the tv in the focal point of the room — which can work well from an aesthetic perspective if you can get creative with your decor.
Mounting your tv this high though can create a little bit of a tradeoff: When you mount your tv above the fireplace, it is generally well above eye-level, which is not the optimal viewing angle for tv-watching — think about the last time you were forced to crane your neck to watch a movie in a movie theater.
MantelMount brings your tv down to eye level. In fact, it lowers the tv a full 24 inches from the mounted position (26 inches with the professional version). This creates the perfect viewing angle as well as eliminating the neck and back issues that can arise. And it allows you to utilize that nice big space above the fireplace, or even an open space high up on a wall.
Further reading:
Everything You Need to Know About Mounting a TV Above the Fireplace
Why You Should Place The Bottom Third of Your TV Screen Below Eye-Level
How to Decorate a Mantel With a TV Above: Plus Decor Ideas for Above the Fireplace
Other FAQs:
“How will lowering my tv improve the viewing experience?”
“Will MantelMount fit my tv and wall space?”
FAQ #2. What if I want to light a fire while I’m watching TV?
When we created MantelMount, the tv-viewing experience was always top-of-mind for our customers. That’s why we patented heat-sensing handles that begin to glow red when the temperature goes above 110° Fahrenheit (43° Celsius). At that point, you can either put the tv back up or put out the fire.
So while we do not encourage customers to have their tv in the lowered position when the fireplace is on, these heat-sensing handles will ensure that the safety of your tv — and of your family members — is paramount.
Further reading:
How High Should I Mount a Flat Screen For the Best TV-Viewing Experience?
How to Mount a TV on a Brick Wall
How to Mount a TV on Uneven Stone
Other FAQs:
"Why do the handles on MantelMount TV mounts turn red?"
“Why is MantelMount much safer than other mounts?”
FAQ #3. Do I need to get a professional to install it?
If you’re already familiar with MantelMount or this is your first time seeing it, our tv mount might look a little intimidating to the at-home DIYer. But don’t worry, installation is simple for the payoff that our world-class mounts offer. If you are even the least bit handy, you can install it yourself in about 60-90 minutes. However, if you don’t want to be bothered with the installation, there are any number of professionals who can help you install your MantelMount wherever you want it.
Further reading:
Tech Guru Dave Taylor Reviews the MantelMount MM540 Enhanced Pull Down TV Mount
The Experts at MantelMount Discuss How to Mount a TV Without Studs
Here’s What to Do When You’re Ready to Hire a Pro to Mount Your TV
Other FAQs:
“Are there install manuals and videos?”
“Where can I find a professional installer or dealer?”
“Can MantelMount be easily installed on brick or stone?”
FAQ #4. Are MantelMounts expensive?
There are mounts you can buy for under $100. There are mounts that are even under $50. But they have serious issues. The big one is that they do not move up and down, so you can’t mount the tv above the fireplace. Even the ones that do move vertically are, by and large, poorly constructed from inferior materials.
MantelMount’s patented construction combines high-quality automotive pistons with lightweight alloys. That means it will last — and it will protect the investment you’ve made in that beautiful, new flatscreen tv. The bottom line is, do you really want to hoist your $700 flat screen up onto a $100 tv mount? Secure your investment and have peace of mind.
If you aren’t sure which MantelMount is correct for you, check out our Collections page for a price comparison between our three most popular models.
Further reading:
Build the Ultimate Backyard Entertainment Center With MantelMount
Renter-Friendly TV Mounting Tips for Those Who are Moving Out or Moving In
Here’s How to Safely Pack and Transport Your Expensive TV
Other FAQs:
“Do you offer pay later options?”
“Do you have a money-back guarantee?”
FAQ #5. How easy is it to move up and down?
MantelMount features state-of-the-art counterbalance technology, allowing virtually anyone to easily pull a large flat screen tv down off the wall, suspend it at eye-level in front of the fireplace, and swivel it left or right. So if your child wants to move it to watch “Zootopia” for the 237th time at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning, they can do it themselves (assuming they can reach it). And you can stay in bed until you hear the sound of the bottle of apple juice crashing on the floor.
It is so easy that, at trade shows, we like to show off by raising and lowering a 60-inch TV with just two fingers. (You can do it with just one finger, assuming that finger has an active gym membership.) And when you’re ready to move the tv out of the way, our patented auto-straightening mechanism makes it possible to easily glide your tv back to your wall without causing a collision — even when the tv is lowered in a swiveled position!
Further reading:
Common TV Bracket & Mount Terminology
The Differences Between Articulating and Tilting Wall Mounts
Other FAQs:
"What is the patented Auto-Straightening Feature?"
“What is the patented Auto-Stabilization Feature?”
“Can you tilt the MantelMount?”
Any other questions?
You might still have some questions about MantelMount and that’s great! We’re happy to help wherever you are in the buying process. If you still have questions, contact us at 800.897.9755 or contact@mantelmount.com.