Whether you already own a smart TV or planning to buy one during the upcoming festive sale period, you should follow some steps to make sure that it works well and lasts for years to come, after all, you’ve spent a lot of money on it. Whether it’s an LCD TV or an OLED TV, following the guidelines mentioned in this article will extend the TV’s lifespan and offer you an excellent audio-visual experience. Needless to say, these steps also apply to non-smart TVs as well.

1. Peel Off That Plastic Cover

The first and foremost step to do after installing a new TV is to peel off the plastic cover from the screen. You should also remove any stickers or advertising material that might be attached to the screen or the frame of the TV. Letting those covers and stickers stay might make you feel like they’ll protect the TV from dust, but they do more harm than good. The TV needs to dissipate heat generated while displaying video, and the plastic film creates a hurdle in heat dissipation, which might affect the longevity of the display panel in the long run.

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2. Use Clean, Stabilised Power Supply

If you’ve experienced power fluctuations or leakage in your home, it is always safer to use a power stabiliser with the TV rather than plugging it directly into the power socket. An extra layer of protection is always considered as safer because the standard brand warranty doesn’t cover damage due to high or low voltages.

If you are still in the process of buying a new TV, look out for TVs that have some sort of built-in protection against power fluctuations, something that is commonplace in India.

3. Choose Good Quality Cables

Since it’s a smart TV, there’s a good chance that it is connected to several devices such as a multi-channel audio system, a gaming console, a set-top box, or a media player. Whether it’s an HDMI cable, optical audio cable, or analogue AV cables, make sure that the cables are of high quality.

So how does one make sure that cables are of good quality? Check for these features:

  1. The cable shouldn’t be stiff. It should be smooth, and it should bend easily.
  2. Its connectors should be strong and made of metal.
  3. It should use oxygen-free copper (in case of copper cables).
  4. In case of HDMI cables, make sure that you’re buying a cable with at least HDMI 1.2 (HDMI 2.0 recommended for 4K TVs and HDMI 2.1 recommended for 8K TVs), eARC, and HDCP 2.2 (or better) certifications so that you can play high-quality content on the TV.
  5. Cables should have clear markings of certifications.
  6. We recommend cables from Amazon Basics, Belkin, and Monoprice.

4. Keep Optimum Brightness & Contrast Levels

Set the brightness and contrast levels at optimum levels. Check your TV’s manual and the company’s website to find out recommended values for your TV. Setting brightness to the maximum (which some people do) can lead to pixel burning and unoptimised video quality. Some TVs feature a built-in tool for setting brightness, contrast, and colour calibration.

In case of 4K HDR TVs (most 4K TVs come with HDR feature in 2020), make sure that you’ve turned on HDMI 2.0 and ‘Full’ colour range features from your TV’s software menu.

5. Don’t Retain Still Images For A Long Time

If you have an OLED TV, watching the same channel for hours on a stretch or having the same still image continuously can lead to pixel burning and image retention. Some LCD TVs might also go through the same issue. To be on the safe side, no matter which kind of TV you use, it is better to change the channel after an hour or so and turn off the TV when you’re not using it. Some TVs also come with screensavers that are designed to reduce the pixel burning issue, so turn on the feature.

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6. Clean The TV From Time To Time

You should keep the TV clean. We recommend that you clean the TV at least once every month. When cleaning the TV’s screen, make sure that:

  1. You use a clean microfibre cloth so that the screen doesn’t get scratched by the dust and dirt.
  2. Do not use strong chemicals to clean the screen.
  3. Do not spray water or liquid chemicals directly on the TV’s display.
  4. Use a damp cloth to clean the TV’s body and then clean it once using a dry microfibre cloth.

7. Protect The Remote Controller Using A Cover

If you have kids in your home or if you consider you or your family members clumsy in handling things, it is better to protect the TV’s remote controller using a cover. You can find silicon covers for remote controllers of popular smart TVs. This makes sure that even if the controller is dropped, it doesn’t get damaged.

It is also a good idea to buy a spare remote controller for your TV as a few years down the line, if you happen to lose the remote controller that came bundled with the TV or if it breaks down, there’s a chance that remote controllers might not be in stock or it has been discontinued. So, you need to make sure that you buy an official, genuine remote controller, and it is easier to get it from the brand’s showroom, retail store, or an authorised service centre.

If possible, also consider buying an extended warranty plan for your TV. Our extended warranty plan for smart TV extends the manufacturer’s warranty for up to four years, covers breakdowns and malfunctions, comes with free service at home, and repair or replacement guarantee.