Three Ways To Protect Your Home Theater System
A home theater system can cost as little as $900 for a basic setup or $30,000 or more for a custom installation, depending on your needs and preferences. Regardless of the price, a ton of things can happen to your electronics that can damage them and turn them into expensive paperweights. Here are three things you can do to protect your investment so you can enjoy it for years to come.
Don't Skimp on Surge Protectors
Possibly the most basic thing you can do to protect your home theater system is to connect the equipment to surge protectors. While lightning strikes are an obvious danger, the damage to your electronics is more likely to be caused by the electricity flowing through outlets. Surges, spikes, and sagging in the flow of electricity to your home or office occur on a daily basis. These irregularities are not noticeable to most people because they are typically small, but they can have a big impact on the lifespan and performance of your home theater equipment.
To minimize the risk of damage, plug your equipment into surge protectors. Basic power strips and on-wall products generally work well at protecting equipment from spikes and surges but don't do anything to minimize the effect irregular electricity may have on picture and sound. To ensure your video and audio remain clear, invest in component units that also filters out electromagnetic interference caused by use of vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and similar products in the home as well as a voltage regulator that helps stabilize the flow of electricity.
Power surges can also occur through cable and Internet lines. So if your home theater system is connected to a cable box or Internet router, be certain to get a surge protector that provides ports for these lines as well.
Ensure Adequate Ventilation
Some people who purchase electronics don't fully understand the importance of adequate ventilation. The equipment is stacked on top of each other or placed in suffocating cabinets that don't allow adequate air flow. The problem is that electronic equipment produce quite a bit of heat, and that heat can damage sensitive components, resulting in the equipment performing poorly or dying before its time.
When setting up your home theater system, spread the equipment out and make sure there is enough space between it and the wall to allow air to flow freely through and wick away the heat. Avoid putting pieces inside fully enclosed cabinets as heat can become trapped in the space long after the unit has been turned off. At the very least, drill holes in the back of the cabinets to allow the exchange of heat and air. You may also want to invest in flat fans specifically designed for cooling electronics and place them inside cabinets or underneath receivers, DVRs, and other pieces to encourage adequate air flow.
Control the Volume
A surround sound system can really bring a movie or television show to life. However, you can easily damage speakers and other sound equipment by turning the volume up too high. For instance, when the volume it too high, the wires in an amplifier may overheat and melt, causing it to malfunction or die.
One way to protect your equipment from damage caused by high volume levels is to install a volume limiter. This device stops the volume from rising above the maximum level set, regardless of how many times someone hits the volume button on the remote control. Some sound systems come with this feature. However, you can also purchase the device separately at most electronic stores.
For more tips on protecting your home theater system or to have one installed, contact an electronics company, like A Tech Security, in your area.
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