What Is the Life Expectancy of a LCD TV?
Purchasing a new LCD TV can be a big commitment for many consumers. These TVs are often fairly expensive, and require research to ensure that you are getting the best bang for your buck. One of the most important things to consider is the TV's life expectancy. You will generally get 60,000 to 100,000 hours out of any new LCD TV--but several factors can come into play, and can change that amount.
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Dead Pixels
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The biggest problem that plagues LCD screens is dead pixels. LCD TVs are made up of thousands, sometimes millions, of tiny pixels that create the picture on-screen. Sometimes these pixels fail, and instead of displaying the picture, they display a blue or black image instead. Most of the time, this can go unnoticed in larger TVs, but they are more prevalent in smaller TVs where the pixels are more visible.
The top manufacturers, such as Sony and Toshiba, have higher production standards; they do not ship units with defective pixels, and have warranty coverage for such issues. Less well-known brands and cheaper TVs have more relaxed standards, and may ship units with one or two dead pixels. These TVs have a higher likelihood of more pixels failing in the future.
Burn-In
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Burn-in is when an image is displayed on a television screen for a long period of time, and it becomes permanently "burned in" to the screen. This is a common problem for early plasma TVs, but LCD sets do not suffer from this problem. You do not need to factor burn-in into your LCD's longevity.
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Lamp Hours
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All LCD TVs use a back-light lamp to illuminate the screen. Over time, this lamp will die just like any other light in your house. Most manufacturers estimate that the lamp should last 60,000 to 100,000 hours. That is equivalent to about 16 hours a day for 10 years.
Brightness
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Increasing the brightness setting on your LCD TV too much will have a detrimental effect on the TV's lifespan. That is because the lamp must work harder to produce the image. Running the TV at full brightness all the time will give you a lamp expectancy that could be below 60,000 hours, though.
Heat
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Heat also causes your TV to wear quicker. This is because extra heat means the fans must work harder to keep the lamp cool. Most manufacturer estimates for life expectancy are based on an average room temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping your room in that range will make your LCD TV last longer.
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References
- Photo Credit full hd lcd tv image by mattmatt73 from Fotolia.com
