As an owner of a flat screen television, I have often been frustrated when it fails to work properly in cold weather. After some investigation, I have discovered that there are some issues when it comes to cold temperatures and TVs. In this blog post, I will explain how cold TVs can get, and share the solutions I have found to ensure that my TV continues to work properly in cold weather.
A TV is considered too cold if the temperature drops below 40°F. As a result, the screen will start to lag, stutter, and might eventually switch off. However, storing a TV can be done regardless of how cold it is. You’ll need to prepare your TV before starting it again, though.
| Tips |
|---|
| A TV’s safe operating temperature range is 40-100°F. |
| If the temperature drops below 40°F, do not turn on the TV. |
| Too-cold temperatures can cause the TV to lag and shut off. |
| When storing a TV, unplug all wires and wrap it with a warm blanket. |
| When restarting a stored TV, warm the room and wait before turning it on. |
Table of Contents
TVs and Temperatures
Most TVs are manufactured to work in weather conditions that most people are comfortable with.
TVs are built and used all over the world, even where temperatures could be a little extreme. Typically, there’s not much to worry about if the weather is too hot because ACs and fans can improve the temperature indoors.
However, there isn’t much you can do in cold and freezing areas to prevent the temperature from getting too cold for the TV.
Typically, TVs can safely operate between 40–100°F. It’s hard for a TV to go over 100°F since you won’t be placing your TV outside. However, going below 40°F is much more prone to happen, especially in snowy countries.
What Happens if the TV Gets Too Cold?
Most modern TVs lie in the LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-emitting diode) categories. They have slightly different working mechanisms, but their response to cold remains the same.
A LED or LCD TV might be slow to respond or lag if you use it in temperatures below 40°F. If there’s a fast movement on the screen, the cold will prevent the liquid crystals from operating fast enough to deliver the optimum speed.
This will leave you with a distorted image that’s sometimes accompanied by an audio-video desync, a condition where the sound you hear isn’t on par with the video displayed.
If you keep using your TV in the cold temperature, the screen may completely shut down. We recommend against trying to turn it on again if that happens, as it may damage your TV.
What Do I Do if My TV Gets Too Cold?
Before answering that question, you should know there’s a difference between using a TV in cold temperatures and storing it in low temperatures.
Regardless of how cold it is, you can safely store your TV. We’re not saying throw it out there in the snow to test it, but keeping it in its box is more than enough. However, the issue arises upon using your TV in cold temperatures.
Handling the Cold Weather
When the temperature drops below 40°F, your TV will start to stutter and lag. You should understand those signs to shut down the TV and warm it up.
Be careful not to place a heater next to your TV as it’s working in hopes of warming it up. Rapidly changing the temperature of electronics could severely damage their internals.
Additionally, this will lead to water condensation on your screen. This won’t only lead to a foggy image, but the water may seep inside the TV and damage it.
Handling a TV Stored in Cold Weather
If you had your TV stored for a while in a cold climate, then it’s best not to use it right after. Instead, just put your TV in a warm room and let it rest for a couple of hours.
This should prevent any damage that could have happened from rapid warming. If you notice any water droplets on the TV, we recommend wiping them before starting your TV.
How Do I Store My TV in Winter?
If you decide to move out for a holiday or to stay somewhere else for a while, you shouldn’t leave your TV without storing it. Instead, unplug any wires from the TV and wrap it with a warm blanket. You may use two blankets for extra safety.
The blankets reduce the effects of cold and dust on the TV. They also reduce the time you have to wait before you start your TV again after you take it out of storage.
Once again, warm the room and wait for a while before restarting a stored TV.
You’ve Reached the End
So, how cold can TVs get? Anything below 40°F is too cold for a working TV. If the TV is stored, then you won’t have to worry about the cold temperature.
Just make sure to warm the room before starting your TV to prevent damaging it.
Read more: How to connect a soundbar to a TV
