Sanus Wall Mount

You only get one chance to mount a flat-screen television on the wall, so understanding how to do the job correctly is vital to the life of your expensive electronics. Bolt that TV securely to the wall like the pros do, rather than risk the sickening sound of a flat-screen TV ripping from the wall and nosediving to the floor.

Location is Everything

Before you can start drilling holes and watching television on your new set, you'll want to choose a wall and the right height to hang a flat-screen television. This is ultimately a matter of personal preference, but remember that comfort is key to long-term viewing. Video experts with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) say the best height for hanging a TV is about 30 degrees above the seating area in your home theater or den. You'll also want to determine the best distance from the TV to the main seating area. The SMPTE recommends a viewing distance approximately 1.6 times the size of television screen, measured diagonally. This means if you have a 65-inch flatscreen set, your ideal distance from the TV to the sofa would be 104 inches, or 8 feet 8 inches.

Prepping the Wall and Bracket

Have someone help you lift the TV into position where you want to install the set on the wall. Use a pencil to mark the area behind the wall where the mounting bracket will be bolted in place.

Find support studs behind the wall. Electronic stud finders are available at most hardware stores, or you can try the old-fashioned ( though not recommended) method of tapping on the wall with the handle of a screwdriver. If your TV weighs under 80 pounds, bolting the mounting bracket to a single stud will probably be sufficient. For heavier, larger televisions, plan on bolting the bracket into 2 studs. Whatever you do, the TV mounting bracket must be bolted directly into the wall studs. This is the only reliable way to be sure there is sufficient support for the weight of your TV set. Bolting a bracket into plaster, wood paneling or drywall without the added strength of wall studs will likely cause the bracket to pull loose in time. .

Once you've located the studs, draw an X on the wall with your pencil, then use a bubble-type leveler to measure and mark a level position for installing the mounting bracket. Hold the bracket against the wall, lining up the holes in the bracket with the X marks for the studs. You can use a pencil to make a small mark on the wall through the bracket holes for drilling the bolts.

Getting the TV on the Wall

Now that you've marked the precise anchor points for your mounting bracket, drill a hole for each bolt using a drill bit one size smaller than the mounting bolts that came with your wall-mount kit.

With a friend providing an extra set of hands to hold the mounting bracket, bolt the bracket to the wall using the supplied hardware. Attach a separate bracket to the back of the flat-screen. Use the hardware that came with the mounting kit.

Recruit your friend one more time to help you lift the TV so you can slide the smaller TV bracket over the mounting bracket on the wall. Depending on your hardware, you may need to tighten additional bolts through the bracket to lock the TV to the wall mount.