Most often, homeowners choose to have their flat screen TV mounted on a wall. Doing this requires finding studs, deciding on mount brackets, and in most cases adding new electrical outlets. That being said, this is not a job for an amateur or a DIY-enthusiast. Rather, it’s a job for a professional electrician. Keep reading to learn why.

Tilting mounts hold the TV flat against the wall and allows for downward tilting. This is ideal if the TV is going to be mounted up high—perhaps over a fireplace. For other homes, an articulating mount might be the better choice. This places the TV on a retractable arm that allows you to pull the TV out and swivel it.

What will be connected to the TV? You may have a cable box, or some other digital receiving device. Maybe you also have a gaming console. Many of these wires come with relative cables that will need a place.

As we just mentioned, you’ll have a lot of components that go along with your TV. Where will your cable box go? Will you need to have shelving installed as well? These questions will help determine where and how you’ll have the TV installed, and whether or not you’ll need specialized electrical services.

Your professional installer can help you decide this, however it’s a good idea to go into the installation with some sort of idea of where you’ll be most comfortable watching the TV.

Whether you have dry wall, stone, or brick, this will need to be taken into consideration when installing a flat screen TV.

High voltage cords, such as the plug for your TV, are not allowed to go behind walls, according to fire safety codes. This means that your installer may need to add an electrical outlet on the wall where you’re mounting the TV if one does not exist already.

There's nothing more important than protecting your home and its contents – including, of course, your family. That's why it's crucial to take steps to guard against lightning strikes, which can cause major damage to your home’s electrical work and can even start a fire. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to reduce the chance of lightning harming your home, possessions or family. Read on to learn how to keep these powerful forces of nature at bay.

Stop Surges in Their Tracks

Chances are, you won't ever have to experience a direct lightning strike to your home. For that, you can consider yourself lucky, but that doesn't mean that lightning can't affect you in other ways. If the bolt hits anywhere in the immediate area, especially to an electric line or something else connected to the power grid, a power surge can strike your home and destroy or damage your electrical work and electronics. One strike can be enough to ruin your new computer or television, or at least subtract a few years from their lifespans.

Fortunately, you can add layers of protection to your electrical work so your devices and appliances are less vulnerable to power surges. The first step is to purchase surge protectors for all your expensive devices in lieu of plugging them directly into your wall outlets. You can also have an electrician install a comprehensive surge protector in your circuit box which will protect the electrical work for the entire home.

The Importance of Staying Grounded

Beyond surge protection, you do need to protect your home from direct lightning strikes as well. Your local building code mandates that homes be grounded so that high levels of electric charge can escape into the Earth, dramatically reducing the risk of a fire or damage to your electrical work. If you live in an older home, it's a good idea to have an electrician evaluate your grounding system and upgrade it to modern standards if necessary.

Finally, if you live in an area with frequent thunderstorms, or your house is particularly vulnerable to lightning strikes, installing a lightning rod on the roof is a good idea. These rods stretch high above your home, attracting any lightning likely to strike nearby and conducting the charge into the ground. They can be a life saver if, for example, your house is isolated from other structures and set on the top of a hill.

Keeping Your Family Safe and Sound

With a few extra layers of protection, you can reduce the danger of lightning damage to your home and family to a minimum. If you need help setting up a system to protect your home electrical work from lightning strikes, contact an expert electrician today.