Radient heat above gas fireplace too much for electronics?

Question

I have a corner gas fireplace with a direct-vent to outside. I'm sure that above the fireplace, behind-the-wall, there is a nominal amount of radiant heat, but I am contemplating cutting into the wall to insert a built-in shelf for cable-box, receiver, and DVD, and then above that mount my flat-screen TV.

Has anyone done something similar? If so, did you take any precautions to insulate the shelf? How much clearance should there be between the bottom shelf and the fireplace?

Am i inviting disaster?

Answer 1

I just read an artical about putting LCDs and Plasmas above fireplaces and it asked one really good question and pointed out one very obvious issue.

Do you like sitting in the front row at a theater? if so the height of the tv will probably be ok. But rest assured your neck is going to get tired looking up at the wall all night long.

HEAT KILLS.

Indeed it does look clean and fancy up on the wall above the fireplace but there is no need to expose your equipment to the extra heat. It has been shown to cause a reduction in the life of the TVs. It may only reduce its life by 200 hours but hey 200 hours is 200 hours.

Having your TV last as long as possible I think would be quite financially adventageous.

Answer 2

With the expense involved I would not take the risk, I love my system and I would never subject it to heat torture.

Answer 3

I've done it, no worries if your fireplace is properly vented, and your cabinet doesn't allow a lot of transfer of heat.