Can You Put a TV Above a Log Burner? What to Check First
A TV above the fireplace looks great in the brochure, but a log burner throws a lot of heat up the chimney breast. Here is how to find out whether your wall can take a TV, and how to make it work safely if it can.
You can put a TV above a log burner, but only if the wall stays below the TV's maximum operating temperature, which is usually around 35°C. Measure the wall during a long burn, fit a deep mantel shelf at the correct clearance to deflect heat, and never drill into the chimney breast until you know where the flue runs.
The problem: heat rises
A log burner sends a lot of heat straight up the chimney breast. Most TV manufacturers list a maximum operating temperature in the manual, often around 35°C. Above that, screens can discolour, components can fail early, and heat damage is not normally covered by the warranty. On top of that, the chimney breast often has a hot flue running through it.
How to check if your wall is too hot
Find the TV manual
Look for the operating temperature range. Write down the maximum.
Light a proper fire
Run the stove the way you normally would for at least two to three hours.
Measure the wall
Use an infrared thermometer, or tape a room thermometer to the wall where the back of the TV would sit.
Check the air, not just the wall
Hold the thermometer where the top of the TV would be. Hot air collects there.
Compare the numbers
If either reading is near or above the TV maximum, do not mount it there.
Check again on a cold night
The hottest burns are in deep winter, so recheck when you run the stove hardest.
Ways to make it work
- Fit a deep mantel shelf between the stove and the TV. It deflects rising heat away from the wall, but it must sit at the clearance your stove manual gives for combustible materials.
- Mount the TV higher or to one side of the chimney breast, in an alcove, where the wall stays cooler.
- Leave an air gap behind the TV and do not box it in. Trapped heat is worse than open wall.
- Keep cables away from the flue. Do not run cables through a chimney breast that has a working flue inside it.
- Consider an alternative. A TV on a stand to the side, or a wall in the alcove, avoids the problem altogether.
Never drill blind into a chimney breast. A working flue or liner can run through the middle of the breast. Drilling into it can let smoke and carbon monoxide into the room. Find out where the flue runs before you fix anything to it.
TV above a log burner: quick guide
| Situation | Is a TV above the stove OK? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wall stays well under the TV maximum, deep mantel fitted | Usually fine | Keep an air gap and recheck in winter |
| Wall is warm but under the limit, no mantel | Borderline | Add a mantel shelf at the correct clearance, mount higher |
| Wall reaches the TV maximum during a long burn | No | Mount the TV in an alcove or on the opposite wall |
| You do not know where the flue runs | Not until checked | Book a sweep or CCTV inspection before drilling |
Get the chimney breast checked first
If you are planning a TV, a mantel or new shelving around your stove, it is worth knowing exactly what is behind the wall. We can sweep and smoke test the chimney, and a CCTV chimney inspection shows the flue route and condition, so you know where it is safe to fix things. See our chimney services for prices.
Common questions
Can you put a TV above a log burner?
You can, but only if the wall where the TV will hang stays within the TV's operating temperature, which is usually 35°C or lower. Check the wall temperature during a long burn and use a deep mantel shelf to deflect heat.
How hot does the wall above a log burner get?
It depends on the stove, the flue and how the chimney breast is built. Some walls stay barely warm, others get far too hot for electronics. The only way to know is to measure it with a thermometer after a few hours of burning.
Is it safe to drill into a chimney breast for a TV bracket?
Only once you know where the flue runs. Drilling into a flue or liner can let smoke and carbon monoxide escape. A sweep can check the flue route, and a CCTV inspection will show it exactly.
Will a mantelpiece protect a TV from heat?
A deep mantel shelf helps by pushing rising heat away from the wall, but it has to be fitted at the clearance the stove manufacturer specifies for combustible materials.
Related guides
CCTV chimney inspections
What a camera survey shows you.
How to light a log burner
The top-down method, step by step.
Can you burn coal in a log burner?
What is safe and legal to burn.
Book a sweep in your area
Book your chimney sweep
Sweep Sisters provides HETAS certified chimney sweeping, smoke tests and CCTV inspections across Essex and Hertfordshire.