Life Expectancy of a LCD HDTV

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LCD TVs have a very long life expectancy.

When purchasing a television set, a key concern of potential buyers is the TV's life expectancy. LCD television sets implement liquid crystal technology to produce images. Low manufacturing costs and widespread availability of materials are factors that make LCD TVs the most widely produced and sold televisions today.

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All LCD TVs contain a pair of clear, transparent surfaces. Within these surfaces, grooves are inserted, allowing them to be filled with liquid crystal. Once the surfaces are filled, the moving crystals are crafting the colors and moving around on your LCD TV, creating the actual LCD TV image. Your LCD TV display has the potential to continuously create vivid images for decades.

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Life Expectancy

LCD television manufacturers vary on the predicted life expectancy of their products. As with most technologies, more recent LCD TVs have longer life expectancies. Since LCDs don't provide their own light, the lifespan of the LCD's light source determines the TV screen's longevity. On average, the life expectancy of an LCD TV is estimated at between 30,000 to 60,000 hours. A household that watches six hours a day of television can expect to replace the LCD TV unit after 28 years.

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Considerations

Over time, the picture generated on LCD TVs will start to diminish. An LCD TV's screen will darken as the backlighting bulbs dim. A critical option to consider then, is the lifespan of the light source of the LCD, considering that LCD TVs last as long as their light sources do.

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Prevention/Solution

Although there's essentially no measure available to prevent an LCD from eventually from losing its image, there are a few steps that can be made to delay the process. Adjusting the contrast settings on an LCD TV can help preserve the light source. According to the ambient lighting in the room that hosts the LCD TV, either set your settings higher or lower.

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Prevention/Solution

Purchasing a TV that is a known, commercial brand can also help ensure your LCD TV has a long life. In most cases, the televisions come with warranties and reliable customer service. Also, turning off your flat panel TV altogether when not in use will help make it last longer.

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