Care for your Home Theater Projector

As with any electrical appliance, proper maintenance of your projector will increase its functional life. Usually the first part of your home theater projector that goes is its lamp. Lamp life of a projector varies based on many factors such as application, installation, cooling, exhaust of hot air, usage, and proper maintenance. One of the most critical reasons for lamp failure is over heating. Heat buildup can reduce lamp life and even damage your projector.

Here are some of the ways to make your projector last longer.

1. When turning off your projector, wait at least five minutes before unplugging it. Unplugging the projector cuts off the cooling fan before the lamp has time to cool after use. Allow the fan to properly cool the unit before switching off fully.

2. Do not move your projector until the lamp has been properly cooled.

3. Do not position your projector in such a way that it obstructs the air intake or exhaust vent. Nothing should be placed on the projector, or where vents are located. The projector should also be placed away from walls to not obstruct the intake of cooling air.

4. When deciding where to install your projector, always remember to leave some allowance for easy maintenance. This is especially so if the projector is housed within a compartment or shelf.

5. Do not place your projector where is it exposed to excessive sunlight which could result in overheating. Avoid placing your projector in damp areas as well.

6. Clean your projector's air intake filter regularly as instructed in the user manual or at least once every three to six months. If your environment is more dusty than normal, more frequent cleaning may be required.

7. If required, change the filter as instructed by the user manual.

8. Do not operate your projector without its air filter. Without the filter, dust particles in the air can be sucked into the interior of your projector. These dust turns up as black specks when an image is projected.

9. When you purchase a replacement or spare lamp for your projector, test the spare lamp for 1 to 2 days. If the lamp is going to fail, it usually does within the first 10 to 20 hours. If it is a replacement lamp, remove the existing lamp and use the old lamp as a spare.

10. Clean your projector lens regularly for optimal image quality. Do not clean your lens with any random cloth. It is recommended that you clean your lens is with a lens cloth. Lens cloths are readily available at any electronics (selling optical equipment) store.

Always remember, read the user manual that came with your projector! Every projector is different and the original manufacturer should know best.

Caring for your Home Theater Projector