How to Move a TV, Home Theatre and Sound System Without Damage

The TV came out of the box three years ago and the box went to the store in the compound years ago. Now there is a 55 inch screen on the wall, a home theatre behind it, a tangle of cables underneath, and a move on Saturday. Most damaged screens are not dropped. They are packed badly and then leaned on in the back of a vehicle.

Here is how to move your entertainment setup so it arrives working.

Photograph the cables first

Before you unplug anything, take a clear photo of the back of the TV, the decoder, the amplifier and the sockets. Label each cable with masking tape and a marker: "TV HDMI", "decoder power", "left speaker". Put the cables for each device in a small bag taped to the device itself, so nothing gets lost.

This saves an hour of guessing at the new place.

Packing the TV

Use the original box and foam if you still have them. If not:

1. Remove the stand and keep its screws in a bag.
2. Cover the screen with a soft cloth, then a blanket or thick foam.
3. Add cardboard on the front and back, tape it, and write "FRAGILE, THIS WAY UP".
4. Never put tape directly on the screen.

A TV should travel upright, standing like it does on the wall, never laid flat and never with anything leaning on it. Lay it flat only if the manufacturer's guidance says it is safe.

Wall brackets and stands

If the TV is on a bracket, unscrew it with two people. One holds the screen, the other undoes the bolts. Keep the bracket screws in a labelled bag. A stand with a glass top should be wrapped separately.

Speakers, subwoofers and home theatre units

Speakers are tougher than screens but the cones are easy to damage. Wrap each one in a blanket, keep the grille on, and pack them in a box with padding. A subwoofer is heavy, so lift it with two people from the sides, not from the cone or the port.

Amplifiers, receivers and DVD players go in boxes with cushioning, with nothing stacked on top. Take out discs and remove batteries from remotes.

Cables, extension boards and stabilisers

Wind cables loosely, not tightly. Keep the power cables, the extension board and any voltage stabiliser together in a labelled bag. Stabilisers and surge protectors are heavy and often forgotten, so count them.

In the vehicle

Load the TV and home theatre last, so they come off first. Stand the TV upright against the front wall of the load area or a cab-side wall, strap it and protect it with blankets. Keep it away from heavy loose items and from anything that can leak. In the rainy season, ask the driver how the load will be covered, because screens and water do not mix.

When you arrive

Do not switch it on immediately if it has been in a very hot or damp vehicle. Give it a little time to settle. Then connect the devices using your photo and labels.

For more on protecting delicate loads, see how to pack fragile items and moving solar panels and inverter batteries safely. The Lagos house moving page and van hire page cover vehicles.

How to do this on Sphere

1. Open the Sphere app and choose a pickup van, or a truck for a large move.
2. Add pickup and drop-off.
3. Describe the electronics and say they are fragile and need to travel upright.
4. Propose your price. Nearby verified drivers accept or send a counter-offer.
5. Agree loading help in the chat, then choose your offer.