The Things You Didn’t Know About AV Maintenance
Let’s be honest: AV maintenance probably isn’t something you think about very often. In fact, you probably think about the condition of your audio or video system only when you want to use it, because that’s when you want it to work. If you want your equipment to function properly and last longer, however, you’ll need to give it a little bit of tender loving care in the form of maintenance. At Audio-Video Group, we’re always concerned with maintaining AV products so that you can get the best use out of them. To that end, here are three things that you probably didn’t know about AV maintenance, so that you can get started giving your system the care it deserves.
Dust is Dangerous
Dust isn’t just a sign that you need to clean a little more often; it’s also dangerous, especially when it comes to your AV system equipment. Dust can infiltrate rack components and cause overheating, severely shortening product life spans. It can even cause problems for audio system components like loudspeakers. If you hear a component fan working abnormally hard, or notice dust accumulating on your equipment, cleaning may be necessary. A soft, dry cloth can be effective. Sometimes, a can of compressed air can be used to dislodge dust from the interior of equipment; just be careful not to blow the dust into even more sensitive areas. Whatever you do, make sure that you are not allowing dust to accumulate- it could spell the end of your AV system.
Projectors aren’t Permanent
Dust is also a problem for projectors. Every projector has a filter to ensure that dust doesn’t affect its functioning. However, after a while, these filters become so clogged with dust themselves that they cause overheating problems for the projector. Because of this, cleaning projector filters is an essential part of any AV system maintenance. It is usually recommended that this be done for every 100 to 300 hours of projector use. Again, compressed air can be used to dislodge the dust that accumulates. Besides filters, projector lamps also need to be monitored. Did you know that the average projector lamp lasts for about 2,000 hours? While that may seem like a long time, it will pass quickly, and you’ll need to monitor usage and have replacements on hand when a new lamp is needed. Dust buildup and heat will shorten the life of your lamp. If you pay attention to lamp and filter maintenance, you’ll be able to get the most out of your projector.
Firmware Updates
Firmware is the software stored in hardware devices that can be updated to keep your hardware relevant. The problem is that updates often go ignored, and your hardware is stuck running software that is outdated. When you have a product like a digital console or a video conferencing system, this can be a problem; if you don’t stay updated, you will likely have compatibility issues as your equipment interacts with newer components and software. Make sure to keep an eye out for updates as they are made available, so that you don’t have this problem.
At Audio-Video Group, we offer regular maintenance contracts to check for all of these problems and more. We’re experienced in spotting AV problems and dealing with them before they become major issues. If you want to enhance the lifespan of your system, and get the most value from your investment, a regular maintenance schedule is the way to go.
If you’re interested in finding out more about AV maintenance, or you want to schedule a maintenance session with Audio-Video Group, then give us a call today at 301.668.4448 or visit our website, www.audiovideogroup.com, and we can help you give your AV system the care that it deserves.