Short answer: Yes.  Personal opinion: No.  There are several ways to put your TV above your new gas or wood burning fireplace, I just feel that your beautiful new fireplace deserves pride of place.  If I had my way, the entire wall would be dedicated to my precious flaming baby.  That said, not everyone home can be set up to accommodate both appliances on their own separate wall.  If they must live together, our main goal becomes keeping the TV as low as possible, while still giving the fireplace the respect it deserves, without squishing it down to the floor.  So here’s how it’s done.

The best way to manage it is with a Cool Touch Wall kit.  Most manufacturers now have this option, and it’s especially great if you’re going with a contemporary look, as it allows you to keep the wall flat, with no shelf.  The typical direct vent gas fireplace takes room air in below the fireplace window, and as it passes around the back and top, it picks up the heat from the firebox.  That heat is then passed into the room from a hidden opening at the top of the window.  That heat then begins to rise, and runs into your precious TV.  Check your user’s manual, but usually anything above about 100 degrees is a no-no.  The Cool Touch Wall system will create a heat release above the TV.  Openings in the top of the fireplace will then allow the heated air to rise behind the wall, and thus behind your TV, and pass harmlessly out into the room through the heat release.  This allows you in most cases to put the bottom of your TV 12-15 inches above the window, without a mantel.  Different makers and models have different specs, so check those manuals. 

Option number 2 is to use a non-combustible mantel to redirect the hot air coming off the top of the fireplace opening.  Non-combustible mantel is key here, that means concrete, stone, wrapped steel studs, and the like.  Wood mantels will have a much higher clearance, and the goal is to keep the TV low, so that won’t work.  My favorite non-com mantel is made by Magra Hearth.  It looks just like a wood beam, but can be set as low as 6” above the fireplace.  The mantels are an average of about 7” tall, and you’d want your TV at least a few inches above the mantel, which puts the bottom of the TV a minimum of 16” above the fireplace.  Not bad.

Realistically, you can expect something like 47” for a linear contemporary, or possibly 45” or so for a traditional to be the lowest you can put your TV above your fireplace.  Again though, always check those manuals, and talk to a hearth professional to make sure what will work for your application.  Google tells me about 55” from the floor is ideal for the middle of your TV, so you will be a bit higher than ideal no matter what you do.  So please, if possible, offset your TV to the side, or put it on a completely different wall together.  It will save your neck, and also really show off the investment you’ve made in your new fire feature.  Stay cozy out there.