The modern television is a very complicated, sophisticated piece of equipment. In fact, it can be thought of as a dedicated computer programmed with the task of providing you with the best video and audio signals possible, for your entertainment.
With this in mind, this report will tell you what those of us in the service industry have seen over the years where real failures are concerned. I can tell you that in most cases, a great many problems with electronic equipment is actually created by the unit owners, and most of those could have been easily avoided. Here's the the top 10 list:
Problem #10: Customer Attempts At Repair
I see this one quite a bit. I'm all for someone trying to save money trying to avoid calling a service person, but television service is very dangerous work, and should not be attempted by a layperson. And let me assure you that this statement does not come because of any vested interest in electronics repair. A television can hold a lethal charge for a period of months, and if you don't know what you're doing, you could be killed. Even if you just want to change an open fuse, remember they open up for a reason. By replacing it and trying to start the unit up again, you may cause additional damage that the open fuse prevented. This will always cost more to diagnose and repair.
How To Avoid It:
It's always best to go ahead and take the unit to the repair center when trouble starts. That way, the faster you get it there, the cheaper the repair will be.
Problem #9: Old School Banging On The Cabinet
Everyone, I'll say it now: PLEASE don't do this. You may cause damage to the electronic circuits inside the set. Sure it may get the set to work... for a little while. But what the unit is telling you is that I have a small problem, not a big one. Once this technique stops working, you can be sure you now have a big problem, and it will cost a lot more to repair.
How To Avoid It:
Just take the set in or have it picked up for repair. Don't wait until the problem gets bigger (It will) or real damage is caused. If you like the set and would like to keep it around for a few more years, this is always the best course.
Problem #8: Pets and Varmints
If you have dogs or cats, in many cases they like to live behind the TV, since it's warm and makes for a nice place to take a nap. Unfortunately, your small pets have a bad habit of marking their territory by urinating in the set, Or chew on the cords,and this could cause an expensive problem.
How To Avoid It:
Make sure you keep your pets away from the area behind the set. If you have mice or a roach problem, do everything you can to minimize it. Mice will chew up cords and valuable parts inside the set, including the IC chips and discreet parts. Both can cause short circuits just crawling around inside the unit. I've found enough of them to know that they can cause considerable damage.
Problem #7: Serviceman Mode
This is similar to #10, but with a difference. A customer will try to solve his problem by accessing the factory service mode and changing the settings. All I can say about this is if you are looking to cause a problem with modern electronics, and confuse the service person at the same time, this is the number 1 way to do it.
How To Avoid it:
Unless you are experienced here, don't do it. You could do irreparable damage to the set. This can happen by adjusting something so far out of range that the TV shuts off, and can't be restarted.
Problem #6: Rough Handling/ Improper Transport
The rough handling of product is something those of us in the business see all the time, and it runs the gambit from objects thrown at the screen, to hauling the set around face down in the back of a truck or van.
How To Avoid It:
Always move you TV standing up, and tie it down well. Take it easy when you move it, and when driving it around. And if you have a flat screen TV, Please handle it carefully as the screens are very easy to damage. In projection television, the fluid coolant in the tubes could leak and cause a great deal of damage, so please take the necessary precautions when you move them around.
Problem #5: Candle Wax Inside The TV
I have been seeing quite a lot of this one. A customer will use his expensive TV set as a candle holder, and the wax will drip into the set.
How To Avoid It:
Clearly keep stuff like this away from you equipment.
Problem #4: Liquid Spills
This happens a lot more than you might think. Most of the time it is an accident, but it's sad to see. Over the years I've seen coffee, tea, and everything in between.
How To Avoid It:
Don't set anything liquid on top of you TV. And if you have kids make sure they don't pour Kool-Aid down the back of it just to see what would happen. (Yes, I've seen it.) The only thing I've seen funnier is the guy that sprayed WD-40 into a VCR unit to clean it. As you might guess, he ruined it.
Problem #3: Speaker Hookups
A customer will try to hook up his new speakers and in the process damage the sound circuits inside the set. This is usually caused by a shorting the wires together, or trying to setup a system that the TV was not designed to handle.
How To Avoid it:
Always read the instructions that came with the speakers and make sure you understand how to hook up external speakers to your television. And NEVER try to hook up anything while the set is on. Always turn it off and double check your work before starting it up again.
Problem #2: Power Surges
During lightning season, TV servicers see a lot of these, so much so that some shops actually make a living from it. Fortunately, this is an easy one to prevent and there are two ways to do it.
How To Avoid It:
The first and best way is to simply look at the weather report in the morning before you leave for work and check out the forecast for the day. Then if you have storms on the way, just UNPLUG IT. Including the cable input. If you are at home most of the day, Ween yourself off of the bad habit of watching TV while it's lightning outside. No show is really that important. Just shut it off and unplug everything until the storm is over.
The second way is to purchase a real surge protector system, like a Panamax or a Tripp Lite. These come with an unconditional warranty and if you must watch a program during a storm, at least if your set and other equipment is hit by a surge you are protected. Checkout our report called " How To Keep Your Expensive Big Screen TV Alive" for additional tips and information.
Problem # 1: RF Connectors
I have seen more of these than any other problem hands down. A customer will try to move his TV and forget to unplug the cable and damage the RF input connector. The repair is not expensive, but sometimes the tuner is damaged and that can be a rather costly repair.
How To Avoid It:
Just make sure you always disconnect the TV completely from the cable connection. But the best way to keep this from happening is to use a push on connector for the cable input. This way if the set is moved the RF input won't be damaged. You can find these at most retail stores.
With this in mind, this report will tell you what those of us in the service industry have seen over the years where real failures are concerned. I can tell you that in most cases, a great many problems with electronic equipment is actually created by the unit owners, and most of those could have been easily avoided. Here's the the top 10 list:
Problem #10: Customer Attempts At Repair
I see this one quite a bit. I'm all for someone trying to save money trying to avoid calling a service person, but television service is very dangerous work, and should not be attempted by a layperson. And let me assure you that this statement does not come because of any vested interest in electronics repair. A television can hold a lethal charge for a period of months, and if you don't know what you're doing, you could be killed. Even if you just want to change an open fuse, remember they open up for a reason. By replacing it and trying to start the unit up again, you may cause additional damage that the open fuse prevented. This will always cost more to diagnose and repair.
How To Avoid It:
It's always best to go ahead and take the unit to the repair center when trouble starts. That way, the faster you get it there, the cheaper the repair will be.
Problem #9: Old School Banging On The Cabinet
Everyone, I'll say it now: PLEASE don't do this. You may cause damage to the electronic circuits inside the set. Sure it may get the set to work... for a little while. But what the unit is telling you is that I have a small problem, not a big one. Once this technique stops working, you can be sure you now have a big problem, and it will cost a lot more to repair.
How To Avoid It:
Just take the set in or have it picked up for repair. Don't wait until the problem gets bigger (It will) or real damage is caused. If you like the set and would like to keep it around for a few more years, this is always the best course.
Problem #8: Pets and Varmints
If you have dogs or cats, in many cases they like to live behind the TV, since it's warm and makes for a nice place to take a nap. Unfortunately, your small pets have a bad habit of marking their territory by urinating in the set, Or chew on the cords,and this could cause an expensive problem.
How To Avoid It:
Make sure you keep your pets away from the area behind the set. If you have mice or a roach problem, do everything you can to minimize it. Mice will chew up cords and valuable parts inside the set, including the IC chips and discreet parts. Both can cause short circuits just crawling around inside the unit. I've found enough of them to know that they can cause considerable damage.
Problem #7: Serviceman Mode
This is similar to #10, but with a difference. A customer will try to solve his problem by accessing the factory service mode and changing the settings. All I can say about this is if you are looking to cause a problem with modern electronics, and confuse the service person at the same time, this is the number 1 way to do it.
How To Avoid it:
Unless you are experienced here, don't do it. You could do irreparable damage to the set. This can happen by adjusting something so far out of range that the TV shuts off, and can't be restarted.
Problem #6: Rough Handling/ Improper Transport
The rough handling of product is something those of us in the business see all the time, and it runs the gambit from objects thrown at the screen, to hauling the set around face down in the back of a truck or van.
How To Avoid It:
Always move you TV standing up, and tie it down well. Take it easy when you move it, and when driving it around. And if you have a flat screen TV, Please handle it carefully as the screens are very easy to damage. In projection television, the fluid coolant in the tubes could leak and cause a great deal of damage, so please take the necessary precautions when you move them around.
Problem #5: Candle Wax Inside The TV
I have been seeing quite a lot of this one. A customer will use his expensive TV set as a candle holder, and the wax will drip into the set.
How To Avoid It:
Clearly keep stuff like this away from you equipment.
Problem #4: Liquid Spills
This happens a lot more than you might think. Most of the time it is an accident, but it's sad to see. Over the years I've seen coffee, tea, and everything in between.
How To Avoid It:
Don't set anything liquid on top of you TV. And if you have kids make sure they don't pour Kool-Aid down the back of it just to see what would happen. (Yes, I've seen it.) The only thing I've seen funnier is the guy that sprayed WD-40 into a VCR unit to clean it. As you might guess, he ruined it.
Problem #3: Speaker Hookups
A customer will try to hook up his new speakers and in the process damage the sound circuits inside the set. This is usually caused by a shorting the wires together, or trying to setup a system that the TV was not designed to handle.
How To Avoid it:
Always read the instructions that came with the speakers and make sure you understand how to hook up external speakers to your television. And NEVER try to hook up anything while the set is on. Always turn it off and double check your work before starting it up again.
Problem #2: Power Surges
During lightning season, TV servicers see a lot of these, so much so that some shops actually make a living from it. Fortunately, this is an easy one to prevent and there are two ways to do it.
How To Avoid It:
The first and best way is to simply look at the weather report in the morning before you leave for work and check out the forecast for the day. Then if you have storms on the way, just UNPLUG IT. Including the cable input. If you are at home most of the day, Ween yourself off of the bad habit of watching TV while it's lightning outside. No show is really that important. Just shut it off and unplug everything until the storm is over.
The second way is to purchase a real surge protector system, like a Panamax or a Tripp Lite. These come with an unconditional warranty and if you must watch a program during a storm, at least if your set and other equipment is hit by a surge you are protected. Checkout our report called " How To Keep Your Expensive Big Screen TV Alive" for additional tips and information.
Problem # 1: RF Connectors
I have seen more of these than any other problem hands down. A customer will try to move his TV and forget to unplug the cable and damage the RF input connector. The repair is not expensive, but sometimes the tuner is damaged and that can be a rather costly repair.
How To Avoid It:
Just make sure you always disconnect the TV completely from the cable connection. But the best way to keep this from happening is to use a push on connector for the cable input. This way if the set is moved the RF input won't be damaged. You can find these at most retail stores.
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