As an exasperated owner of a television set that won’t turn on after a storm, I’ve spent the last few days researching different solutions to this issue. After consulting with experts, gathering pros and cons, and trying out some tips and tricks, I’m here to share what I’ve learned and how I’ve managed to get my TV back up and running. In this post, I’ll go over what to do if your TV won’t turn on after a storm, and other possible solutions to the same issue.
If your TV doesn’t turn on after a storm, there are a few steps to try before calling the repairmen or considering a replacement television. Firstly, you should try power cycling your television following a power surge or outage. If you manage to turn your TV on, it’s recommended you factory reset it.
| Issue / Solution | Description |
|---|---|
| Issue: TV Won’t Turn On After Storm | Electrical surges during storms can damage electronics, including TVs, causing them not to turn on. |
| Solution: Power Cycle TV | Unplug the TV, disconnect cables, hold the power button, then plug the TV back in and attempt to turn it on. |
| Solution: Factory Reset TV | If the TV powers on, factory reset it by navigating to System Settings and selecting the Factory Reset option. |
| Preventative Measure: Unplug TV During Storms | To prevent damage, unplug the TV and disconnect cables during storms. |
| Preventative Measure: Use a UPS | Invest in an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to protect your electronics from power surges and outages. |
Why Your TV Won’t Turn On After A Storm
During thunderstorms, it’s not uncommon for a power surge to cut the power out for a moment. While it can cause a power outage in some instances, power is usually restored instantaneously. However, you might find that your TV won’t turn on after the power returns. Other appliances may also be affected, including your fridge.
When electrical surges or outages occur, any electronics that are plugged into the wall (including your television) can be instantly overloaded or short-circuited. Lighting also has the potential to travel into your home via wiring, including those used for cable television. However, surges and outages won’t always result in your TV not turning on when the power is restored.
However, electrical surges can degrade your electronics over time, eventually resulting in your television failing to turn on after a thunderstorm. Luckily, you can try power cycling and factory resetting your TV to restore it to working condition. Before we outline these steps, let’s consider how you can prevent this situation in the future.
Can You Prevent TV Damage During Storms?
The easiest (and cheapest) way to prevent your TV from being damaged during a storm is to turn it off and unplug it. However, this isn’t the most practical solution! Investing in a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) ensures your electronics have a trouble-free lifespan. While a UPS can protect your electronics in the event of a power surge or outage, it cannot protect against direct lightning strikes.
How To Power Cycle Your TV After A Storm
If your TV doesn’t turn on after a storm, you should follow these steps to power cycle your television. When you’ve completed these steps, your TV should power on again!
Step One: Unplug Your Television
To power cycle your TV after a storm, you need to unplug it from the outlet it’s plugged into. Once you’ve done this, you should also disconnect any cables attached to ports on the back of your TV, including satellite receivers and the coax cable used for cable television.
Step Two: Hold In Your TV’s Power Button
While your TV is unplugged, you should press and hold the power button on your television for a minute. Essentially, this ensures you’ve successfully drained any residual power from your TV.
Step Three: Plug Your TV Back In
You can now reconnect your television to the power outlet. However, you should not plug the coax cable or satellite receivers back in yet.
Step Four: Turn TV On And Factory Reset It
You can now try turning your TV back on. If your television turns on after completing the above steps, you can proceed to factory resetting your television. However, if your TV doesn’t turn on, you might need to repeat the above steps. In some cases, you’ll need to leave your television unplugged for several hours after a thunderstorm.
How To Factory Reset Your TV After A Storm
If you manage to turn your TV on by power cycling it, you should factory reset the device. Ultimately, this will ensure that your television functions properly!
Step One: Disconnect Cable/Satellite Receivers
While power cycling your television using the previous steps, you would have disconnected any cable or satellite receivers from your TV. These should remain unplugged while factory resetting your TV.
Step Two: Turn Your TV On
You can turn your television on again once the cable and satellite receivers are unplugged. If your TV doesn’t turn on, you’ll need to repeat the power cycling steps or leave your TV off for a longer period.
Step Three: Open System Settings
After you’ve powered your TV back on, you can press the menu button to open your System Settings. You must then click on Options or Advanced Options in your TV’s settings panel.
Step Four: Locate The “Factory Reset” Option
You should now locate and select the Factory Reset option on your TV. Regardless of your television’s make or model, you’ll have this option inside your System Settings.
Step Five: Confirm Factory Reset
Once you’ve selected the Factory Reset option on your television, you’ll be asked to confirm you want to reset the TV to factory default settings. You must confirm this and wait for your TV to finish resetting. Your TV will automatically turn off after factory resetting it.
Step Six: Reconnect Cable/Satellite Receivers
After you’ve factory reset your TV, you should leave the TV powered off. You can now plug any satellite receivers or coaxial cables back into the ports on the back of your TV. You can now turn the TV back on – your television should now be functioning normally again!
Conclusion
If your television doesn’t turn on following a power outage or surge caused by a storm, you don’t immediately have to start shopping for a replacement. If your TV doesn’t turn on, you should try power cycling the television to power it back on. If you manage to turn your TV on following this, you should factory reset it to ensure it works properly.
Read more: HDMI keeps disconnecting
