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Smart Television Blink Codes

Writer's picture: Zap ConsultingZap Consulting

Updated: Sep 18, 2024

The price of televisions has come down significantly since Zap Consulting was founded. When our company started in 2010, a very basic 42-inch LED television could cost over $1,000. Today, you can find 42-inch televisions with built in Wi-Fi internet connection and smart features selling for under $130. Of course, as technology continues to improve and new premium televisions with features like higher refresh rates and 8K resolution are being introduced, prices can be much higher.

 

When adjusters are evaluating a claim for a television damaged by a covered peril, several factors must be considered. Insurance policies covering contents can be written as either RCV (replacement cost value) or ACV (actual cash value, which includes depreciation). Since televisions roughly have an average lifespan of 12 years, depreciated settlements will often be much lower than the original purchase amount if the television was bought more than a few years ago. For RCV payouts, insurance adjusters follow the policy wording that stipulates the settlement payment must be the lesser of the cost to either repair or replace the item, putting the insured back to their pre-loss condition.

 

When considering repairs to a television, almost anything can technically be repaired, provided parts are available. The question adjusters must answer for RCV policies is whether the total repair costs, including labor and materials, necessary to return the insured’s television to its pre-loss condition will be above or below the replacement cost. Major damage can quickly exceed the cost of a replacement television. Higher-cost repair examples include the replacement of a screen or a main board. However, something more minor like the replacement of a power supply or a T-con board (timing control board) can often cost much less, making repairs cost-effective.

 

For a full evaluation of issues with a television, it is important to have a technician perform a thorough diagnostic. However, there is one way to start a damage evaluation before a technician’s assessment. Most smart televisions today have self-diagnostics in the form of a blink code, which is a flash sequence of lights from the LED indicator (usually located on the front panel) that helps identify specific issues or malfunctions within the TV. The LED blinks a certain number of times, pauses, and then repeats, indicating a specific error code based on the number of blinks. We have put together a list of common blink codes by manufacturer to help you get started.


If you have a claim involving a television (or any other electronics, appliances, or equipment) and would like assistance in determining the cause of loss, scope of damage, and recommended ACV and RCV settlement costs, do not hesitate to reach out to us.

 




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