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There's nothing more frustrating than your heating controls suddenly not working on a cold, wintry day! Don't worry … we're here to help. We've provided step-by-step instructions on how you can reset your White Rodgers thermostat to get your heating back up and running.

These instructions typically return your thermostat to factory settings so don't forget to re-program your schedule to the way you want it!

Where the instructions require you to remove the thermostat from its base plate, potentially exposing live wiring, we recommend you isolate the circuit beforehand. 

At SmartHomePerfected we always advise readers not to undertake any work they are not competent in performing and if in any doubt, please seek the assistance of a professional.

What's your Model?

Reset instructions differ per thermostat model so ideally, you should know the specific model to get the most accurate instructions.

If you do not know your model number, we have included imagery of each thermostat below to help guide you.

Typically the model number is printed on the back of the thermostat cover plate, which requires you to remove the cover to see it. Simply grasp the front cover and pull away from the wall plate to read it. Be careful as wiring may be exposed with the cover plate removed.

Classic 80 & 70 Series White Rodgers Thermostat

Model: 1F85-277, 1F80-361, 1F86-344, 1F72-151, 1F79-111, 1F78-151, 1E78-151, 1F78-144

Again, depending on the model there are slight variations to the reset procedure.

Factory Reset (Procedure #1)

  1. Press and hold the Up and/or Down arrow and the TIME button at the same time
  2. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  3. The configuration settings are now reset

Factory Reset (Procedure #2)

  1. Press and hold the Up and/or Down arrow and move the system switch from OFF to HEAT at the same time.
  2. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  3. The configuration settings are now reset

Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat

Models: 1F95U-42WFB, 1F95U-42WF

The Sensi touch smart thermostat is one of Emerson's latest models which includes smart home integrations, is voice compatible with Alexa and Google Home, and features an HD color touch screen.

It can save you up to 23% on your energy bills with smart features like geofencing, flexible schedules, and remote access.

Factory Reset

This procedure changes all settings back to default. It clears the existing Wi-Fi connection and Apple Homekit pairing however doesn’t clear your HVAC equipment configuration.

  1. Press Menu
  2. Press About Thermostat
  3. Press “Factory Reset”
  4. All done – the thermostat is reset

Schedule Reset

To reset your schedule you can simply set a new schedule in the touchscreen interface by pressing Menu, pressing Schedule, ensuring Schedule is “On”, editing your configuration settings, and clicking Save.

The schedule can also be updated in the Sensi App.

Wi-Fi Reset

The Wi-Fi network reset process differs depending on if you have the Sensi App installed on an iOS or Android device.

For detailed instructions, visit https://sensi.emerson.com/en-us/support/reconnecting-sensi-thermostat-to-wifi

Sensi Smart Thermostat

Models: 1F87U-42WF

The Sensi Smart Thermostat is a very popular choice for smart homes with extensive compatibility with heating and cooling systems and support for voice commands with Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Like its Sensi Touch counterpart, it also features gen-fencing, flexible scheduling, and remote access along with providing analytics on your energy usage.

Schedule Reset

To set or reset your smart thermostat schedule, you can either click Schedule and follow the instructions to update the configuration or use the Sensi App to make changes. Further details can be found here https://climate.emerson.com/documents/sensi-app-navigation-scheduling-guide-en-us-4980108.pdf

Wi-Fi Reset

The Wi-Fi network reset process differs based on if you have the Sensi App installed on an iOS or Android device.

For detailed instructions, visit https://sensi.emerson.com/en-us/support/reconnecting-sensi-thermostat-to-wifi

80 Series Emerson Thermostat

Models: 1F85U-42PR, 1F85U-22PR, 1F83H-21PR, 1F83C-11PR, 1F85U-42NP, 1F85U-22NP, 1F83H-21NP, 1F83C-11NP

Factory Reset

  1. Press and hold the Menu and Backlight buttons at the same time
  2. After a few seconds, the display will go blank
  3. Once reset the display will reappear and the reset is complete

Hard Reset

If the display is blank or not responsive then remove the cover plate and replace the batteries. This should not impact the schedule or configuration.

If the batteries still have juice in them and the display is still not responsive then remove the cover plate, remove the batteries for two minutes and replace both. If the display is still unresponsive, it’s best to seek professional assistance or replace the unit.

Blue Series 12” Emerson Touchscreen Thermostat

Models: 1F95-1277, 1F95-1280, 1F97-1277, 1F95-1291

Another popular series with a backlit display, they feature both programmable models and non-programmable models. Models in the series are suited for heat pumps, and universal, single-stage, and multi-stage systems.

Reset Hold

If your thermostat is stuck in an indefinite hold, simply press “Run Schedule” to remove the hold and get it back on the program!

Hard Reset

To solve issues where the display is blank or does not respond to inputs you can reset by

  1. Removing the cover from the wall plate
  2. Remove the batteries for two minutes to allow the unit to reset
  3. Replace the batteries and cover plate
  4. The display should now be operational again

Note: Some models within the 12” Series requiring removing the R and C wires form the terminals also (ensuring you do not short them together). Best to isolate/disconnect the circuit beforehand.

If the above procedure did not work, then we recommend you contact the service professional

Blue Series 6” Emerson Touchscreen Thermostat

Models: 1F95EZ-0671, 1F95-0671, 1F95-0680

Blue Series 6″ thermostats are equipped with an intuitive touchscreen interface and are compatible with single-stage, multistage, and heat pump systems.

Schedule & Configuration Reset

To reset the programmed schedule and thermostat configuration settings, simply press and hold the Up or Down arrow and the SYSTEM or FAN button at the same time.

This will trigger the display to initially go blank and then reappear. The schedule, clock, and settings are now reset

Hard Reset

If the display blanks out or the thermostat is behaving strangely you may need to trigger a hard reset. Note: This will reset the installed configuration as well as programming.

  1. Remove the cover plate
  2. Remove the wires from terminals R and C (or RH and RC), taking care not to short them together. Best to isolate/disconnect the circuit beforehand.
  3. Remove the batteries for 2 minutes
  4. This procedure will reset the thermostat
  5. Replace the wires, batteries, and cover plate
  6. The display should now show in its factory reset state

Some models in this series require the removal of wires from the RH and RC terminal instead. 

If the above does not work we recommend you contact a service professional

Blue Series 4″ Emerson Thermostat

Models: 1F85-0422 ,1F83-0471

This series includes two models; one programmable with 5/2 or 5/1/1 Day and the other non-programmable. They are universal thermostats with an integrated automatic heat and cool changeover option.

Schedule & Configuration Reset

  1. Press and hold the Up or Down arrow and the FAN button at the same time
  2. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  3. The schedule, clock, and settings are now reset

Hard Reset

If the display does not appear or there is erratic behavior from the thermostat you may need to trigger a hard reset. Note: This will reset the installed configuration as well as programming.

  1. Remove the cover plate.
  2. Remove the wires from terminals R and C, taking care not to short them together. Best to isolate/disconnect the circuit beforehand.
  3. Remove the batteries for 2 minutes
  4. This procedure will reset the thermostat.
  5. Replace the wires, batteries, and cover plate.
  6. The display should now show in its factory reset state

If the above does not work we recommend you contact a service professional or replace the unit.

Blue Series 2″ Emerson Thermostat

Models: 1F80-0261, 1F80-0224, 1F86EZ-0251, 1F86-0244, 1F82-0261, 1F89EZ-0251, 1F89-0211

An upgrade on the 70 Series, this range contains both programmable and non-programmable options. There are also multiple options for compatibility with single-stage or heat pump systems.

There are slight variations to the reset procedure based on the specific model in this series.

Factory Reset (Procedure #1)

  1. Press and hold the Up and/or Down arrow and the TIME or PRGM button at the same time
  2. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  3. The schedule, clock, and settings are now reset

Factory Reset (Procedure #2)

  1. Ensure the system switch is in Cool, Heat, or Emer.
  2. Press and hold the Up or Down arrow and the TIME button at the same time for 10 seconds
  3. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  4. The thermostat is now reset

Comfort-Set® 90 Series White Rodgers Thermostat

Model: 1F90/1F97-3XX

Factory Reset

If you see CHECK STAT it means one of the buttons is stuck down or the thermostat sensor has stopped working

  1. Check buttons and sensor wiring connections and power
  2. If fine, press and hold PROGRAM (Run) to reset the display
  3. If this does not clear the display and disconnect power
  4. Remove the device and remove the batteries for 5 minutes
  5. Replace the batteries and device and reconnect power
  6. The display should now show (If not you will need to get in touch with a service professional or replace the unit)

Line Voltage Digital White Rodgers Thermostats

Model: 1E65-144

Factory Reset

  1. Press and hold the Up and/or Down arrow and press the light button for a few seconds
  2. The display will initially go blank and then reappear
  3. The configuration settings are now reset

CT101 White Rodgers Thermostat

Factory Reset
  1. Remove top plate
  2. Hold the Reset button for a few seconds
  3. The screen will flash with icons and then reset
  4. Replace top plate
  5. Job Done!

Stuck On Hold

When your White Rodgers Thermostat is stuck on hold, your HVAC system is set on a particular temperature permanently until you cancel the hold.

To get your White Rodgers Thermostat off of the Hold mode, you need to press and hold the “Run Schedule” button.

Thermostat Manuals

If you require more information on how to troubleshoot your thermostat, I recommend you download the specific thermostat instruction manual.

For the latest Emerson thermostat manuals visit the link below…

https://climate.emerson.com/en-us/products/thermostats/thermostat-manuals

Conclusion

We hope these instructions help in getting your HVAC system back up and running. If your White Rodgers thermostat / Emerson thermostat model is not listed, please leave a comment below and we will update our article with the relevant instructions.

Thanks for reading!

Show CommentsClose Comments

9 Comments

  • Kathleen Marie Pughe
    Posted December 16, 2021 at 2:56 am

    I need to re set my unit Model 1F72 151 24V.
    I would like to do this with an e-mail video since my unit is away from my computer and I ned to walk from one area to another.
    Thank you for whatever help you can provide.

  • Donna E
    Posted June 9, 2021 at 3:19 am

    HELP! I have a 1f88-385 white Rodgers thermostat that is stuck on hold (after company starting messing with it). Also I can’t adjust the time and figure out how to set it foe different times of day. Also I need a manual for this particular model so I can learn to program it.

    Is this an older model?

  • Janie Tomasovich Olson
    Posted April 24, 2021 at 2:52 pm

    I wish I would have found this page first. You know what to do to reset the thermostats. It worked the first time with your instruction after 2 days of struggling to get my thermostat off of hold mode. Kudos

  • Rajath S
    Posted April 1, 2021 at 10:51 am

    Is the CT101 thermostat a White-Rodgers model?

  • Biyanca Drake
    Posted February 11, 2021 at 12:28 pm

    Hello, I didn’t see my model, Emerson 1F79-111 Digital Non-programmable Thermostat

  • Leslie Conklin
    Posted December 3, 2020 at 12:26 pm

    I didn’t see my model included 1F85-275

    • Daniel Walsh
      Posted December 3, 2020 at 12:33 pm

      Hi Leslie,

      The reset operation for the 1F85-275 is similar to the others listed. You isolate the circuit, remove the wires from the R and C terminals and remove the batteries for 2 minutes. (Sometimes it is recommended to leave it longer or put the batteries in reverse for 10 seconds to ensure the power is fully drained from the device). Then put the batteries in correctly again, put the wires back in to the terminals, remount the thermostat and enable the circuit again. That should reset the device.

      If the display is still blank then time to call in the pros!

      Hope this helps

      D

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