How to Reset an Emerson Thermostat (Including Sensi and White Rodgers)

By Nick Evans •  Updated: 01/24/22 •  17 min read
Small Home Appliances » Thermostats

Wondering how to reset an Emerson thermostat? You’re in the right place. When a thermostat gets stuck it causes problems for your HVAC (heating ventilation air condition) system. You won’t be able to change the temperature of your home and this causes discomfort in hot summer months or cold winter months. Therefore, learning how to reset your thermostat can help you solve common thermostat bugs and glitches on your own. Unfortunately, the alternative would be calling someone from the company, sitting on hold, or calling an electrician. 

The good news is that we’re here to help. We’re going to take you through everything you need to know about these Emerson thermostats and how to reset them. We’ll also be covering Sensi and White Rodgers thermostats as well. 

Emerson, Sensi, and White-Rodgers: What’s the Difference?

Emerson, Sensi, and White-Rodgers thermostats are produced by Emerson.

While Emerson produces its own line of thermostats, Sensi and White-Rodgers are also owned by Emerson.

The difference between the brands comes down to a few factors. 

First and foremost, Sensi is a brand of luxury thermostats.

These are thermostats that feature touchscreens, smart technology, WiFi capabilities, and companion apps.

On the other hand, White-Rodgers thermostats are more traditional. While there are some advanced models, White-Rodgers thrives on ease of use and simple design. Emerson thermostats are a combination of the two and Emerson is the parent company of White-Rodgers and Sensi.

Emerson owns all of the brands but each thermostat has different functionality and designs.

This means that manuals for Emerson thermostats won’t always work for White-Rodgers or Sensi products. Therefore, it’s important to know if you have a Emerson, White-Rodgers, or Sensi thermostat before attempting a reset. You can determine which brand by looking for the logo or name of the brand on the cover plate, top plate, or rear plate.

Read on to learn more about how to rest Emerson, White-Rodgers, and Sensi thermostats.

What You Need to Know Before Resetting Your Thermostat 

Before resetting your thermostat there are a few things you need to do. You want to find the model number and read the owner’s manual.

Check the Owner’s Manual 

The owner’s manual comes with every Emerson thermostat, even older models. Locating and reading the owner’s manual is crucial because it can take you through the steps to reset the thermostat.

Moreover, it can help you diagnose issues with the thermostat that might not require a reset. The good news is that if you lost the owner’s manual there is a good chance you can find a copy of one online. Simply enter your model number into Google and you’ll be able to find the manual. 

For this to work, though, you’ll need the model number.

Locate the Model Number 

The model number shows you what model of thermostat you have. Model numbers are important because every model has different technology, problems, and reset methods. While the model number is not always listed on the front of the thermostat, the model number can be found on the back or sides of most Emerson thermostats. 

With the model number, you can determine the steps necessary to reset the thermostat or access the owner’s manual online.

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Resetting Emerson/Rodgers Thermostats by Model

There are many Emerson thermostat categories and each category has a handful of models. We’ll take you through each type of thermostat and display the models within each category below.

Classic 80 and 70 Series White-Rodgers Thermostat 

The Classic 80 and 70 Series White-Rodgers Thermostats are older models that use basic functions to control the temperature of rooms. While these units don’t have modern touch screens or smart technology, they can still be reset easily.

Because the Classic 80 and 70 Series White-Rodgers thermostats have been around for a while, there are many models to consider. 

The models are listed below:

Factory Reset 

The process for a factory reset (for most White-Rodgers Classic Series thermostats) is straightforward and can be done in a few steps.

These steps are:

  1. Hold the “up” and “down” arrow buttons.
  2. The display will fade and then come back.
  3. Once the display comes back the system is reset.

Factory Reset (Alternative)

Some White-Rodgers thermostats have different reset methods. You can tell if your model requires an alternative method if it has a heat mode. To reset these White-Rodgers 80 and 70 Series models is to follow these steps:

  1. Hold the “up” and “down” arrows.
  2. Move the system switch to “heat.”
  3. The display will go blank.
  4. When the display comes back the unit is reset.

These methods will work for most 70 and 80 Series Classic White-Rodgers units.

Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat 

The Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat is one of the newest models produced by Emerson. While it still functions similarly to older models, it comes with new and innovative thermostat technology. For example, it features a touch screen and can be integrated with Amazon Alexa and other smart devices. 

Plus, the average savings an individual has on their heating and cooling bill is just under 25% because of the model’s smart interface and technology. This is because it can be put on schedules and controlled by mobile devices.

There are a few models that feature this technology and each model has similar reset instructions. These models include:

Factory Reset 

A factory reset of a Sensi Smart Touch Thermostat restores the unit to its default settings. It gets rid of any existing WiFi connections and smart connections. That said, it doesn’t clear any connections the device has to HVAC systems.

The steps to perform a factory reset are:

  1. Press the “menu” button.
  2. Go to “about thermostat.”
  3. Press “factory reset.”

Once you complete these steps the device will be reset in a few minutes.

Resetting the Schedule 

With Sensi Smart Touch Thermostats the schedule can also be reset without restoring the unit to its default settings. This is a great feature for people who want to make small adjustments without starting over from scratch.

To reset the schedule, you can follow these tips:

We recommend resetting the schedule this way instead of using a factory reset.

WiFi Reset 

With Sensi Smart Touch Thermostats the WiFi connection can also be reset. The methods for doing so vary based on if you have an Apple or Android device.

For Apple devices follow these steps:

  1. Click the “menu” on the thermostat.
  2. Select “WiFi.”
  3. Open your Apple app.
  4. Select “WiFi” and set up a new device.
  5. Go to “accessory setup.”
  6. Choose “next.”
  7. Wait for the thermostat and Apple device to connect.
  8. Select “done.”

The steps to reset WiFi on Android devices are also similar. Follow these steps below:

  1. Open the thermostat app and select the “+” symbol.
  2. Choose your model.
  3. Select “Yes, it is on the wall.”
  4. Click the “WiFi” option on the thermostat.
  5. Go back into the Android app and select “Sensi Network.”
  6. Enter a PIN.
  7. Input the WiFi password. 

Once you follow these steps on Apple or Android devices everything will be ready to go.

Read Also: How to Unlock a Honeywell Thermostat

Sensi Smart Thermostat 

The Sensi Smart Thermostat is similar to the Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat because it has almost identical features. The notable difference between the thermostats is that the Sensi Smart Thermostat does not have a touch screen interface. There are also limited model options with the Sensi Smart Thermostat because the only model available is the 1F87U-42WF. 

Factory Reset 

To perform a factory reset you can follow these steps:

  1. Scroll to the “menu.”
  2. Press “about thermostat.”
  3. Select “factory reset.”

The steps are identical to the Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat but without the touch screen.

Schedule Reset 

To reset the device’s schedule it’s best to have the Sensi app installed on your Android or Apple device. On the app, you can set new schedules in the settings tab to create a new schedule and reset the device. This can also be done on the device by scrolling through the menu and locating the scheduling section.

WiFi Reset 

Sensi Smart Thermostats can also have their WiFi settings reset. WiFi settings can be reset through the Sensi Apple or Android apps. It can also be reset on the device by locating WiFi in the menu.

The steps change based on which operating system you’re on. For Apple devices, follow these steps below:

  1. Click on the menu.
  2. Select the “WiFi” option.
  3. Open the Sensi app on your Apple device.
  4. Click on “WiFi” and select “Setup new device.”
  5. Go to “accessory setup” and select “next.”
  6. Click “done” once the devices are connected.

For Android devices, you’ll have to follow these steps:

  1. Open the thermostat app on your Android device and select the “+” symbol.
  2. Select the model you have and choose “Yes, it is on the wall.”
  3. Click on “menu” on the thermostat.
  4. Click on “WiFi.”
  5. Go back to the Android app and select “Sensi Network.”
  6. Enter the PIN.
  7. Enter the WiFi password.

These steps should work on both Android and Apple devices but it’s important you follow the appropriate steps for your device.

80 Series Emerson Thermostat 

The 80 Series Emerson Thermostat is a more advanced model than the Classic 70 and 80 Series models. While the unit is more advanced, it still has similar functionality.

The 80 Series of Emerson thermostats has many models. These can be found below:

The 80 Series Emerson Thermostat can be reset in two ways; factory reset or hard reset.

Factory Reset 

To perform a factory reset, follow these steps below:

  1. Hold the “menu” and “backlight” buttons for a few seconds.
  2. Wait for the display to fade and keep holding the buttons.
  3. When the screen comes back into view the device is reset.

Hard Reset 

Emerson 80 Series thermostats can also be hard reset. Hard resets should be performed when the display is unresponsive. While doing a hard reset can fix the issue, it won’t change your schedule.

To perform a hard reset, follow these steps below:

  1. Remove the cover plate.
  2. Wait for about 2 minutes.
  3. Replace the batteries.

If this does not work and the display is still frozen, you should reach out to an Emerson professional. 

Blue Series 12″ Emerson Touchscreen Thermostat 

Blue Series 12″ Emerson Touchscreen Thermostats are unique devices that feature a backlit display. These units are powerful and capable of working with many HVAC systems. Emerson thermostats in this category may be programmable or non-programmable –it depends on the model.

The models in this series are found below:

These units can be hard reset or you can reset their schedule hold settings.

Hard Reset 

A hard reset is a one-size-fits-all solution for Blue Series 12″ Emerson Touchscreen thermostats. Thermostats. A hard reset can be used to fix a display that’s stuck, WiFi issues, a blank display, scheduling issues, and more.

The steps to hard reset these models are listed below.

  1. Remove the cover from the wall plate.
  2. Remove the batteries for about 2 minutes.
  3. Swap out the batteries or put the old ones back in if they have power left.
  4. Put the cover plate back on.
  5. The display should work properly.

It’s important to note that some of these Blue Series devices are advanced and may require removing wires from the circuit to properly hard reset the device. If you can’t do this yourself or don’t notice the results by changing the batteries and removing the wires, it’s time to contact an Emerson professional.

Reset Hold

Blue Series 12″ Emerson Touchscreen Thermostats can also get stuck in a hold position. This is a bug that some devices experience and it’s more likely to occur when batteries are low or if there is a fluctuation in power. If this problem occurs, go into settings and press “run schedule.” This should fix the issue.

Blue Series 6″ Emerson Touchscreen Thermostat 

Emerson Blue Series 6″ thermostats are similar to the Emerson Blue Series 12″ models but the main difference is the smaller screen. The Blue Series 6″ still features touch screen capabilities and functions well with advanced HVAC systems. 

There are a few Blue Series 6″ models and these can be found below:

These devices are also complicated so there are a few things that can go wrong and a few methods to reset them.

Hard Reset 

First and foremost, you can perform a hard reset on these devices. These should be performed when the display is glitchy or not working properly.

To perform a hard reset on these devices, you can follow these instructions below:

  1. Take off the cover plate.
  2. Disconnect the circuit leading to the thermostat.
  3. Remove the “R” and “C” wires.
  4. Remove the batteries for at least 2 minutes.
  5. Connect the wires.
  6. Turn the circuit back on.
  7. When the display turns back on it will show factory reset settings.

If you’re not comfortable removing wires or interacting with your circuit breakers, we recommend contacting a professional.

Schedule Configuration 

If the schedule and other configuration settings become messed up or glitchy, you reset them. The process is simple compared to hard resetting the device. Simply press and hold the up or down arrow and the system or fan buttons at the same time. After the display goes blank and comes back on, all system and configuration settings will be reset.

Blue Series 4″ Emerson Thermostat 

Emerson Blue Series 4″ thermostats come in two different models. One model can be programmed 5/2 or 5/1/1 and the other is not programmable. These thermostats can be used with most HVAC systems and can be used for heating or cooling.

The Blue Series 4″ models are listed below:

On these devices, there are a few reset methods you can perform. You can perform a hard reset or reset the schedule and configuration (like other Emerson Blue Series devices).

Hard Reset 

Hard resets will restore Blue Series 4″ thermostats to factory default settings. This can be done by following these steps:

  1. Take off the cover plate.
  2. Disconnect the circuit leading to the thermostat.
  3. Disconnect the “R” and “C” wires.
  4. Remove the batteries for at least 2 minutes.
  5. Connect the wires.
  6. Connect the circuit.
  7. Replace the batteries.
  8. Put the cover plate back into place.
  9. Factory reset settings will be on the display.

If this does not work or if you’re not comfortable interacting with circuits in your home, you can always work with a professional.

Schedule and Configuration 

Emerson Blue Series 4″ thermostats also have schedule and configuration settings. These are automatic systems but if dates and times are not properly displayed you can reset them. To do so, press the up or down arrow and the fan or system button at the same time. When the display goes blank and comes back on schedule and configuration settings will be reset.

Blue Series 2″ Emerson Thermostat 

Emerson Blue Series 2″ thermostats are not as advanced as other Emerson Blue Series models but it’s an upgrade over the Emerson 70 Series. These thermostats come with features that can be programmable but some models are non-programmable. Some models are compatible with single-stage systems, while others are compatible with heat pump systems.

Emerson Blue Series 2″ models can be found below:

Emerson Blue Series 2″ thermostats can be reset in multiple ways. These include a factory reset and an alternative factory reset for select models.

Factory Reset 

The first factory reset method can restore the device to its default settings. This can be done by following these steps:

  1. Hold the “up” and “down” arrow at the same time.
  2. The display will fade.
  3. When it comes back on the device is reset.

Performing a hard reset will also reset the clock, date, and any schedule settings.

Factory Reset (Alternative)

Some models require an alternative method to be reset. This method is designed for devices that have heat, cold, or emer settings. To perform a factory reset on these devices, follow the steps below:

  1. Place the device in “Cool,” “Heat,” or “Emer.”
  2. Hold the “up” or “down” arrow and the time button for about 10 seconds or until the screen fades.
  3. When the screen comes back on everything will be reset.

Like the first methods, performing this reset will also restore the clock, schedules, and date to default settings.

Comfort-Set 90 Series White-Rodgers Thermostat 

Comfort-set 90 series White-Rodgers thermostats are also Emerson products. These thermostats come in two models:

On Comfort-Set 90 Series White-Rodgers thermostats you can perform a factory reset.

Factory Reset 

The factory reset restores default settings on the thermostat. To perform a factory reset on a Comfort-Set 90 Series White-Rodgers thermostat follow these instructions:

  1. Check the sensor and wiring connections.
  2. Hold the “program” button to reset the display.
  3. If the display is not cleared, disconnect the power.
  4. Remove the device and the batteries for at least 2 minutes.
  5. Replace the batteries.
  6. Connect the circuit.

If the display does not come on after these steps, it’s time to contact a professional for assistance.

Line Voltage Digital White-Rodgers Thermostats 

Line Voltage Digital White-Rodgers thermostats are Emerson thermostats with advanced features and displays. While they don’t have touch screens, you can still create schedules and navigate the device with arrows and buttons. There is one model of Line Voltage Digital White-Rodgers Thermostat and it’s the 1E65-144.

For this particular device, resetting requires a factory reset.

Factory Reset 

To perform a factory reset on a Line Voltage Digital White-Rodgers thermostat, you can follow these steps:

  1. Hold the “up” or “down” arrow and the “light” button for 10 seconds or until the display turns off.
  2. Wait for the display to come back on.
  3. Make sure the configuration settings are reset.

Performing this factory reset will reset the clock, date, and any schedules you have.

CT101 White-Rodgers Thermostat 

The CT101 White-Rodgers thermostat is a simple device that’s easy to work with. It’s compatible with most HVAC systems and can be used to set schedules. On these devices, you can perform a factory reset to restore it to default settings.

Factory Reset 

To perform a factory reset, follow these steps below:

  1. Remove the plate on the tip.
  2. Hold the reset button.
  3. Wait for the screen to flash.
  4. Place the top plate back on.

A factory reset will restore the date, time, and any schedules you may have.

Final Thoughts 

Resetting your Emerson thermostat can save you time and money. The sooner you reset your thermostat the faster your HVAC system can begin heating or cooling your home. While some models are harder to reset than others, every Emerson thermostat can be reset. If your thermostat is stuck, glitched, or having bugs, a factory reset or hard reset can fix almost any situation.

If you can’t get your Emerson thermostat to work after resetting it, you’ll want to consider getting a new model or calling the company for guidance.

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