Will cleaning help a sick tv?

Question

I have an huge old RCA ProScan TV in my basment that has been ignored for years.  Before I go out and drop a bundle for a new TV, I'm trying to find out if this thing works and I am totally and hopelessly non-tech.  I never even learned much about navigating it when it was new, could barely turn it on and off to my family's specifications :-(.

So I have gotten to the point where it's on and there is barely an image on the tvguide channel.  Superimposed is grey with quivering white lines, almost but not totally horizontal.

My question:  Someone told me I MIGHT be able to improve things it I clean "the inside".  Cigarette smoke would be the major grime.  Anyway, does anyone know if that could help or is a total waste of time?

Many thanks.

Broadcast Engineer · Accepted Answer

If this is an old CRT based projection TV and is more than 10 years old it is not going to help it much to clean it unless you mean dirt and dust on the outside of the screen.

Cleaning is much more important with the front of the screen itself and with the vent holes on today's Plasma, LCD, DLP and DILA TV sets.  Cleaning of vents on CRT sets help too but not as important as cleaning the other types which overheat if too much dust is in the way of the air moving through the vents.

Realist 2006 · Answer

It will look better and not dirty the TV Techs hands when he gives an estimate for repairs but unfortunately cleaning will not make the set work any better !!!!
Cheers Pete

Anonymous · Answer

impossible to tell over the internet, many local shops give free estimates - call around. that would be your best bet

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Will cleaning help a sick tv?

3 Answers