AV troubleshooting: the 5 most common failures.
2026-09-25 · Obsidian Audio Video · Houston
After servicing hundreds of smart home systems across Houston, the same five problems account for 80% of service calls. Most have simple fixes that homeowners can handle before calling a technician.
1. "The system isn't responding"
Cause: The automation processor has locked up or the network has dropped. This is the #1 service call.
Fix: Reboot the processor. Find the main processor in the equipment rack. Unplug it, wait 30 seconds, plug it back in. Wait 2–3 minutes for it to fully boot. Most issues resolve here.
2. "The lights won't dim / they flicker"
Cause: LED incompatibility with the dimmer, or a failed dimmer module.
Fix: Check if the dimmer is rated for the LED load. Lutron dimmers have minimum load requirements. If the dimmer has failed, the module needs replacement.
3. "The audio drops out"
Cause: Network congestion (for streaming audio) or loose speaker wire connections.
Fix: Check Wi-Fi signal strength or Ethernet cable. Reboot the network switch and router.
4. "The shades won't move"
Cause: Dead battery, failed motor, or communication error.
Fix: For battery shades: charge the battery. For hardwired: check the shade controller for error codes.
5. "The TV has no sound / wrong input"
Cause: The control system has lost track of the TV's input.
Fix: Use the control system's "Watch TV" or "Watch Movie" button to resend all input commands.
Need AV service? Schedule a service call or call 346-357-5323.