Troubleshooting: Classic Thermapen

Here are answers to common technical support questions about the Classic Thermapen.

How do I change my Classic Thermapen’s batteries?

Directions:

Place your Thermapen display-side down on a hard, flat surface.
Using a US quarter, apply very firm, downward pressure while turning the cover’s slot counter-clockwise 1/8 turn until the slot lines up with the ‘open’ line on the label. If you are unable to move the cover with a quarter, try using a large, flat-head screwdriver instead.

Classic Thermapen Battery Cover Open Position — Battery Cover in Open Position

While the quarter is still in the slot, lift (or flick) the bottom edge of the quarter upwards and to the side to expose an edge of the battery cover
Grasp the battery cover’s edge and lift it out of the Thermapen. If you are unable to grasp it with your fingers, you can use a small flat-head screwdriver to gently pop up the cover.
If you are unable to lift the edge of the battery cover, you may find that tapping your Thermapen firmly on the palm of your hand will work. While tapping, place your Thermapen so the battery cover is just over the side of your hand so you don’t accidentally tap the cover back in place, or lose your batteries.

If you have problems changing the battery and damage the cover in the process, please let us know. We are happy to send you a replacement battery cover at no charge.

If you still can’t get the battery cover off, please contact our Tech Support team. They will be happy to assist you.

How do I install my Classic Thermapen’s replacement battery cover?

Here’s how you replace the battery cover:

Pull on the damaged battery cover’s rubber tether that holds the cover until it comes out. The tether should pull free with a little pressure.
Using a small tool (screwdriver or paper clip, etc.), press the new cover’s rubber tether into the slot. To close, set the battery cover into the slots so that it’s flush with the body.
Using a quarter, apply a small amount of pressure to the battery cover and turn it clockwise. The tabs in the compartment should lock snugly into place and the coin slot will be parallel to the sides of the Thermapen’s body.

If you have any questions about changing the battery cover, please feel free to contact our Tech Support team.

My Thermapen is flashing “flae” messages. Is this an indication I need to replace the battery?

Yes it is. The message is actually “Flat Bat”. Because of the limited segments, it can appear to read “Flae Bae.”

How long is the warranty on my Classic Thermapen? Mine stopped working for no particular reason. I just took it out of the drawer and nothing happens when opened. I replaced the battery and it still doesn’t work.

Your Thermapen has a 2-year warranty. You can read more about its warranty terms here.

Your Thermapen uses 2x – CR2032 batteries. Please make sure that the batteries are brand new, that the choking-hazard safety stickers are removed, and that they are both installed positive-side up.

If new batteries don’t fix the issue, please contact our Tech Support team. They’ll help you right away.

Where can I get instructions for the Classic Thermapen?

Super-Fast Thermapen Operating Instructions can be downloaded here.
Super-Fast Calibration Instructions can be downloaded here.

How do I test my Thermapen for accuracy?

An ice bath test is the best way to verify the accuracy of your Classic Thermapen, because it’s a standard laboratory test that is easily replicated at home. Directions for making a proper ice bath are found here.

If your Thermapen is accurate, it will read within ± 0.7°F of 32°F (31.3 to 32.7°F). If it is reading accurately in this test, you can rest assured that it is reading accurately in food and at higher temperatures.

My Thermapen doesn’t turn on until the probe is in the fully open position. Is this something you can fix? How much will it cost?

This particular issue is one we need to fix for you. In most cases when we see this error, it is because foreign matter has worked its way into the rotating hub. While there is an O-ring seal inside, oils, moisture, flour, or fine powders can work their way past the seal over time and accumulate in the housing, interfering with electrical components.

If we discover that the issue is covered by warranty, we’ll either repair or replace it without charge (depending on the source of the issue.)

If we discover that the issue is related to a problem not covered by the warranty, we offer affordable repair services for $40, which includes return shipping.

Please contact our Tech Support team and they will set up a Return Authorization for you.

I’ve had a Classic Thermapen for a while and a few months ago, I noticed that it was harder to open and close the probe. The other day, a black rubber gasket started coming out of the area where the probe rotates. Is this a problem? Is it something I can repair myself?

Classic Thermapen O-Ring

While having the O-ring gasket come out of the hub in this manner is an extremely rare occurrence, we are sorry that it happened to you. The gasket is one of the components that makes the Classic Thermapen water-resistant, so it must be repaired. Our Tech Support team needs to make this particular repair for you. Their contact information is found below.

If we discover that the issue is covered by the warranty, we’ll either repair or replace it for no charge (depending on the source of the problem).

If we discover that the issue is related to a problem not covered by the warranty, we offer affordable repair services for $40, which includes return shipping.

My Thermapen is displaying “Err”on the screen when I unfold the probe. What does this mean?

When a Thermapen’s display reads Err, it usually means the probe has been damaged and needs to be repaired. Please contact our Tech Support team and they will get the process started right away.

What does it mean that my Thermapen is displaying a “C.Lo” error?

The C.Lo message means that the Thermapen is trying to go into calibration mode. When the Thermapen does it on its own, it usually means that there is something wrong inside the Thermapen. We recommend that we take a look at it.

If we discover that the issue is covered by warranty, we’ll either repair or replace it for no charge (depending on the source of the issue.)

If we discover that the issue is related to a problem not covered by the warranty, we offer affordable repair services for $40, which includes return shipping.

Please contact our Tech Support team so they can help you.

My Thermapen’s screen has been getting cloudy. Is there anything I can do?

By chance, has the display been cleaned with isopropyl alcohol?

We have found this to cause the screen to appear cloudy, when in fact, it is more consistent with etching of the display.

We do offer affordable repair services for the Thermapen for $40 and would be happy to send you a Return Authorization for repair. Our Tech Support team can help you with that.