Why Is Your Thermostat Blank: Here’s What You Need To Know

A smart programmable thermostat is now widely recognized as an essential appliance for every house. You can save money, have more constant temperatures throughout your house, and get the most out of your HVAC system with the help of these devices.

In fact, your thermostat is a modest but vital piece of equipment. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to customize your air conditioning system to operate at your preferred temperature or switch it on and off. However, when the thermostat goes blank, these advantages may vanish.

A blank thermostat display is often the result of a simple problem that can be fixed without any special knowledge or tools. However, this issue must be addressed immediately to prevent further complications. Find out why your thermostat may have a blank screen and how to get it working again by reading this article.

Reasons your thermostat is blank

The thermostat is the point of interaction between you and your air conditioning system. That is why it might be shocking to discover your thermostat has a blank screen. The thermostat screen might be blank for several causes, most of which have easy solutions.

• Replace dead thermostat batteries

Not all residential thermostats are powered by the main electrical system of the house. Many of them need batteries that must be replaced around once a year. If your thermostat wall lacks a c-wire, or common wire, it is most likely not powered by your HVAC system and requires batteries.

Checking the batteries should be your first step if your thermostat is blank. If so, check to determine what kind of batteries are operating the thermostat and replace them accordingly (usually AA alkaline or 3-volt lithium batteries).

Alternatively, if your thermostat is linked to your HVAC system for electricity, the screen may be temporarily blank while the thermostat recharges. Check to see if the display comes back after a short while.

• Check the switch

Your thermostat may simply be turned off. In a home with inquisitive children, it’s possible that someone has switched off the device without your knowing. Make sure the settings button/switch is active before proceeding to the next step.

• Check for wiring issues

Your thermostat has several wires and connections. These serve a variety of purposes, from displaying information on the screen to communicating with your air conditioning system. Sometimes the thermostat won’t turn on because of loose connections.

Vibrations from people walking by may occasionally disrupt the wires if they were not properly fastened initially or if the thermostat is in a high-traffic area. We advise not tinkering with any loose connections or wiring issues unless you have experience with electricity.

• Check the brightness of the screen display

Some thermostats include brightness controls. Low light levels might make a thermostat seem blank. Some models of thermostat include a screen that automatically darkens throughout the day or under bright light. If you discover a blank thermostat, you should examine the brightness settings of the display to make sure that this is not the case.

• Check a circuit breaker trip

The most thermostats in homes and businesses are wired into the primary power supply of the building. Thermostats and other electrical appliances may sometimes trip breakers. If you have previously tested the batteries, check the circuit breaker and fuse.

If you examine the fuse box and find that a circuit breaker has been tripped, you can easily reset it by flipping the breaker back to its “on” position. If there are fuses, replace them. Check your thermostat once this is complete.

If the power has been restored, no further action is necessary; however, if the breaker trips again or the new fuse blows, there is a significant problem with the HVAC system.

• Examine a tripped high limit switch

A high-limit switch, also known as a temperature limit switch, is a standard safety feature of modern furnaces. This device is meant to shut off the furnace if the burner temperature rises over a safe level. This might be the source of a blank thermostat display after a heating cycle has been conducted. The furnace should restart when the temperature is back to normal, but you should still bring in a heating expert to be sure.

• Check the access door

Your HVAC system features an access door that provides heating and air professionals with access to the interior components for maintenance and emergency repairs. This door must be closed during operation due to safety concerns. Check to see whether this door is closed since many HVAC systems won’t work if it’s open.

• Verify the fuse

Some thermostats include fuses to safeguard the device against electrical problems. Blank thermostat displays may also be caused by a blown fuse. To determine if a fuse has blown, open the front panel and search for a transparent cylinder with metal ends and a metal filament that runs through the middle. The issue should be resolved by changing the fuse if the filament is damaged.

• Think about new thermostat

After attempting the above solutions and still seeing a blank display on your thermostat, it may be time to get a new one. The majority of thermostats have a lifespan of 10 years or more, but eventually they all need to be replaced. If you’re looking to reduce your monthly energy costs, upgrading to a new smart thermostat could be the way to go.

Conclusion

You can control the temperature in your home using a thermostat, which uses a built-in temperature sensor to activate or deactivate the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit. The thermostat should be installed at a spot that is representative of the temperature in the main part of the house.

If your thermostat’s display is blank, try the aforementioned solutions to restore its power. Also to restore screen functionality, you may need to remove the thermostat cover and carefully clean the dust with a soft brush or compressed air. You may contact us for heating and air conditioning repair, installation, and maintenance if these methods do not work or if you are afraid to try them yourself.