Your thermostat is important. It is the one device that can control the temperature in your home. That being said, it can be more than a little concerning when you go to turn on your AC and find a blank thermostat.
However, most of the time, a thermostat blank screen can be easily fixed if you can find out what caused it. Here are some possible causes of a blank thermostat and how to fix it.
Your Thermostat is Off
Before you jump to conclusions, make sure the thermostat isn’t just turned off. If you don’t live alone, there is always the chance that someone else turned it off by accident and there is nothing to worry about.
Low Display Brightness
Some thermostats automatically adjust their screen’s brightness level when there is too much light in the room to save battery power. Be sure to check and see if your thermostat is at a lower brightness before you move on to other potential causes.
Dead Batteries
Another common cause of a thermostat blank screen is dead batteries. If your blank thermostat runs on batteries, try replacing them – and see if that turns the thermostat back on.
An Open Furnace Door
If you own a Honeywell thermostat, the blank screen could be an indication of a furnace door that wasn’t completely closed. These thermostats are programmed to shut off entirely if a furnace door is open. To rule this out, double-check to make sure your furnace door is fully closed.
A Tripped Breaker
Most thermostats are connected to a home’s main electrical system. If this is the case, it’s possible that the thermostat or some other electrical device caused the breaker to trip. Go to the breaker, and flip the switch to reset the circuit. If the screen turns back on, you found the cause.
A Tripped Safety Switch
Sometimes, the issue is with your AC itself. Every AC has a safety switch installed in the drain pan that turns the system, thermostat included, completely off if it detects a hazardous problem. If the safety switch indicates a problem, contact an HVAC professional to inspect your AC.
A Broken Thermostat
It is always a possibility that your thermostat has reached the end of the road and needs to be replaced. Most thermostats last around 10 years. Therefore, if your thermostat has been around a while, has a blank screen and isn’t working, it may be time for a new one.
If you are in need of AC or thermostat repair, or if you would like a professional to inspect your cooling system, contact Big Mountain Air today.