If you walk up to adjust your thermostat only to find it dark and your thermostat blank, you may be unsure where to start. You may even be worried that your whole system is broken. At Ambient Edge Air Conditioning, we want to empower you with the information you need to perform basic troubleshooting to find simple problems with your thermostats.
We know that calling a repair technician can get expensive and disrupt your day. It can be particularly frustrating to rearrange your day to have someone come out and assess what’s wrong just to find out it is something minor, like a dead battery that can be fixed without help. We hope you can use this knowledge to assess your trouble at home and feel confident in your decision to call your Las Vegas air conditioning company if you need to.
Common Reasons Your Thermostat May Be Blank
To start, you should understand the function of the part we are troubleshooting. A thermostat is a device, usually on your wall, that helps regulate your house’s temperature. It assesses the ongoing temperature and communicates with your HVAC to turn on and off, keeping the temperature consistent based on what you set on the thermostat.
When discussing a blank thermostat, we refer to a thermostat screen that shows nothing on the display, even when you push buttons. Sometimes, this can mean that you will need to replace your thermostat. However, most of the time, this is due to a lack of power to the display, and some basic troubleshooting can correct the issue.
Your Thermostat Is Off
Simple though it may sound, it is always a good first move to make sure the power is on. If you see the switch is already set to the on position, try turning it off, waiting ten seconds, and turning it back on again. Sometimes, this cycling of power can help.
Your Thermostat Batteries Have Died
We don’t often think about changing batteries in less frequently used pieces like thermostats, but if yours isn’t working, you should check them. Most thermostats should have a panel that is relatively easy to access. Your manual should provide instructions for how to do this.
Your Circuit Breaker Has Tripped
Suppose the circuit that your thermostat is on is overloaded. In that case, the breaker would trip and disconnect the circuit to avoid a fire or other major electrical problems. This problem can be easily identified and corrected by going to your circuit breaker panel.
Power Outages
If you are currently experiencing a power outage, this may affect your thermostat. Some thermostats are battery-powered, but some may be wired into your house’s electricity. If the house loses power for whatever reason, this will also affect your thermostat and HVAC.
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Digging Deeper in Thermostat Troubleshooting
If you have completed a general overview of the above steps and have not found the cause of your blank thermostat screen, it may be time to investigate the problem further. There may still be causes stemming from the unit, which can be investigated. However, it may indicate larger problems.
You should also inspect your air filter and ensure it is clean and clear. While this issue may not cause all thermostats to go dark, it may cause trouble for some. This is overall good practice for your HVAC system upkeep.
Lastly, you may want to inspect your furnace and furnace door. In some units, the thermostat may be sensitive to the furnace door being left open. If this is the issue, just closing the furnace door should resolve the problem and allow you to use your thermostat again.
A Dead Thermostat
If you have explored all other options and found no obvious signs of something else being wrong, you may just have a dead thermostat. While many thermostats can last ten or more years, they do wear out and need to be replaced. At Ambient Edge, we have products and services that can make your replacement easier.
Some of the commonly known and trusted thermostat brands are:
- Honeywell
- Lennox
- Google Nest
- Ecobee
Your choice of thermostat will depend on your needs and those of your family. For some, being able to program it will take priority, while others may just want a more wallet-friendly option. In a recent review and list of the 7 best thermostats of 2024, you can find thermostats that learn your habits, as well as ones that are under $100.
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When to Involve a Professional
Sometimes, you may not find a simple problem. This is when it may be time to involve a professional. Unfortunately, this may come down to a larger issue with the system or wiring.
In your investigation, you may want to inspect your unit and ensure no safety switches have been flipped. Especially in the hot Nevada summers, sometimes the overflow pan in your unit will fill, which may trigger a shutoff and, in turn, shut off the thermostat. If this is found to be the problem, you may want to call for an inspection because there are several reasons this could be happening that may need attention.
If, upon inspection of the unit and filters, you don’t find any issues. It may be time to consider wiring issues. Thankfully though, this will likely be accompanied by other electrical signs in your house. Any concerns about electrical wiring in your house should be inspected by an electrician.
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Fixing Your Blank Thermostat
If you have successfully troubleshooted the cause of your blank thermostat, congratulations! These are usually small problems that require minor fixes, and you can fix them on your own. In these cases, your user manual will help you out.
If you have not been able to find the problem, or you have discovered the issue and it is something that requires a professional to assess it, we are available to book appointments online. If there is an emergency concern, we have emergency services available 24/7. If you are unsure of how to proceed, reach out today.
