The thermostat is one of the most important components of your air conditioning system. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to turn your AC on and off or take advantage of the cooling and heating benefits your system offers you.
You know your thermostat controls your AC, but what happens when it goes blank? If your thermostat is blank, there are a few potential reasons why. While this does happen on occasion, the silver living is that sometimes, there is an easy solution.
10 Reasons Why Your Thermostat Is Blank
There are lots of reasons behind why your thermostat is blank. Whether the thermostat display is simply not working or if there is no power to the thermostat, finding the underlying cause is the first step.
1. Thermostat Is Off
This might seem silly, but if your thermostat is blank, it’s best to double check that it’s on before you start troubleshooting. It’s always possible that your spouse or one of your kids turned the thermostat off and forgot to turn it back on. Similarly, there might be a power outage in your home and you didn’t even realize it.
If you confirm that your thermostat is indeed on but it’s still blank, try the following troubleshooting tips.
2. Dead Batteries
This is another ‘silly’ thing that can cause your thermostat to go blank. The batteries in your thermostat can last as long as five years or as little as a few months – so if your thermostat is turned on but still blank, try swapping out the batteries.
How to change the batteries in your thermostat will depend on its make and model, but most thermostats have a removable battery compartment that is easily accessible.
3. Tripped Circuit Breaker
Depending on how your home is wired, your thermostat may be on the same breaker as another appliance or device that draws a surplus of power (hair dryer anyone?). This can cause the circuit breaker to trip, which will shut your thermostat off.
Take a look at your circuit breaker and see if it needs to be reset. If you’ve never reset a breaker, you’ll notice that each switch has three settings: “On,” “Off,” and the middle neutral setting. When a breaker trips, the switch stays in the middle. Set it to “Off,” before setting to “On.”
4. Dirty Air Filter
Haven’t changed your air filter in a while? It could be a reason behind why your thermostat is blank.
Over time, the air filter in your AC system gets bogged down with dirt, dust, and other debris. If it becomes too clogged, it can impede airflow and cause your system to shut down. Take a look at your air filter. If it’s dirty, replace it with a new one. For good measure, be sure to change your air filter frequently – we recommend every one to three months.
5. Triggered Safety Switch
Certain thermostats are equipped with a safety switch, which is triggered whenever a potential threat to your air conditioning system is detected. Let’s say your evaporator coils freeze and cause excess condensation to drain from your system – in a case like this, the safety switch may alert your system to shut down, causing your thermostat to turn off.
If your thermostat has a safety switch, check if it was triggered and then look for any low-hanging fruit as to what could have caused the shutdown.
6. Dirty Wiring
Chances are, your thermostat doesn’t get a lot of action, which can mean dust can accumulate in the wiring. If the above steps haven’t solved your issue, remove the cover to your thermostat and check the wiring.
If there is a noticeable amount of dust, use a soft brush or compressed air to clean the wiring.
So far, so good, right? If you fixed it, voilá! Have a happy day! If you haven’t, this is when things start getting more complicated.
7. Blown Fuse
You’ll need a multimeter for this one. Walk outside your home and head over to your AC condenser unit. Near it, on an exterior wall of your home, you’ll find the fuse box. Attach each fuse (one at a time) to the multimeter. This will determine if they have any voltage left. If either one doesn’t, you can purchase a new one online or at any hardware store.
8. Wiring Issues
It’s always possible that there is an underlying wiring issue preventing your thermostat from receiving power. If you suspect this might be the case, we recommend calling an HVAC professional for this one.
9. Mismatched Parts
Have you recently replaced either the inner or outer components of your air conditioning system? Or maybe you recently replaced your furnace? All of the parts that make up your AC are designed to work together. Unfortunately, replacing a single part here and there can affect your entire system if the part isn’t compatible.
10. Thermostat Needs to be Replaced
It’s always possible that your thermostat has reached its end. Thermostats can last upwards of 10 years, so if yours has reached a decade (or longer) it might have bit the dust.
This isn’t all bad news though. If you do need to upgrade, there are lots of thermostats on the market. Best of all, many are inexpensive and designed with efficiency in mind, meaning you can save on your energy bills in the long run.
Related article: 5 Signs You Need a New Thermostat
Call Blair’s Air for AC Repair in Pinellas County and South Tampa
If your thermostat is blank and you’re not sure why, the professionals at Blair’s Air want to help. Our experienced HVAC professionals will get your thermostat back up and running as it should in no time. In other cases, we can determine if your thermostat needs to be replaced and help you find the right device for your budget and comfort preferences.
If you need assistance right away, we offer 24/7 emergency AC repair services, and we’re open 365 days a year.
Call (727) 800-4148 to schedule service.
