The Thermostat Goes Blank Then Comes Back On (Updated 2020)

How To Diagnose and Fix a Blank Thermostat Screen

For any homeowner, a blank thermostat screen can be an alarming sign, especially in the hottest part of the summer or in the dead of winter. Is it just a case of needing to replace the batteries? It is an issue that is going to be very expensive to repair? Is there any faulty wiring? Maybe the entire HVAC system has broken down, and it needs to be replaced!

Don’t panic just yet. If the screen on your thermostat is blank, there might be a straightforward solution to the problem. The following are some of the common causes for a blank thermostat screen, and how to fix it.

Whenever your heating and cooling isn’t meeting your expectations is when you tend to take a look at it and fiddle around with it. A thermostat, like all other working parts, is vulnerable to having issues. Have you ever wondered what causes the thermostat to go blank and then turn back on? That is an indication that the thermostat has a part that isn’t working correctly.

Blank Thermostat Display

The thermostat is one of the most critical components of all HVAC and AC units. It senses what the temperature is and helps to keep it regulated at the specified level. A thermostat works similar to a switch. Usually, they are heated activated. The temperature sensor is one component of the thermostat. It triggers the switch to close or open, by interjecting or completing an electrical circuit that operates the cooling and heating systems of a house.

What Does It Mean When Your Thermostat Goes Blank?

Your thermostat is going blank and then coming back on; that is a classic sign of short cycling. Usually, this problem originates within the heating system. The cycle on an air conditioner, on average, lasts for about 20 minutes. Sometimes, there is an increase in the number of cycles. The problem is referred to as “short cycling.” This term refers to situations where the air conditioner turns off and on in small bursts. When that happens, the home does not adequately cool down or heat up. You can see an indication of short cycling with your own yes when your thermostat goes black and then repeatedly comes back on in quick succession.

Major Causes Of A Thermostat Going Off And On

Some of the main reasons why a thermostat goes blank and then turns back on including the following:

• The Thermostat Is Improperly Located

An AC thermostat has a temperature sensor that measures the surrounding temperature. The thermostat uses the reading to send “off” and “on” signals to the unit’s compressor. The thermostat should ideally not be installed close to a window that gets lots of sunlight. It should also not be installed close to a supply air vent. The thermostat will be confused by these places about what the actual temperature is inside your house.

• Faulty Thermostat

The actual thermostat might have a fault, and that could be the cause of the short cycling. It might be something basic like a loose wire, or it could be something more serious, which might need to be replaced. A local HVAC technician can validate this for you. Although it isn’t a significant issue to have a faulty thermostat if you replace it will solve the problem of the thermostat repeatedly switching off and on.

• Refrigerant Leak

These leaks occur due to wear and tear on the coils and corrosion. If there is also a refrigerant leak in your AC, it means that the unit might have a low Freon level. The refrigerant or coolant is essential for absorbing heat in the air and then cooling it down. So anytime it is low, the compressor’s pressure level can become uneven, which can cause it to turn off and on intermittently. This, in turn, can cause the thermostat to go off and on repeatedly. If it is left unattended, this problem might seriously damage the unit. If you notice any signs that there is a refrigerant leak, make sure that you address the problem as soon as possible.

•  Dirty Air Filters

The AC might have a clogged or dirty air filter, which causes airflow restrictions. Whenever the flow of air is restricted, it freezes the evaporator coil ad that causes the AC unit to turn off and on. As previously mentioned, that can cause your thermostat to go black and then turn on again. It is essential to clean your air filters and replace them, if necessary, once a month, at least. If you are in an area where dusty is in the air continuously and you run your AC regularly all summer, then you might need to replace the filters more often.

• AC Is Too Large For Your House

Your HVAC system might be too big for your home. That might sound strange since it cools your house down more quickly. However, if an AC unit is too large for a house, it will cool down the home fast and then shut off very soon after it turns on. You may initially think this is a good thing. However, unfortunately, this will increase your electricity bills, and the chance of a breakdown will be higher. Before a new AC unit is installed, ask an experienced technician to perform an assessment of the best size of AC for your needs and home.

Other Potential Causes

Not every AC unit thermostat needs batteries. However, some of them do. When the batteries are weak, it may cause the screen on a thermostat to go blank and turn on again. First, you need to determine if this is the situation with your thermostat. If so, take the front panel off of the thermostat and then add new fully charged batteries to replace the old ones. This is a task that you can easily do yourself.