Three Common Reasons Your Thermostat Is Blank

A blank thermostat usually means it has lost power, and there are three common reasons. One of them is your air conditioner telling you something else is wrong.

1. Dead batteries

If your thermostat runs on batteries, a dead set is the simplest reason for a dark screen.

2. A tripped breaker

Many thermostats get their power from the indoor unit, so a tripped breaker can blank the screen. A breaker that trips again after it's reset is pointing to a problem that needs a technician, so don't keep resetting it.

3. A tripped safety switch

This is the one we see most in summer. Most air handlers have a float switch that shuts the system down when the condensate drain line clogs and water starts to back up, and on many systems that also cuts power to the thermostat. The screen isn't the problem; the drain is. Clearing it is a job for a technician. Here's what a clogged drain line does.

What to tell us

Tell us whether the screen went dark suddenly, whether the AC is still running, and whether you see water near the indoor unit. Call (941) 778-0773, or see AC repair for how a visit works.