We have all come to rely on the visual feedback that we get from our thermostats. We can learn some valuable information about what is going on in our heating systems. When a display goes blank, it can be a genuine problem as we don’t know what the temperature is and other useful information. It may be the case that the screen can be fixed easily or it could be necessary to call on the services of a professional. Here are three methods that you can use to troubleshoot your thermostat display and discover what the problem may be.
1. Check What Type of Thermostat is Installed?
The first step that you need to take is to find out what type of thermostat you have installed in your home. It may be the case that you have a thermostat that is battery powered, and a simple battery change could correct the problem. There will be some warning if this is the case as the display will gradually fade over time. A more advanced battery powered thermostat may even have a battery level indicator that will warn you automatically. If your thermostat is wired into the power supply of your home, there will be other causes that need to be explored.
2. Checking the Power Source
Many home thermostats draw their power from the transformer located inside your HVAC equipment. Therefore it would logically follow that a blank display could indicate a problem with the transformer. A transformer should be providing 24v of power from the low voltage part of your HVAC system. If the transformer is failing the voltage will be too lower to power the display. It should be noted that some modern thermostats that are powered this way also have a battery backup system. If this is the case, your display may have power even if the transformer is failing or has stopped working altogether.
3. Understanding Power Stealing
As we covered earlier, modern thermostats usually use power stealing technology. This is a 24v low voltage system from the transformer that is located in your HVAC system. Unless you are a qualified professional, it is ill advised to get too involved in the inner workings of your system. There could be a number of power stealing issues that could be causing the thermostat display to be blank. It could be the case that a high limit switch has tripped as a safety measure or a switch could have failed. A professional HVAC engineer will be able to quickly troubleshoot your system and determine if there is an underlying safety issue. Once the problem has been identified, it can usually be fixed straight away.
As with any kind of repair or installation work, there is a degree of risk involved when working with HVAC systems. It is very easy for a novice to cause injury to themselves and/or cause further damage to their equipment. If you have a problem and you’re in any doubt about how to proceed, please call a professional.