Ecobee Thermostat Black Screen β Reasons And Fixes (2024)
There are certain times when you feel yourself stuck in a situation where you are unable to do anything. You just panic and think it is over. The same thing happened with me a few days back. I went to check my thermostat for a few adjustments but what I saw literally scared me. My ecobee screen is black! Having no prior knowledge regarding this issue had me thinking what do I do now?
The very next thing which I did was start searching online forums for the solutions of this issue. After doing some browsing, I was relaxed because the searching gave me consolation that this wasnβt that big of a deal. However, I continued my struggle and at last I was able to gather all the solutions for this issue which I want to share with you all.
ECOBEE THERMOSTAT BLACK SCREEN:
Ecobee screen black error could be due to various reasons. But of course there will be one reason in your case or there could be multiple of them in rare situations. With a black screen you could hardly perform any function on your thermostat. You canβt control or adjust the temperature and you are restricted to perform other operations as well. What could be the possible reasons for this issue?
ECOBEE BLACK SCREEN β REASONS AND FIXES!
Well, we have already explained reasons in the above section but here we will provide you some more details regarding each one of them.
HEATER BEING OVERHEATED:
The heater in your thermostat gets over-heated if its power is increased excessively. This happens because the heater works more than its usual working routine and for a longer period of time. The heater, in this case, comes under pressure and as a result becomes overheated. There are special sensors present in heaters which detect the overheating and turn off the thermostat automatically to prevent any further damage. When the system cools down, the thermostat gets turned ON automatically.
OVERHEATING SITUATIONS:
There are certain situations in which a heater can overheat.
DURING COLD DAYS:
You will have your thermostatβs heater keep running all day long when the days are colder than the usual. This working will require more power for a longer period of time. As a result of this constant working your heater might get overheated. Due to this, the system might shut down for a while to cool down.
EASY FIX:
Make sure you give your heater a break from time to time especially during the cold weather conditions.
FILTHY AIR FILTERS:
If the air filters of your system are dirty or clogged with immense dirt then it is time for you to get them cleaned. Clogged air filters will make it hard for the heater to ensure the heat to the house. This hard work will bring pressure on the heater of your thermostat. However, if your system has clean air filters then make sure to check other parts of the system.
EASY FIX:
Filthy air filters should be cleaned more often and after a time duration of 90 days, make sure to get them replaced with new ones.
FAULTY FURNACE FUSE:
The ecobee furnace system has its own fuse for the protection purpose during power surge. To check whether the furnace fuse is damaged or not, open the furnace panel and locate the position of fuse. Examine its body; if it is clear then it means there isnβt any fault within the fuse but within the wiring, if it is not clear then it means there is some issue which needs to be addressed. If the body of the fuse has turned black then it is a sign of a blown fuse.
EASY FIX:
There isnβt any fix for a blown out fuse except for replacing it. If you are purchasing a furnace fuse then make sure to buy a 5 Amp orange or 3 Amp purple body fuse as they are the most commonly used ones.
The same fuse like the previous one should be placed in order to ensure the proper working. You cannot replace a 5 Amp fuse with a 3 Amp fuse or vice versa.
CONDENSATE DRIPPAGE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER:
Every system has a drainage pan or drainage pipes. The accumulation of water could cause different living organisms to grow such as algae, fungus and these things can clog up the drainage pipes really bad. Also if the water exceeds the limit in the drainage pan then the sensors will automatically turn OFF the system to protect it from further damages. Drainage pipes and drainage pans can be found at different locations depending upon the model of your thermostat. Some are found above the machine while the others are found outside it.
HOW CAN I KNOW ABOUT WATER ACCUMULATION?
There are various signs which help you to identify whether there has been water accumulation in your system or not.
- You might notice leakage, moisture or dripping near your system
- There has been a water overflow in the drainage pan
- Your machine is continuously demanding a reboot
EASY FIX:
To solve the water accumulation issue you need to follow the below mentioned steps.
- Depending upon the model you use, try to locate the drain pan, drain pipes and evaporator coils. Most of the time, these things are located below or above the system so you can easily find them. Once you find the drain pan then you can easily locate the drain pipe as it is attached to it.
- Now once you have located the pan, check if it is empty or filled. If it is filled then you will have to clean it carefully. Along with this, check the drain pipes for any blockage. You could even hire an HVAC system technician to do the job for you.
- Another cool feature of your thermostat is the presence of a float switch. This switch can be found near the drain pan. When the water level exceeds, the switch trips and turns OFF the whole system. After cleaning the pan and pipes carefully, you can switch ON the float switch without any worry.
POWER OUTAGE ISSUE:
Ecobee black screen could be due to a power outage. There is a high probability that there has been a power outage recently due to which insufficient power is being delivered to your thermostat. The main connections are usually made with the breaker so make sure there isnβt any connection interruption along the path.
EASY FIX:
The easiest fix for this issue is to flip the switch of your breaker and turn on your thermostat. Doing this will definitely solve the issue.
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ECOBEE OFFLINE BLACK SCREEN β WHAT ARE OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS?
If the above mentioned tips didnβt work out for you then we have some additional tips that you can use to solve the issue.
POWER WIRE CHECKING:
The power wire plays a very important role in your thermostat. Make sure this wire is connected to the R-terminal of your thermostat. Similarly, check other wires as well to make sure they are properly connected and secured.
PRESENCE OF C-WIRE:
Your thermostat should have a C-wire installed for proper working. It should also contain an extra one just in case the previous one needs a replacement.
WIRING SEQUENCE:
The wiring sequence should be taken care of in every situation. The R wire should be connected to the R terminal, G wire to the C terminal, W wire to the W1 terminal and the Y wire to PEK terminal.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
If nothing works out for you then it is better that you call a professional for the job. However, all the information concerning the issue is mentioned in the above section of this article. Make sure to give it a proper read.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Q β What Do I Do If My Ecobee Screen Is Black?
A β If your Ecobee screen is black then try inspecting the breaker, check the water accumulation level, check the drainage pipes and pan, and also make sure all the components are working just fine.
Q β Why Is My Ecobee Unresponsive?
A β Your Ecobee thermostat might become unresponsive by showing a black screen. With a black screen you cannot perform any function/task on your thermostat.
Q β Does C-wire Has Anything To Do With Ecobee Black Screen?
A β Yes, the C-wire must be installed properly in your thermostat because the absence of it can cause severe troubles for you in the future.
