When setting the temperature on your thermostat, you may notice an option for emergency heat. Also known as auxiliary heat, it’s a common feature of many heat pump systems. It’s not the same as the standard heat setting. While both settings will generate warm air, the emergency heat setting uses a different method of operation.
Emergency Heat Explained
Emergency heat involves the use of a secondary, more powerful heating system. Enabling this setting on your thermostat will switch it from the heat pump to a secondary heating system, such as a furnace.
Heat pumps are very efficient. Some of them can transfer up to three times as much energy as they consume. There are plenty of efficient furnaces as well, but most furnaces consume more energy than heat pumps.
Furnaces may lack the energy efficiency of heat pumps, but they can produce more heat. Emergency heat leverages the superior heating power of a furnace. When your thermostat is set to emergency heat, the furnace will run so that you and your family stay warm during those particularly cold winter nights.
How Emergency Heat Works
Heat pumps generate warm air by transferring heat from the exterior ground or air to your home’s interior. Furnaces generate warm air by igniting burners or powering a heating element.
Most emergency heat systems consist of a gas furnace or electric furnace. Regardless, the furnace will take over when emergency heat is enabled.
When to Activate Emergency Heat
Depending on how it’s configured, emergency heat may work automatically. If the heat pump is unable to warm your home to the temperature for which you’ve set the thermostat, it will automatically switch to the furnace. It will then switch back to the heat pump after achieving the desired temperature.
You can still manually enable or disable emergency heat on the thermostat. Keep in mind that running emergency heat is more expensive than using a heat pump. Emergency heat should only be used when the heat pump is unable to warm your home.
If you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning or heating call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
