When the weather outside is extremely cold, you may be wondering if you should switch your heat pump thermostat to emergency heat. Here’s what you need to know. Generally, you should only switch your heat pump’s thermostat to emergency heat if your heat pump isn’t working at all. If you’re not sure whether or not to switch your thermostat to emergency heat, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and consult with a professional.
At DeZiel Heating & AC, we’ll be able to assess the situation and advise you on the best course of action. Give us a call today! Another thing you can do is to set your thermostat to “heat.” There’s no specific temperature when you should do this- it really depends on the conditions outside and how cold it is. If you have any doubts, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help. Read on to find out why we advise you to only switch to emergency heat if your heat pump stops working.
What Is Emergency Heat?
Before we get into when you should switch your heat pump thermostat to emergency heat, it’s important to understand what emergency heat actually is. Emergency heat is a backup heating system that is usually powered by electricity. Emergency heat is used when your primary heating system (in this case, your heat pump) isn’t working properly. When you switch your thermostat to emergency heat, it tells your heat pump to stop trying to heat your home and instead turns on your backup heating system.
How a Heat Pump Works And Why It’s Important
A heat pump is like an air conditioner except that it can be used for both heating and cooling purposes. It works by moving heat from one place to another instead of generating heat. In the winter, a heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air and transfers it into your home. However, when the temperature outside drops below a certain point, it becomes less efficient at extracting heat from the air. This is when it begins to use a backup heat source to aid its heating effort. Most heat pumps make use of a strip of electric heat coils. But these heat coils will make you spend more on your energy bills because they use more electricity. So, unless your heat pump completely shuts down, you’re better off leaving it on the regular thermostat setting. What does this have to do with switching to the emergency heat mode?
Emergency Heat Using The Electric Heat Strip Continuously
When you switch your heat pump to emergency heat, it stops trying to use the outdoor air to heat your home. Instead, it uses the electric heat strip continuously until the weather outside warms up again. When this happens the heat pump starts to act like an electric furnace. This is less energy-efficient and will end up costing you more money in the long run. That’s why we only recommend switching to emergency heat if your heat pump is no longer working. Even though your heat pump runs longer when it’s extremely cold outside, it is still cheaper to run than when you use the heat strips.
The Bottom Line
Your heat pump’s emergency heat mode is not something you use when it’s very cold outside. Rather, it is to be used when your heat pump is no longer producing any heat. If your heat pump isn’t working properly, you may be tempted to switch it to emergency heat.
However, we advise against this unless your heat pump has completely stopped working. You should only switch to emergency heat when your heat pump isn’t working at all to avoid unnecessarily high energy bills. However, if your heat pump is faulty, it is better to get professional assistance from a licensed contractor like DeZiel Heating & AC. In the meantime, you may be better off if you install a gas furnace as your backup heating system. This is a more energy-efficient option. If you don’t do so, you may be surprised by the sort of energy bill you get. So, if your heat pump isn’t working and you’re thinking of switching to emergency heat, we advise you to wait until a professional can take a look at it first.
DeZiel Heating & AC is The Home of All HVAC Service Calls!
If you’re looking for an HVAC contractor to take a look at your heat pump, DeZiel Heating & AC is the name to remember. We have over 20 years of experience in the industry and always provide our customers with high quality workmanship and excellent customer service. We’re also available 24/7 for emergency service calls. So, if your heat pump stops working in the middle of the night, don’t hesitate to give us a call! For all your HVAC needs, trust DeZiel Heating & AC! To schedule a service call, contact us today at (763) 200-5453 .
