What is Emergency Heat?
If you have a heat pump, Emergency Heat is a setting that your thermostat turns too when the temperature drops below approximately 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures this cold make it difficult for your heat pump to draw enough ambient heat to warm your home. For that reason, emergency heat is considered a secondary, or auxiliary, source of heat.
When emergency heat kicks in, the heat pump gets bypassed for the secondary source, which can be powered by electricity, natural gas, or oil. Because of this, it can cost quite a bit more money to run your HVAC system on the emergency heat setting. If your outdoor unit is an air conditioner instead of a heat pump, your “emergency heat” is always on since you only have one source of heat.
When to Use Emergency Heat?
In an emergency! This heat source is aptly named because it should only be used in case of an emergency, like if the heat pump is damaged or has an internal failure. If this happens, take advantage of the emergency heat setting and call your local HVAC technician to come out for a maintenance check to see what is going on. This setting is only meant to be used temporarily as it can put a strain on your system and cost significantly more than the standard setting.
How do I Know if My Emergency Heat is On?
Most thermostats have a red indicator light that turns on when the emergency heat source kicks in. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your HVAC system and check for the red indicator light. You might see the red indicator light come on for a short time while the system is in defrost mode, which is normal. If it doesn’t turn off and it is above 35 degrees outside, then it is a good idea to call a professional HVAC company to come out and check on your unit to ensure it is working properly.
HVAC at the Lake of the Ozarks
So far, we have had a pretty mild winter at the Lake of the Ozarks, but the snow and freezing temperatures are on their way as early as this weekend! Get your HVAC system ready for the brutally cold temperatures by scheduling a maintenance check with the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks - Royal Heating & Air. Give us a call today!
Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"
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