What's That Emergency Button - Should I Use It?

With all these subfreezing temperatures, snow accumulation, and frozen water, you might be taking a closer look at your thermostat and heating system. You may have noticed a setting on your thermostat that says "emergency heat" and now you're wondering what that means and if you should use it during this extreme weather. Royal Heating & Air is the best heating and cooling company at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we are here to help you understand your HVAC system and how to best use the settings available to you. Keep reading to learn more! 

What IS Emergency Heat?

Emergency heat is the second stage of heat used in your heating system. When the temperatures drop below 32 degrees, your heat pump may need help producing warm air. A heat pump takes the outside air and uses it to produce heat in your home. When the air becomes extremely cold, it becomes harder for the heat pump to convert it to warm air. The emergency heat setting will bypass the heat pump in this situation and produce warm air using your electric furnace.

Should I Use It? 

When temperatures start dropping, your heating system should automatically switch and adjust how it produces warm air. It should automatically adjust and use its secondary heat source to help warm your home. If you notice cool air blowing from your vents, you can switch over to emergency heat to see if it helps. If you notice your heat pump not working or the outside unit is frozen, switch to emergency heat and then give us a call. You do not want the system to only use the emergency heat setting, so don't switch over to emergency heat unless you need to. It is meant to be used temporarily, hence the name "Emergency".

Is Emergency Heat Expensive?

Typically, yes. It is using more electricity to run the emergency heat source. Factors that could impact the cost is if you use gas or propane instead of electricity to run your heat. The cost will then depend on the cost of gas and propane. In most cases, it is more costly to use the emergency heat setting, which is why it is best to only use it when needed.

Do I Need an HVAC Tech?

Give us a call if you have any questions at all about your heating system. We know it can be confusing, but most of all we don't want you caught in an emergency situation. As mentioned above, if you notice cool air coming out of your vents or your home not warming up, it is time to give us a call. The best way to ensure your system is ready for the cooler weather is with regular maintenance on your HVAC system. Fall and Spring are the best time to get your system checked before the extreme cold and hot weather hits.

Lake of the Ozarks Heating Repair

Royal Heating & Air is the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we are here to help! If your furnace isn't keeping up, give us a call! 573-480-4313 We can help find the issue and fix it to keep your home comfortable and safe during this extreme weather. 

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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It’s Cold! Should I Turn the Emergency Heat On?

Winter weather is on its way, and there are a few things you should know about the Emergency Heat setting on your thermostat before the temperatures drop. Royal Heating & Air is the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we have the tips to help you understand your HVAC system and to help you get prepared for the coming cold. Read on to learn more and schedule your winter maintenance to make sure everything is running smoothly.

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"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com

CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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When To Use The Emergency Setting On Your Thermostat?

Now is the time to get to know your thermostat and your heating system! As your professional heating and cooling company at Lake of the Ozarks, many of our customers ask, "What is emergency heat on my thermostat?" We know you are not an expert when it comes to your HVAC system, but Royal Heating & Air can help. We want to explain what the emergency heat setting means on your thermostat in today's blog from the best HVAC repair and maintenance company at the Lake of the Ozarks.  

1. What does Emergency Heat mean on my thermostat?

Emergency heat is the second stage of heat used in your heating system. When the temperatures drop below 32 degrees, your heat pump may need help producing warm air. A heat pump takes the outside air and uses it to produce heat in your home. When the air becomes extremely cold, it becomes harder for the heat pump to convert it to warm air. The emergency heat setting will bypass the heat pump in this situation and produce warm air using your electric furnace.

2. Does it cost more to run Emergency Heat?

Typically, yes. It is using more electricity to run the emergency heat source. Factors that could impact the cost is if you use gas or propane instead of electricity to run your heat. The cost will then depend on the cost of gas and propane. In most cases, it is more costly to use the emergency heat setting, which is why it is best to only use it when needed.     

3. When should I use Emergency Heat?

When temperatures start dropping, your heating system should automatically switch and adjust how it produces warm air. If you notice cool air blowing from your vents, you can switch over to emergency heat to see if it helps. If you notice your heat pump not working or the outside unit is frozen, switch to emergency heat and then give us a call. You do not want the system to only use the emergency heat setting. It is meant to be used temporarily, hence the name "Emergency".

4. Should I turn the Emergency Heat on if the temperature is below 32 degrees?

Don't switch over to emergency heat unless you need to. Your HVAC system should automatically adjust and use the secondary heat source to help warm your home. Your heat pump uses the outside air to convert to warm air in your home, so when the temperatures become colder it does make it harder to produce warm air. Your system should adjust without you switching over to the emergency heat setting. You should only use your emergency heat source if you notice cool air blowing from vents or your home's indoor temperature is not warming up. In this case, switch over to emergency heat to see if it helps to warm your home. 

5. When should I call a professional?

Give us a call if you have any questions at all about your heating system. We know it can be confusing, but most of all we don't want you caught in an emergency situation. As mentioned above, if you notice cool air coming out of your vents or your home not warming up, it is time to give us a call. The best way to ensure your system is ready for the cooler weather is with regular maintenance on your HVAC system.  Fall and Spring are the best time to get your system checked before the extreme cold and hot weather hits.  

Your HVAC System With Royal Heating & Air

At Royal Heating & Air, we can help with all your HVAC needs including preventative maintenance, repairs and installing new units. Make sure your HVAC unit is working properly by having a professional HVAC technician at the Lake of the Ozarks do regular maintenance. However, when it is time to upgrade, call Royal Heating & Air at 573-480-4313 and we can help you install your new system. 

Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"

Visit our website: www.RoyalHeatandAir.com
CALL TODAY! (573) 480-4313

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