When should I switch my heat pump to emergency heat?

It is used when there is something wrong with first-stage heating (the Heat Pump itself). In other words, if you notice your house is cold and it isn’t heating properly and you went outside and noticed that a tree fell and crushed your heat pump, that would be a good time to switch to Emergency Heat.

What is the best temp to set heat on?

68 degrees Fahrenheit
According to ENERGY STAR, setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) when you’re home is the ideal balance of comfort and energy efficiency.

What is emergency heat mode?

The Emergency Heat or Auxiliary Heat setting is the second stage of your heating system that is used when the temperature is too low for the heat pump to be able to remove heat from outside, typically below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can a heat pump catch on fire?

Heat pumps aren’t supposed to create heat by catching on fire. The exact problem, as stated in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice: “The fan motor on the heat pumps can fail, causing the units to overheat, posing a fire hazard.”

Is 72 a good temperature for heat?

The lower the temperature is inside of the home, the slower the rate of thermal energy loss. To achieve optimal comfort, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside of the home.

Is it bad to switch from heat to cool?

If you want to switch back and forth between your AC and heating, it is crucial to make sure you don’t short-cycle your cooling system. It can’t properly cool down your home and can put unnecessary stress on your system. Short-cycling can cause higher energy bills and even trip your fuse or circuit breaker.

Should I turn on emergency heat?

Short answer: You should only set your heat pump’s thermostat to “emergency heat” when your heat pump stops heating altogether. Otherwise, just keep your thermostat set on “heat.” There is no temperature to switch it over to emergency heat, even if your heat pump is running constantly due to cold weather.

When to turn on emergency heat in HVAC system?

Emergency Heat is typically triggered when it is 35°F and below outside. Since this second stage heat source is designed to be just that, secondary, running your heat pump on emergency heat increases your HVAC system’s energy usage and results in escalating energy bills. Heat pump emergency heat Heat Pump Emergency Heat

How does a heat pump heat your home?

Your heat pump can heat your home in 3 ways: Moving heat – In heat mode, your heat pump is like an air conditioner working in reverse to pull heat from the outside to inside your home (the opposite of how it works in cooling mode). Electric heat strip – This electric heat strip is auxiliary heating (or “aux heat” as it shows up on your thermostat).

What’s the temperature of air coming out of a heat pump?

The air could be warm but still feel cool. This is plenty warm to heat your home to your desired 72°F. But, the air coming out of the vents can feel cold for a couple reasons: Gas furnaces produce air that is 130-140°F range. So 85-92°F feels cold to new heat pump owners. Your body temperature is around 98.6°F…

What happens when you set your thermostat to emergency heat?

When you set your thermostat to emergency heat, your system bypasses the heat pump and directly accesses either the electric heat strip or gas/oil furnace heat. For electric systems, this turns your air handler into an electric furnace, which can be costly to run for extended periods of time.

How does a heat pump work in Heat Mode?

Moving heat – In heat mode, your heat pump is like an air conditioner working in reverse to pull heat from the outside to inside your home (the opposite of how it works in cooling mode). Electric heat strip – This electric heat strip is auxiliary heating (or “aux heat” as it shows up on your thermostat).

Where does the second stage of heat come from?

Think of an electric second stage heat source like a strip of heated coils in a toaster within your air handler. If your second stage heat source is oil or gas, it’s probably hooked into your furnace.

When should I switch my heat pump to emergency heat?