Is it bad if the auxiliary heat comes on?

Not necessarily - in fact, it can be a good thing. Aux heat should come on when it’s too cold outside for the heat pump to efficiently heat your home to the set temperature, or when the heat pump is in defrost mode. It’s only a bad thing if it comes on and stays on when temperatures are above 40 degrees - that can indicate there is a problem with your heat pump or thermostat, and you should call for service.

Does auxiliary heat cost more?

Auxiliary heating with electric heating strips is less efficient and will use more energy than your heat pump, but it will also bring the temperature back up to where it should be in much less time. Having your furnace kick in may or may not cost more, depending on the price of natural gas vs electricity costs. Assuming you have an efficient furnace, heating performance will not be affected.

Auxiliary heat vs. emergency heat?

Auxiliary heat is supplementary heat to assist your heat pump in getting to the set temperature in your home. Your thermostat controls this automatically. Emergency heat is a heat pump thermostat setting that you should only use in a true emergency - as in, your heat pump has failed and it’s really cold outside. You can manually turn on the emergency heat. Doing so will shut down your heat pump and the auxiliary system will become the main heating system.

When should auxiliary heat come on?

Your auxiliary heat, or secondary heat source, should come on when your heat pump is struggling to heat your home effectively. The thermostat will trigger auxiliary heat when outside temperature is below 40 degrees, the heat pump is in defrost mode, or if you raise the heating temperature by more than 4 degrees F.

what does auxiliary heat mean?

A heat pump’s auxiliary heat system is a backup heating system. Your thermostat will signal either the HP or the backup system to provide the heat for your home. The majority of the time, your heat pump will be the primary heat source. The thermostat will choose the most energy-efficient heat source at any given time. In general, there are two types of auxiliary heat systems for your heat pump: Gas furnaces and electric resistance heat strips.

What is heat pump auxiliary heat?

A heat pump’s auxiliary heat system is a backup heating system. Your thermostat will signal either the HP or the backup system to provide the heat for your home. The majority of the time, your heat pump will be the primary heat source. The thermostat will choose the most energy-efficient heat source at any given time. In general, there are two types of auxiliary heat systems for your heat pump: Gas furnaces and electric resistance heat strips.

What is an auxiliary heater?

A heat pump’s auxiliary heat system is a backup heating system. Your thermostat will signal either the HP or the backup system to provide the heat for your home. The majority of the time, your heat pump will be the primary heat source. The thermostat will choose the most energy-efficient heat source at any given time. In general, there are two types of auxiliary heat systems for your heat pump: Gas furnaces and electric resistance heat strips.

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Heat Pump7min read

What is Auxiliary Heat and How Does it Affect HVAC Performance?

If you have a heat pump heating and cooling system, you may have noticed the words AUX Heat displayed on your thermostat in the winter. Learn more about what that means and when you should worry.

Published:
September 23, 2024

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