What is emergency heat and when should it be used?

In these cold winter months there’s nothing more important than a functioning HVAC system that can create the proper heat. Snuggling up on a snowy day with warm heat circulating through your home will make the cool months more comfortable. You may have noticed that your thermostat has the option for “emergency heat” and are wondering – what does this do? Emergency heat is a backup option for your heating system if it is too cold for your regular heat pump. It kicks in when there are heating emergencies just like its name suggests. In this post you’ll learn when to use emergency heat for your HVAC system and how it helps in extreme cold weather. Knowing how to properly use your emergency heat setting will ensure your home stays warm and safe in the winter months. 

What is EM Heat (Emergency Heat Setting)? 

Emergency heat is the same thing as auxiliary heat and it is a backup measure for keeping your house warm if your heat pump cannot keep up with the very cold temperatures or if it is not functioning properly. Sometimes the emergency heat will kick on if it’s too cold outside, causing the heat pump to shut down. It will also come on if the heat pump is damaged. The emergency heater is typically an electrical heat strip or a gas or oil furnace. Since it is used only for heating emergencies, emergency indoor heaters can increase your electricity bill as they require more energy to run. Due to the increase in cost, you should only use emergency heat if you absolutely have to. If your heat pump is not working, it’s best to call in a technician for HVAC Repair Services. At Mode Comfort we can fix any heat issue to ensure your home stays cozy in the winter months. 

How Does Emergency Heat Work? 

If you notice that your heat is not working even though you have it set to a high temperature, you can manually go into Emergency heat mode. When you do this, your heat pump shuts completely down and your alternate emergency heater begins to heat your home. It will do so until you turn the emergency heat setting off. This is done through manual operation, so make sure you do not accidentally turn your emergency heat on. If you do this, your energy bills for your hvac system will increase. 

When Should I Use Emergency Heat?

Sometimes it’s hard to know when you have a heating emergency. Since this heating system is only used sparingly, it’s important to know what constitutes a need for an emergency indoor heater. 

Examples of Emergencies

1. You have a malfunctioning heat pump: If your heat pump stops working completely, it’s time to turn on your emergency heat so that you don’t freeze in the house! It’s important to get the problem fixed quickly, though, since using emergency heat is expensive.
2. Freezing Outdoor Temperatures: Sometimes, if the weather outside drops far below freezing temperature you may need to use emergency heat. The regular heat pump will struggle to keep up and turning on the emergency heat will help maintain warm temperatures. 
3. Conditions Where Your Heat Pump Ices Over: It’s possible for the heat pump to ice over when it’s really cold outside. If this happens and it does not defrost itself as usual, you should turn off the regular heat right away and use emergency heat until the ice melts or you can call an HVAC technician. 

Did You Accidentally Turn On Your Thermostat’s EM Heat?

If you accidentally turned on your emergency heat, that’s no cause for alarm! You have not done anything to damage your heating system. But, if you do not have a heating emergency you should turn it off as soon as you can to save on energy costs. It is worth routinely checking to make sure you do not have your emergency heat on by accident, leading to a surprisingly high energy bill. 

How Your Heat Pump Works with EM Heat

When your HVAC unit is functioning properly, your heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and heats it before it pumps into your home. Sometimes if the air is too cold outside, the EM heat turns on in order to keep your home at the same temperature. The EM heat uses electrical resistant elements to heat the extremely cold air. Sometimes a balance of the regular heat and EM heat is necessary. Finding the best temperature for your heater in the winter at night will ensure you are using your heating source efficiently. 

The Cost to Run an EM Heat Pump

Because the HVAC heat strips require more electricity they create higher costs than regular heat. The more energy you use, the more expensive your electricity bill will become. The exact cost of running EM heat is calculated through your local electricity bill. If used too frequently, EM heat can increase your regular energy bill, so we advise only using emergency heat mode when it’s absolutely necessary. 

At what temperature outside should I turn my heat on?

Sometimes this question can only be answered by each person specifically, as the desired temperature of a home varies by homeowner. But a general rule of thumb is that if the outdoor temperature is consistently 60 degrees or below, you should turn on your heating system to the preferred temperature. If you have a random cold day that drops your house to an uncomfortably cold level, it’s also advised you turn on your heat.

EM heat vs. Aux Heat

It’s easy to confuse your emergency heat setting with your auxiliary heat because they sound so similar! They do serve similar purposes as they are backup measures for a heating source, but the way they turn on is totally different. Auxiliary heat is an automatic setting that comes on to assist in heating when it is too cold outside for your regular heat pump to function. Emergency heat also helps the unit, but it is not automatic. A user has to manually turn on the heat pump thermostat with emergency heat. Auxiliary assists regular heating sources, while EM heat completely shuts down the HVAC heat pump. Both can increase energy bills, but the amount of electrical energy EM heat requires causes the biggest spike in energy (unless your back-up system is gas).

Call the Heating Experts

Don’t wake up on a chilly winter morning with a sense of dread knowing that your heating system is not working properly! Emergency heat is a great option when you’re in a bind, but running the EM heat for long periods of time is not great for your wallet or your HVAC unit. If you’re noticing that your heat pump is not working as it should, give the experts of Mode Comfort in Richmond, VA a call. We do quality Heat Pump Repair Services and regular maintenance to ensure that your unit is working properly and keeping you cozy in the winter months. Explore the rest of our website or give us a call today at 804-481-6633. 

FAQs

What does a thermostat do if it gets too cool?

HVAC thermostat units think about the heat so that you don’t have to! If the temperature in the house drops below the set heat temperature, the thermostat will activate the heat pump and begin warming the house. Make sure you have your thermostat set to heat and not cool, though. If your thermostat is set to cool, the temperatures will continue to drop and the unit will not cut on. 

What if you accidentally turned on the emergency heat?

Don’t worry too much! Your HVAC unit will be okay. The only thing that will hurt is your wallet when you see your energy bill, as emergency heat requires far more electricity to heat efficiently. Make sure to cut it off as soon as you notice and be careful not to use it when you don’t need it!

At what temperature outside should you turn on the heat? 

This is all based on what temperature makes you feel comfortable, but it is generally recommended to turn on your heat if it is consistently colder than 60 degrees outside or if your thermostat reads below 64 degrees. 

Do heat pumps work below 20 degrees?

Absolutely! Older heat pumps are not always as efficient at this temperature, but they can certainly run to keep your house warm. Many modern HVAC units can operate efficiently using auxiliary heat.