When Should You Switch Your Heat Pump Thermostat To Emergency Heat?

Homeowners who reside in regions where winter temperatures frequently dip below zero develop a greater appreciation for basic comforts like heat. Fortunately, several techniques guarantee that your house is a comfortable haven whenever necessary. Modern home heating systems offer a variety of functions and strategies to maintain your comfort. Emergency heat mode, commonly referred to as supplemental heat or backup heat, is one such feature. If your primary heating system breaks down, a backup heating system will come to your rescue.

What is The Process of Emergency Heat?

The emergency heat setting on a thermostat controls the supplementary heating system in your home. The emergency heating system will activate if the primary heating system malfunctions and the house becomes excessively cold. Usually used as a last option to keep the house from getting too cold.

By activating the emergency heat setting on your thermostat, you are merely instructing your system to turn off the primary heat mode and rely solely on the auxiliary mode. Some people mistakenly think that the setting is for chilly days, which leads to increased heating expenditures. As previously said, when it becomes too cold outside, your heating system will immediately turn on your backup heating system.

An emergency heat setting might not be available on an older heat pump. To keep your house warm in that situation, you’ll need to opt for heating repair in Austin, TX.

Use The Emergency Heat in Below Scenarios

  • Extreme Cold

When it’s extremely cold outside, your heat pump won’t be able to pull in enough warm air to keep up with the needs of your internal thermostat, so you’ll need an additional heat source for your house. When the temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees, your heating pump will function properly, but below that range, it can cause trouble and you may need to call for furnace repair in Austin, TX.

  • The Unit is Damaged

Emergency heat is also frequently used when there has been damage. Most of the time, parts of heat pumps are located outside your house. If this happens, the heat pump could stop working because they are necessary to bring the heat in.

On rare occasions, they might sustain damage from a fallen branch or a build-up of debris. If this is the case, you will have to rely on your backup heating while having the appliance fixed by a heating repair company in Austin, TX.

Why Should You Use Emergency Heat Only When Necessary?

Although using emergency heat to keep your house warm might seem smart, you shouldn’t do so unless necessary for several reasons. You can bypass the heat pump by turning on your emergency heat, which greatly stresses your heating element. Your device will be harmed if you use it for longer than brief periods, and eventually, it will stop functioning altogether.

Additionally, emergency heat might cause your home’s air to dry if you have allergies or asthma. Moreover, using emergency heat for a prolonged period can severely damage your HVAC system, necessitating costly furnace repair in Austin, TX.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you must ensure that your emergency heat mode is uncomplicated and feasible. Naturally, saving energy should come first. Use this feature only if your system requires maintenance or repair.

Remember, although the emergency heating won’t be as powerful as the main heating, it’ll usually be sufficient to keep the house warm. Contact Alpine Heating and Air Conditioning for all your heat pump and HVAC needs.