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What Does Aux Heat Mean? Auxiliary heat on your thermostat refers to your backup heating system within your heat pump, otherwise known as electric resistance heating. This commonly takes place once the indoor temperature on your thermostat reaches 2-3 degrees colder than the set indoor climate temperature.
Is it bad to run AUX heat?
Is AUX heat bad? The short answer is no. In fact, aux heat is a critical mechanism that keeps your heat pump properly running when the outdoor temperature drops. Since this type of unit doesn’t work the same as a furnace, it can get cold.
Is auxiliary heat more expensive?
Auxiliary heat can handle more extreme temperatures since it uses electric heat strips. What this means, unfortunately, is that it’s more expensive than the conventional heat provided by a heat pump. While a gas furnace is not as efficient as a heat pump, it is more efficient than a heat pump using auxiliary heat.
What temperature should auxiliary heat come on?
Cold Weather Causes Auxiliary Heat To Turn On Homeowners should expect auxiliary heat to turn on during colder temperatures, especially under 40 degrees. Your heat pump is an amazing appliance that can efficiently extract warmth from the outdoor air and transform it into cozy comfort inside your home.
How does AUX heat work?
Basically, auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating to heat your home. Since electric resistance heating is much less efficient than your heat pump, you only want it to be on when necessary. Otherwise, your auxiliary heat is working when it shouldn’t be and driving up the cost of your heating bill.
How long can you run AUX heat?
Aux Heat Minimum On Time By default, this time is set to five minutes. This means, if your aux heat is called upon and canceled immediately, it will still run for five minutes before shutting down. If you change the threshold settings, you can configure the minimum on time and save on electricity or heating oil.
Is AUX heat and emergency heat the same?
Auxiliary heating turns on automatically to help heat your home more quickly if the temperature drops suddenly. The emergency heat setting has to be manually switched on and should only be used in temperatures below 30 degrees.
Why does AUX heat keeps coming on?
Aux heat should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home on its own. This is typically caused by one of three factors: when it’s below 35° outside, you’re trying to heat your home by 3° or more, or your heat pump is in defrost mode.
Will AUX heat turn off?
Your thermostat inside your house is actually what determines when the auxiliary heat gets turned on. This commonly takes place once the indoor temperature on your thermostat reaches 2-3 degrees colder than the set indoor climate temperature. Aux heat will turn off once your home reaches the thermostat set point.
Does AUX heat use more electricity?
Auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating, which is much less efficient than your heat pump. Therefore, a heating system stuck in AUX heat will run up an energy bill. If you have a heat pump, it is best to increase your heat setting by only two degrees at a time to prevent your auxiliary heat from operating.
How do I know if my auxiliary heat is working?
Just feed the electronic probe into the supply outlet. If the heat pump is off you will know it. You cannot heat a house with 55 degree air.
What is Stage 2 auxiliary heat?
First-stage auxiliary heating for heat pumps and multi-stage furnaces; provides supplemental gas or electric heat when the heat pump cannot meet demand. Stage 2 Aux Heating. Second-stage auxiliary heating for heat pumps and multi-stage furnaces.
Why is my heat pump blowing cold air when the heat is on?
Your Heat Pump May Be In Defrost Mode As heat is released through the outdoor unit, it melts ice formations that would have been difficult or damaging to remove manually. Defrost mode is essentially the same as cooling mode, therefore it is likely your heat pump will blow cool air while in this mode.
What is the most common form of auxiliary heat used in heat pumps?
Most auxiliary heating equipment is electric resistance heating coils. A few are finned electric heating elements. Either way, they turn on when the heat pump can’t draw in enough heat from the outside to meet the thermostat’s set temperature.
Should heat pump and AUX heat run simultaneously?
Allow Heat Pump/Auxiliary Heat to Run Simultaneously: If you select Yes and there is a source of auxiliary heat, both auxiliary heat and heat pump will turn on. The heat pump will be energized for the first 30 minutes.
Why is ecobee using AUX heat?
Running your compressor at a temperature below what it can handle can damage the equipment and is ill-advised. If you have a heat pump with auxiliary heating, when the outdoor temperature drops below this value, the ecobee will engage your aux heat and rely on aux heat to heat your home.
How do you turn off AUX heat?
As the temperature drops two to three degrees below the set temperature, many systems will signal for the auxiliary heat to come on. The easiest way to stop the auxiliary heat from coming on is making sure the temperature doesn’t drop too fast. This shouldn’t take much longer than 30 minutes.
