Okay. Raise your hand if you’ve been out to the garage or up in the attic trying to find your space heater. We saw that the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a chilly winter. It’s never a bad idea to have a backup plan for extreme weather, but you might already have an alternative at your fingertips, and you may not know it. If your home is warmed with a heat pump system, stop rummaging around your garage, it’s not safe out there. Most heat pump systems have an emergency heat feature, often called “auxiliary heat” or “backup heat.” This feature is designed to provide additional heating when the heat pump is struggling to keep you warm. It’s already in place. You don’t have to haul it out of the attic or uncover it in the garage.
There are two instances when you should employ your backup heat.
When the temperature outside gets extreme for long periods of time, the heat pump might become less efficient. It might not produce enough heat to keep your home toasty warm. When your heat pump is struggling, it’s time to turn on the emergency heat.
The other reason to turn on the emergency heat is when your heat pump malfunctions. We hope that doesn’t happen, but your emergency heat can be a temporary solution until your primary heat source can be repaired or replaced. That’s also when you need to give the Eco Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Technicians a call because we’re going to come through for you when you need us to.
You can utilize your Emergency Heat feature safely and efficiently if you follow a couple easy guidelines.
First, most thermostats have an “Emergency Heat” or “Aux Heat” setting. When you want to activate your emergency heat, simply switch the thermostat to that setting.
When you’re away from home during the winter, we’d advise that you set your thermostat to a lower temperature. If you’re worried about pipes freezing or you don’t want to see your breath inside your house, use your emergency heat sparingly.
You should pay attention to how frequently you’re using your emergency heat. While it’s a good backup plan, it can also consume more energy, which won’t look good on your utility bill.
We’d also recommend that you schedule regular maintenance for your heat pump and backup heating elements. You can avoid emergencies when Jack Frost is feeling frisky and make certain that your heat pump system runs smoothly. Call Eco to inquire about our $79 Heat Pump Clean and Check.
So, before the snow flies and your pile of firewood gets low, familiarize yourself with your emergency heat feature so you can kick it in gear if you need to. If you still have questions, or it’s too late…please call the Eco Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Technicians because we’re going to make it happen for you, no matter what it takes. You can find us at: https://geteco.com/
