Understanding the way your heating and air conditioning system functions can significantly impact not only your comfort but also your heating costs. Two heating settings that often cause confusion among homeowners are “auxiliary heat” and “emergency heat.” Although they may sound similar, they serve different purposes in your heating system.
In this post, we discuss the distinctions between auxiliary and emergency heat, so you can better manage your heating system and avoid higher utility costs.
Auxiliary Heat
Auxiliary heat, often abbreviated as “aux heat”, is a secondary heating source that’s automatically activated when your primary heat pump struggles to provide sufficient heat due to extremely low outdoor temperatures. This feature particularly becomes relevant when temperatures plummet during winter.
Your heat pump works by transferring warm air from outdoors to inside your home. However, when the temperature outside drops significantly, there isn’t enough heat in the air to warm your home effectively. This is when aux heat comes into play. Typically, auxiliary heat involves electric heating coils inside your system, which provide the additional warmth needed. The system automatically switches to auxiliary heat mode when it detects that the heat pump can’t achieve the desired indoor temperature on its own.
Emergency Heat
On the other hand, emergency heat is a manual setting on your thermostat that you activate when your heat pump is not functioning correctly due to a malfunction or maintenance issue. Unlike auxiliary heat — which automatically assists your primary heat pump — emergency heat should only be used in critical situations, essentially serving as a backup heating source. Be sure to contact a heat pump and furnace repair expert to address the issue properly.
Emergency heat bypasses the heat pump entirely and relies solely on the secondary heating source, which can be significantly more expensive to operate. Therefore, it’s crucial to use this setting sparingly and seek professional HVAC assistance as soon as possible.
Bartlett Heating & Air Conditioning is a trusted local HVAC expert. We provide prompt and reliable heating and air conditioning services all year round. Call us at (630) 372-7640 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in Bartlett, Bloomingdale, and Elgin, IL.
