Before you call for service, make sure the heat pump isn’t accidentally set to a/c mode, and that the set temperature is correctly set at the thermostat. Note: Normal programmable thermostats have one way to control AUX heat: the AUX lockout temperature.If it gets colder outside than the set lockout temperature, your heat pump will use AUX heat. My question is, how do I wire the thermostat so that the auxiliary heat will come on when the the thermostat calls for heat. Emergency Heat, also known as “auxiliary heat”, is the second stage of heat that your thermostat runs on when the temperature is too cold for your heat pump to extract heat from the … Give us a call at 770-445-0870 or schedule service online. It costs a little too much to switch it out, but once your heat pump … As we mentioned above, most heat pump systems are designed to switch to AUX heat when the indoor temperature is 3 degrees colder than the thermostat setting. In fact, electric resistance heating is about 50% more expensive than heat transfer. The heat pump balance point is when the system capacity and load demand are equal and for most homes that is around 30 degrees, but it varies depending on how energy efficient your home is. So it relies on an auxiliary (AUX) heat coil (like the ones you see in a toaster) or a furnace to heat your home. No aux heat. The meaning of this setting is ambiguous and I first thought it meant, "always use AUX heat … So, what is the difference between auxiliary heat and emergency heat? Therefore, a heating system stuck in AUX heat will run up an energy bill. If so, that’s normal. The temperature above which you want to always use the compressor is called "Auxiliary Heat Lockout" in the website and app. George Brazil Air Conditioning and Heating provides the Phoenix area with, usually costs up to 50% more than heat transfer, How your heat pump works (AUX heat vs. “normal” heat), When it’s okay for your heat pump’s AUX heat to be on, What do do if your AUX heat is on and shouldn’t be, Steam and/or water coming from the outdoor unit, The fan in the outdoor unit has stopped running, A blinking light on the unit to indicate it’s in defrost mode (only on some heat pump models). Because the temperature rise is more than 3 degrees (it’s 6 degrees in this scenario), the system will automatically turn on the AUX heat to help your home meet the desired temperature faster. Privacy Policy. Typically, your heat pump will tag in auxiliary heat when outdoor temps drop below 35°F, your heat pump is set to the defrost setting, or … If the walls of your home are too cold and your heat pump is not powerful enough, AUX heat may be … We had a new Trane XR15 heat pump installed three months ago. When that happens, the heat pump will reverse the flow of refrigerant so that hot refrigerant is sent to the outdoor unit (to melt the ice). If you used to set it to 68, turn it to 58. So before you call a professional, check the outdoor temperatures. During this time, the system will rely on AUX heat to keep your home warm. Heat transfer is the most efficient (and cheapest) type of heating, and it’s your heat pump’s main solution for heating your home. If your heat pump for the auxiliary heat is always on, expect to see higher electric bills. Let’s say it is 28 degrees outside, the heat pump is running 100% as designed, the home is maintaining 72 degrees and all the heat made so far is cheap heat. And, because a heat pump stops heating your home during this process, some models will automatically switch to AUX mode until the defrost cycle is over. When its gets with 1.5 degrees of room temperature, the back-up heat cycles off and the heat pump … The cheap builders at my new home, put a gas furnace in for the first floor (zone 1) , and a heat pump for the second in third floor (zone 2). In northern parts of the U.S., auxiliary heating is often a mainstay of wintertime. Since heat pumps can only keep up with a relatively small amount of heating in a short amount of time, they are paired with AUX heat to help heat your home in a hurry. The outside temperature was 48 degrees. Just contact us and we’ll send one of our Phoenix techs right over. It’s possible that, if the weather is especially cold, your heat pump could run near-constantly … I have a Goodman air handler unit (Mod # AWUF361016BA) and heat pump. Heat pumps are more efficient than most other heating systems, but they typically take a little longer to heat your home the colder it gets outside. If you’ve been running your heat pump in heat mode and you’ve noticed that your thermostat is reading “AUX heat,” you’re probably wondering: AUX heat refers to your heat pump’s “backup” electric resistance heating. When switching your unit to emergency heat, you’re forcing the backup heat system to do all the work. I have installed a ritetemp 6036 thermostat,replace the Weathertron (trane heat pump with aux. In the area where you're using your heat pump, turn your old thermostat 10°F lower than you used to. That said, even though electrical resistance heating warms your home quickly, we would caution you against triggering your system’s AUX heat unless absolutely necessary. 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 … Need a professional’s help to diagnose your heat pump? When the temperature in the house drops approximately 2 degrees below the room temperature, supplemental heat comes on to assist the heat pump (usually in the form of electric resistance heaters). No-frills heat pump systems without the auxiliary heat capability sometimes make that feature an add-later option. First off, AUX heat refers to your heat pump’s auxiliary (backup) heat source. Like all other systems, make sure that you are paying attention to your filter. That’s just how the heat pump … However, when your heat pump is unable to meet demand via heat transfer, it will tap into its backup heating, or “AUX” heat. EM heat is NOT the same thing as AUX heat: AUX heat signifies that your heat pump has automatically switched over to backup heating because temperatures are too low. The balance point is based on your system’s capacity and the current load demand. This 3-degree “trigger point” is programmed into the thermostat by the manufacturer. Aux heat should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home on its own. If you’re having problems with your heat pump or furnace, contact Precision Heating & Air. We know you have questions, so below we’ll go into more detail about: First, let’s take a closer look at how your heat pump works. The inside of the house was already 64 degrees. Therefore, if it’s below 40 outside … I bumped the thermostat up to 68 and the Aux heat … The auxiliary heat (electric resistance heat, or back-up heat) is minimized since it is more expensive. Why Is My Heat Pump Auxiliary Heat Always On? In aux mode, your heat pump will continue to use outside air to warm your home to assist the secondary heat source. It may be more effective, but it comes with a specific cost that you might not be anticipating. The emergency heat, or EM heat, setting on your thermostat shows you when this auxiliary system is in use, and it can also be activated manually if your heat pump malfunctions or stops … This heat setting should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home or if your heat pump goes into defrost … When the weather is really cold (<35 degrees), the thermostat says "aux heat source" (or something like that) when the heat pump can't support the heating needs in the cold weather, as it's trying to use the aux heat source (gas), but the furnace does not kick on with gas heat. Most Common Reasons to Replace a Heater or Furnace, Tips for Preparing Your Air Conditioning Unit for the Fall Season. With both thermostats, whenever I turn on the heat, the auxiliary heat … AUX heat refers to your heat pump’s “backup” electric resistance heating. Find out if you qualify for one of these amazing rebates or incentive offers. For some homeowners, the “AUX” heating source will be electrical resistance heating, which are essentially large wire heating elements that are heated by electricity. Auxiliary heat is less energy-efficient than your heat pump, and it is meant to only run for short periods of time when temperatures drop. Most heat pumps are designed to automatically switch to AUX heat when the indoor temperature is 3 degrees colder than the thermostat setting. Auxiliary heat refers to your heat pump’s backup electric resistance heating. Here’s how it works. Auxiliary heat refers to your heat pump’s backup electric resistance heating. Good morning, I have a 4 ton Goodman heat pump with auxiliary heat. *=Required Field, I Need Help With*Heating System MaintenanceAir Conditioning System MaintenanceReplacement System QuoteOther Signs that your heat pump is in defrost mode include: If you are not experiencing one of the 3 situations listed above but your heat pump is running on AUX heat, your heat pump likely needs a professional repair. Heating System MaintenanceAir Conditioning System MaintenanceReplacement System QuoteOther Our team has been servicing and repairing heating units since 1985. This heat setting should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home or if your heat pump goes into defrost mode. Generally, heat pumps work by transferring outside heat into your home via a process called heat transfer. Check out the 2019 incentive program from Atlanta Gas Light to see how much you can save. For example, let’s say that you wake up to a cold home (62° F) and immediately raise the thermostat to 68°. Auxiliary heat kicks on when your heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home by itself. the auxtllary hearter seem not be on. The important thing to remember is that “AUX” heat is fast and dependable but it’s also more expensive than heat transfer heating. Heat pump running constantly in winter. For instance the other day….. At present, the heat … When outdoor temperatures reach freezing temperatures, the outdoor coils can begin to freeze over with ice. One of … You might notice your heat pump runs constantly in cold weather. As we mentioned above, heat pumps absorb heat from the outdoor air and then move that heat indoors. Below, we’ll look at the situations in which your heat pump is unable to heat your home via heat transfer (and may need to use AUX heat). So first, check to see if your thermostat only says AUX when you raise the thermostat 3 degrees or higher than the current temperature of your home. Now I keep on getting alerts that the Aux heat is running. Your heat pump absorbs heat from the outdoor air via refrigerant lines and carries that heat inside where it’s used to heat your home’s air. If it’s an unusually cold Arizona day, it’s normal to see AUX heat on your thermostat. If ice starts to build on your heat pump’s outdoor unit, your heat pump will undergo a “defrost cycle” to melt it. 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. Now let’s say it cools to 26 degrees outside. For example, if your AUX lockout temp is 40ºF or 4.4ºC, then AUX heat … How to minimize the use of auxiliary heat with a heat-pump on your ecobee thermostat Question: We have a heat pump and recently installed an ecobee thermostat. The Honeywell VisionPro TH8320 and the TH8321 (with the optional outdoor sensor) allow you to lockout Aux heat … Aux heat should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home on its own. As we mentioned above, AUX heat usually costs up to 50% more than heat transfer, which means if your system is running on AUX heat when it shouldn’t be, your heating bill is likely going to be a lot higher than you’d like it to be. And when outdoor temperatures drop too low, there’s simply not enough heat in the outdoor air to keep your home warm. A skilled tech will be able to determine what the issue is and fix it before you continue to spend money on high energy bills. Set the heat pump balance to Off (Settings > Heat Pump Balance > Off) then go to Settings > Equipment > Auxiliary heat lockout and set the temperature to something like 40 degrees. If you have an all … All other brands will need option 190 to be 0. If your heat pump is constantly running, there are likely three main causes: Unusually cold weather: Heat pumps are designed to work much more gradually than a furnace. AUX heat mode is normal … Below 40 degrees, your heat pump struggles to heat your home. Pssttt...if you live in Phoenix or surrounding areas, we can help you determine what’s wrong with your heat pump and fix it. © 2021 Precision Heating & Air. We can help you determine the source of your problem and guide you toward the most energy-efficient, low-cost solution. In Arizona, the temperature doesn’t usually drop that much, but cold weather can still show up unexpectedly. The auxiliary heat setting is more energy and cost-efficient than emergency heat. Note: In some cases, your heat pump’s AUX heat could be a gas furnace, but since Phoenix typically has mild winters, some AZ homeowners will have electric resistance as their AUX heat. A desuperheater is an auxiliary heat-reco… You need to know how your thermostat is wired (you should know that, since you just did it), what accessories may be attached, whether you have a heat pump … back isn’t always successful get idea S pring TX AC Repair. Both a heat pump and an air conditioner are designed … If your heat pump seems to be stuck on auxiliary heat mode and the temperatures outside are above 35 degrees, you should call the professionals at Precision Heating & Air. My heat pump does not run in heat mode, only the auxiliary heat … Emergency heat is when you turn on a secondary heat source manually. All Rights Reserved. I've tried two different thermostats, the present one being a Honeywell RTHL3550. heat)the heat pump seem to run a long time. If your heat pump outside is a Rheem, Ruud or Weatherking, (I've also seen old Mammoth Geothermals like this) option 190 = 1. I’ve noticed that aux heat is kicking in more than I think it should, given the temperatures. Is a heat pump better than an air conditioner? *=Required Field. When the heat pump can no longer pull enough heat from outside to meet the heating load of the house, the electric resistance heat comes on and supplements the heat pump. the temp is 40 … It does seem to be kicking in frequently instead of normal heat and got an alert that my "Aux Heat … When your heat pump needs help heating your home, it is below the heat pump balance point. Many homeowners get confused when the temperatures start to drop, and they see either “aux” or “em” heat on their thermostat. Unfortunately, using the auxiliary heat is significantly more expensive than using your heat pump. If you do, your old system will compete with the heat pump, costing you energy and money. Auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating, which is much less efficient than your heat pump. This will make sure that … Usually, once outdoor temperatures fall below 35°, a heat pump will struggle to keep your home warm and will automatically switch to AUX heat. If for some reason you wanted your heat pump to switch to AUX heat when there was a 1-degree difference or a 5-degree difference, you’d need to hire a professional to change the temperature differential on the heat pump board of the condenser. Heat pump running constantly. Using a heat pump for cooling and heat down to about 40ºF works well but when the weather gets colder a back up auxiliary system -- preferably gas or oil -- kicks in and the house warms … I Need Help With: Auxiliary heat is when the secondary heat source turns on automatically. Although this situation is rare in Arizona, it’s common in colder parts of the country. Because consumers have many more auxiliary heat options to work with for augmenting heat pumps… AUX heat can also start if the pump can’t handle the outside heat on cold winter nights. If I had known, I would have asked for gas on the second and third floor for sure!! Our suggestion would be to reach out to a professional as soon as possible. This means, when the temperatures start to drop and your heat pump cannot produce enough hot air to warm your home the aux heat will turn on. Prolonged use of aux heat can cause your utility bill to be much higher than it needs to be.