If YOU want change, YOU have to first change. Pumped heat. It’s possible that, if the weather is especially cold, your heat pump could run near-constantly without there being an issue. Heat pump running constantly. Make sure that your thermostat is properly paired with your heat pump. A heat pump is usually powered by electricity, although there are heat pumps that run on natural gas, propane, or even solar or geothermal heated water but those are not found in residential use. Switching to the emergency heat setting forces your heat pump to bypass the method it typically uses to produce warm air and instead rely solely on heat produced by the heat strip coils. Auxiliary heat kicks on when your heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home by itself. Knowing the difference between your heat pump’s auxiliary heat and emergency heat will help address the question from above. Our 20th year anniversary is May 21, 2020. 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. 3. For example, if you live in an area with long, cold winters, a heat pump will run more than in temperate climates. Gain access to our free AOP (Ask a Professional) Section to get real answers for your questions. Close. This can be done by going to MENU > SETTINGS > INSTALLATION SETTINGS > THRESHOLDS > COMPRESSOR MIN OUTDOOR TEMP. For better energy efficiency and comfort, change this setting to “Run heat pump and auxiliary heat simultaneously.” This way your auxiliary heat will supplement your heat pump rather than replacing it when the temperatures drop outside. I chose disable because it sounds safer. Traditionally, almost everyone has considered the heat pump to be a poor candidate for night setback. Your thermostat is calling for a high temperature increase (2–4°F) The heat pump is in defrost mode. The system is designed so that both can operate simultaneously. Difference Between Auxiliary Heat and Emergency Heat. Heat pump and heat strips on simultaneously? The primary (1st) stage is the heat pump itself. That's why it is called auxiliary heat it supplements the primary heat. This is thought to be because of the need to use electric strip heat to return to the day setting in the morning. They will both be running when the need for auxiliary heat is there. Letting the heat strips run all winter might keep you cozy, but it definitely has the potential to put a chill on your finances. This applies to a heat pump with electric back up heat. Participate in over 40 different forums and search/browse from nearly 3 million posts. 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. Question. What this means, unfortunately, is that it’s more expensive than the conventional heat provided by a heat pump. COP: COP or Co-efficient Of Performance is a way of describing a heat pump's efficiency. This is allowable because the indoor coil (condenser in the heating mode) is upstream of the AUX heating elements. Compared to heat from the heat pump (COP 2.0 or 2.5) the auxiliary heat (COP 1.0) is quite expensive. Electricity is inherently less energy efficient than running the HP. AUX heat mode is normal when: The temperature outside is below freezing. This wire is usually found in the W2/AUX connector on your thermostat. 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. That will consume more energy and put out less heat, potentially leading to a much higher utility bill. 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 … New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The same goes for warmer climates. As we mentioned above, heat pumps absorb heat from the outdoor air and then move that heat indoors. The ecobee asked this cause it assumes you have aux heat, is it electric? No-frills heat pump systems without the auxiliary heat capability sometimes make that feature an add-later option. 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. Archived. Furnaces are powered by electricity, but they still use use natural gas a fuel source. You might notice your heat pump runs constantly in cold weather. 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