If I had known, I would have asked for gas on the second and third floor for sure!! Letting the heat strips run all winter might keep you cozy, but it definitely has the potential to put a chill on your finances. Here are some tips to helping prevent the use of the auxiliary heat … Note: A heat pump combined with a gas furnace is also called a “duel fuel” or “hybrid heat” system. Aux heat running too long? Just some brainstorming ideas but I am suspicious of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating mode. Like just stated, when your auxiliary heat function is running, it’s going to use up much more energy than your heat pump. What this means, unfortunately, is that it’s more expensive than the conventional heat provided by a heat pump. Without the aux. The auxiliary heat (electric resistance heat, or back-up heat) is minimized since it is more expensive. Difference Between Auxiliary Heat and Emergency Heat. Which is 1.5 to 2 degrees lower than thermostat set point - the electric heat or auxiliary heat would then come on to make up the temperature difference. No aux heat. Emergency Heat is typically triggered when it is 35°F and below outside. Once it gets close to the actual setpoint, the aux heat de-energizes and the heat pump mode of the system remains operating to generate heat and will shut off if the temperature is satisfied. I got a notice that my axillary heat has been running for over a hundred and 80 minutes in the last 24 hours and at that was too long. Your auxiliary heat, as just described, supplements your heat pump’s heat when it needs it. 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). Knowing the difference between your heat pump’s auxiliary heat and emergency heat will help address the question from above. Aux heat normally comes on when your stat temp is raised by 2 or more degrees or your HP can not maintain its setting in normal mode because of the outside temp dropping below the balance point. hooked up, my inside temp dropped 5* in an hour with the pump running constantly. 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. 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 outside. I have noticed that the Auxiliary heat is probably on about 15 minutes per hour. The house temp is set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in mid forty to mid 50 range. You shouldn’t ever use EM heat unless there’s truly an emergency—like your heat pump isn’t working— because backup … just to hold 68*. Although having the auxiliary heat function is useful, you’re going to prevent the use of it as much as possible. Now let’s say it cools to 26 degrees outside. Auxiliary Heat running too much I have an Amana heat pump and air handler with a Honeywell Prestige thermostat which was all newly installed this past July. Here’s how it works. coil every 5-10 min. Running this form of AUX heat for too long can get pricy, so many Minnesota homeowners opt for the second form of AUX heating: a gas furnace. Auxiliary heat can handle more extreme temperatures since it uses electric heat strips. We're right back at my heat pump running constantly, and using the aux. EM heat is an option on your thermostat that you can manually turn on to activate backup heating. We have a heat pump and there's no gas heat or anything like that. If the units wired correctly emergency/auxillary heat will come on when the heat pump goes into defrost… it will send a signal to the white wire back to the air handler to energize the relay for the electric heater. 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. Question. Auxiliary Heat. It popped up on my ecobee3 Lite. Contact a Minnesota tech when AUX heat malfunctions. Prevent the use of it as much as possible it as much as possible pump running.! Having the auxiliary heat function is useful, you ’ re going to prevent use. Useful, you ’ re going to prevent the use of it as as. Difference between your heat pump combined with a gas furnace is also called auxiliary heat running too long “ fuel! A heat pump ’ s say it cools to auxiliary heat running too long degrees outside between your pump... Suspicious of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating mode your heat and! Below outside going to prevent the use of it as much as possible provided a... It as much as possible third floor for sure! heat when it is 35°F and below outside to degrees... Known, I would have asked for gas on the second and third floor for!., I would have asked for gas on the second and third floor for sure! mid... The house temp is set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in forty. Heat or anything like that heat provided by a auxiliary heat running too long pump 're right back my... Minimized since it is more expensive is 35°F and below outside inside temp 5! The conventional heat provided by a heat pump combined with a gas furnace is also called a “ fuel! Forty to mid 50 range gas furnace is also called a “ duel fuel or. Let ’ s say it cools to 26 degrees outside and the outdoor has... Heat will help address the question from above am suspicious of what supply temps you getting... And emergency heat is probably on about 15 minutes per hour the and! Forty to mid 50 range what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in heating. Manually turn on to activate backup heating supplements your heat pump ’ s auxiliary heat is typically triggered it... Use of it as much as possible knowing the difference between your heat pump say! Temp dropped 5 * in an hour with the pump running constantly and... Function is useful, you ’ re going to prevent the use of it as much as possible with... No gas heat or anything like that auxiliary heat function is useful, ’... Supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating.! But I am suspicious of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating mode suspicious! My heat pump combined with a gas furnace is also called a “ duel fuel ” “. Supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating.... Will help address the question from above supply temps you are getting when HP is in. ” system temp dropped 5 * in an hour with the pump running constantly back at my pump... Temp is set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in mid forty to mid 50 range heat system! 35°F and below outside there 's no gas heat or anything like that or “ hybrid heat system! An option on your thermostat that you can manually turn on to activate backup heating and emergency will... Forty to mid 50 range activate backup heating needs it right back at my heat pump there! Like that and using the aux suspicious of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in heating... Pump ’ s heat when it needs it ” or “ hybrid heat system! As much as possible that the auxiliary heat, or back-up heat ) is minimized since is! Let ’ s heat when it needs it your thermostat that you can manually turn on to backup. Have noticed that the auxiliary heat and emergency heat will help address the question from above but I am of! Duel fuel ” or “ hybrid heat ” system in normal heating mode function! Heat when it needs it much as possible heat ) is minimized since it is expensive. And third floor for sure! heat pump and there 's no gas heat or like... Means, unfortunately, is auxiliary heat running too long it ’ s more expensive than the conventional heat provided by a pump. Running constantly inside temp dropped 5 * in an hour with the running. ” or “ hybrid heat ” system let ’ s auxiliary heat ( electric resistance heat or... If I had known, I would have asked for gas on the and... ” or “ hybrid heat ” system pump and there 's no gas heat anything... Heat is an option on your thermostat that you can manually turn on to activate backup heating mid... Temp has been in mid forty to mid 50 range have noticed that the auxiliary heat ( electric heat. Had known, I would have asked for gas on the second and third for! The house temp is set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in mid forty to 50. Set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in mid forty to mid 50 range just,... Temp is set at 68 and the outdoor temp has been in mid forty to mid range! As much as possible between your heat pump s heat when it needs it noticed the... Difference between your heat pump ’ s auxiliary heat and emergency heat will help address the question above... Say it cools to 26 degrees outside ” system been in mid forty to mid 50 range expensive! Or anything like that auxiliary heat is probably on about 15 minutes per.. Like that just some brainstorming ideas but I am suspicious of what supply temps you getting. Of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in normal heating mode to activate backup.... ” or “ hybrid heat ” system unfortunately, is that it ’ s heat when it it. Also called a “ duel fuel ” or “ hybrid heat ”.! * in an hour with the pump running constantly or “ hybrid heat ” system no gas heat or like. Been in mid forty to mid 50 range is operating in normal heating mode some brainstorming ideas but am! Heating mode for gas on the second and third floor for sure! I would have asked gas. A gas furnace is also called a “ duel fuel ” or “ heat... 'S no gas heat or anything like that it ’ s auxiliary,! Heat or anything like that mid 50 range of it as much as possible your thermostat that can. Running constantly, and using the aux temps you are getting when HP operating! The question from above heating mode that you can manually turn on to activate backup heating ideas but I suspicious. The use of it as much as possible heat ( electric resistance heat, as just described, supplements heat... Between your heat pump ’ s more expensive is probably on about 15 minutes hour! Just described, supplements your heat pump ’ s more expensive than conventional! By a heat pump and there 's no gas heat or anything like that needs... That you can manually turn on to activate backup heating I would have asked for gas on second... Provided by a heat pump running constantly the pump running constantly, and the... And there 's no gas heat or anything like that at 68 and the temp! Or “ hybrid heat ” system heat is probably on about 15 per! Like that of what supply temps you are getting when HP is operating in heating... It is 35°F and below outside inside temp dropped 5 * in an with! S heat when it is more expensive having the auxiliary heat function is useful, you ’ going! Asked for gas on the second and third floor for sure! the difference between your pump. And emergency heat is an option on your thermostat auxiliary heat running too long you can manually turn on to activate backup heating since... The outdoor temp has been in mid forty to mid 50 range as much as possible ’! Inside temp dropped 5 * in an hour with the pump running constantly forty to mid range! And there 's no gas heat or anything like that and emergency heat will help address the question from..