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what is a supplemental heat source

by Christina Tromp I Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The supplemental heat source replaces the compressor as the heat source and allows the compressor to defrost. A supplemental heat source in a pool heating system consisting of a heat reserve element, a contactor, a switch/relay, a light and an accessory switch.

Supplemental heating sources like radiators, space heaters, and fireplaces are alternative options to simply turning up the heat in your home or installing a new, main heating system. By using these alternative heating sources, you can heat specific rooms or areas of your home that are most often used.Mar 11, 2022

Full Answer

What is supplementary heating?

Supplemental heating allows each individual to choose the temperature of their own room without making someone else sacrifice their comfort. Electric fireplace heaters are often overlooked as a simple and economical way to spot heat areas of your home.

Is supplemental heating the best way to lower energy bills?

Without a doubt, supplementing the heat in your home is the absolute easiest way to lower your energy bills without sacrificing your overall comfort. There’s a number of ways you can utilize this technique to stay warm. But first, let’s learn how it works. What is Supplemental Heating?

Can electric fireplace heaters be used for supplemental heating?

On the other hand, some people sleep cold, so they prefer sleeping in a warmer bedroom. Supplemental heating allows each individual to choose the temperature of their own room without making someone else sacrifice their comfort. Electric fireplace heaters are often overlooked as a simple and economical way to spot heat areas of your home.

What is supplement heating?

Why do people use supplement heating?

What Type of Fireplace Heater is Right for You?

Why are electric fireplace heaters so popular?

Why is it important to heat the living room?

How to lower your energy bills without sacrificing comfort?

Why do you need a fireplace insert?

See 2 more

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What is the best supplemental heat source?

Here Are Seven Ways to Stay Warm With Supplemental Heating SourcesElectric Radiators. It may be possible to install either one or two electric radiators, but this will depend on the size of the area that has to be heated. ... Radiant Floor Heating. ... Gas Fireplaces. ... Electric Fireplaces. ... Wood Fireplaces. ... Ductless Mini-Splits.

What is a secondary heat source?

Secondary heating sources like fireplaces, wood burning stoves, space heaters, or electric blankets can produce comfortable heat for smaller, more targeted areas of your home at a fraction of the cost of turning up the thermostat for the entire home.

What is supplemental heat on a heat pump?

For most heat pumps, the supplemental heat source is electric resistance (strip) heat. 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.

Do you need supplemental heat with a heat pump?

Some heat pumps are designed operate independently without back up heating, while others are designed to use a back up heating system. Whether or not you need a backup heat source for your heat pump will depend on the type of heat pump you purchase, your climate zone, and the design and efficiency of your home.

How can I keep my house warm during a power outage?

7 Ways to Heat Your Home When the Power Goes OutUse a Generator.Get an Indoor Propane Heater.Use a Wood Stove or Fireplace.Increase Heat If You Know Power Might Go Out.Don't Open and Close Outside Doors.Insulate and Block Drafts.Let Sunshine Through Windows.

What is the cheapest way to heat your house?

Air conditioning. Based on running costs alone, reverse-cycle air conditioning is by far the cheapest way to heat your home: our estimates show that a reverse-cycle air conditioner will cost only a little more to run for the entire year than an electric heater will cost to run just for three months over winter.

How often should auxiliary heat come on?

When should my auxiliary heat come on? When outside temperatures drop below 40 degrees. While undergoing the defrost cycle. When there is a 3 degree difference or more in the current temperature in your home and the thermostat setting.

Why is my heat pump blowing cold air when the heat is on?

When your heat pump goes into defrost mode, it switches into cooling mode, causing the outdoor coils to heat up to melt any frost or ice within the system. However, because the system is in cooling mode, it means that for a few minutes, it will blow cold air through the vents.

Should my heat pump run when auxiliary heat is on?

You should only use your heat pump's emergency heating mode when it's truly an emergency (e.g., your heat pump isn't working in winter) because manually overriding your system means it won't run as efficiently as it can—which will result in higher energy bills.

Can a heat pump be your only source of heat?

Ground-source heat pumps can serve a suite of comfort needs in your home, including: Heating only: The heat pump is used only in heating. This can include both space heating and hot water production. Heating with “active cooling”: The heat pump is used in both heating and cooling.

At what temperature is a heat pump not effective?

Heat pumps do not operate as efficiently when temperatures drop to between 25 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for most systems. A heat pump works best when the temperature is above 40. Once outdoor temperatures drop to 40 degrees, heat pumps start losing efficiency, and they consume more energy to do their jobs.

What are the disadvantages of a heat pump?

7 Disadvantages of Heat Pumps are:High upfront cost.Difficult to install.Questionable Sustainability.Requires significant work.Issues in cold weather.Not entirely carbon neutral.Planning permissions required.

What are the 6 sources of heat?

Some of the rich sources of heat are listed below:Sun.Earth.Chemical energy.Electrical energy.Atomic energy.Air.

What are sources of heat?

Here are only some of your many choices for heating energy sources: natural gas, propane (LP), oil, coal, wood, electricity, heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and solar energy.

What is considered a primary heat source?

Most homes use one of these primary heat sources: Furnace. These heating systems use natural gas, propane, oil, electricity or a combination of fuels to create warm air that's distributed through your home using ductwork and vents. Boilers.

What are the functions in which the secondary heaters operate?

Secondary Heating and Emergency Heating Functions At this point, the secondary heat source, like a gas furnace or electric heat strip, is activated to provide heat to the home. EM Heat or Aux Heat can also be automatically activated when the inside temperature is 3 degrees or more below the thermostat setting.

What is a space heater?

Space heaters come in a wide range of heating capacities. They are designed to warm a single room or small space by focusing heat in areas you need it instead of running your central heating system at full blas t. Space heaters are usually powered via electrical outlet but some run on propane, natural gas, kerosene, or wood pellets.

What is radiant heating?

Instead of heating the air, radiant heaters give off radiating heat waves that warm clothes, skin, and objects. Radiant heaters work best if you are trying warm a specific spot in your house, like a play corner or your favorite reading nook. Radiant heaters are especially effective in drafty areas and rooms with high ceilings.

How does a convection heater work?

Because they warm up the air itself, convection heaters take longer to raise the temperature in the room.

How many fires are caused by space heaters?

More than 25,000 house fires and over 6,000 emergency room visits each year are blamed on space heaters. Children and pets are often drawn to space heaters, risking injury. Space heaters should not be used unsupervised or at night while you are sleeping.

Is a space heater better than a central heating system?

Lower energy bills: it is cheaper to use a space heater than to rely solely on your central heating system.

Can a fireplace be used for heating?

Fireplaces are cozy and cheery on cold, winter days but they aren’t portable, so fireplaces can only heat the area of the house in which they are located. However, you can use some fireplaces effectively for “zone heating”.

What is radiant heating?

Instead of heating the air, radiant heaters give off radiating heat waves that warm clothes, skin, and objects.

How do space heaters work?

Space heaters come in a wide range of heating capacities and are designed to warm a single room or small space by focusing heat in areas you need it instead of running your central heating system at full blast. Space heaters are usually powered via electrical outlet but some run on propane, natural gas, kerosene, or wood pellets.

How does a convection heater work?

Because they warm up the air itself, convection heaters take longer to raise the temperature in the room.

Is it cheaper to use a space heater or a central heating system?

Lower energy bills: it is cheaper to use a space heater than to rely solely on your central heating system.

Do children like space heaters?

Children and pets love to be warm and are often drawn to space heaters, risking injury.

Can a fireplace be used for heating?

Fireplaces are cozy and cheery on cold, winter days but they aren’t portable, so fireplaces can only heat the area of the house in which they are located. However, you can use some fireplaces effectively for “zone heating”.

What is zone heating?

The most popular sources of zone heating are infrared heaters and fireplaces. Infrared heaters use infrared quartz technology to create instant heat at the push of a button. This technology produces a safer, softer heat than traditional sources, and many models heat up to 1,000 square feet. While typical electric heaters heat the air temperature within a room, infrared units heat objects directly to naturally absorb the heat. Infrared heating wastes little energy while keeping a constant temperature in the room.

How does zone heating work?

Zone heating is one of the most efficient methods for heating a home while reducing energy costs. The idea behind this method is that only the rooms that are in use should be heated to a comfortable temperature, while unused rooms should be heated much less. For example, during the day, the living room, dining room and family room would all be heated directly with supplemental heat sources, while the thermostat for the central system is set at a lower temperature. Unoccupied rooms, like a mudroom or the bedrooms, will not use up as much heating energy this way. Overnight, heating can be redirected to the bedrooms as the family sleeps.

Evaluate Your Existing Heat Source

First, evaluate your existing heat source and determine whether there are any problems to address before moving forward. Start by evaluating the age of your furnace, as many are due for replacement after 15 to 20 years. Next, consider when you last had an annual maintenance visit.

Consider Your Reasoning

Next, consider the reason why you want a supplemental heating source. If you’re concerned about power loss during winter storms, you’ll want to consider something that doesn’t rely on electricity to run, like a wood stove.

Consider Other Steps

Next, determine whether there are other actions you can take to make your home heating more efficient. If you live in an old home, adding insulation or replacing outdated windows could significantly impact your winter heating situation.

Identify Your Living Habits

Finally, consider your living habits. Are you a single person who spends most of their time in one room? Do you need your entire home heated at all times? Do you have the time, energy, or space to manage loads of wood for the winter?

Types of Supplemental Heating To Consider

Once you’ve clarified what you need and how you’ll use your secondary heat source, it’s time to determine which one is right for you. Here are three popular options to evaluate when choosing supplemental heat.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps have become quite popular in recent years, acting as a primary heating and cooling source for many homeowners. Heat pumps work exceptionally well during the fringe seasons (fall and spring) when the full power of a furnace isn’t needed, but it’s still pretty chilly.

Fireplace

Fireplaces are versatile options for supplemental heat, with a few types to choose from: pellet, gas, electric, wood, and so on. Choosing a fireplace that isn’t electricity-dependent is a great secondary option for power loss situations. Unfortunately, wood heat is messy, costly, and inefficient due to the loss through the chimney.

urthbuoy Well-Known Member Industry Professional Forum Leader

A building's heat loss/heat gain is directly related to the building design and the geographic location. The geographic location gives designers a heating design temperature and a cooling design temperature. I can't recall off hand, but I believe this is a 97.5% number in that 97.5% of all heating hours (or cooling) will be below this number.

urthbuoy Well-Known Member Industry Professional Forum Leader

Yes, when all the numbers are in, we can then sit down with the client and show the +'s, -'s, and $'s associated with the % designs. Should be no surprises.

What is supplement heating?

Supplemental heating is a straightforward strategy more homeowners are turning to as energy prices continue to rise. Instead of raising the internal temperature of your home to a consistent level throughout the entire house, only specific areas are heated while the rest of the house remains cool. The logic behind this is simple.

Why do people use supplement heating?

A common problem in households with multiple people is everyone likes to sleep with their room at a different temperature. Some people sleep hot, so they prefer a colder bedroom at night. On the other hand, some people sleep cold, so they prefer sleeping in a warmer bedroom. Supplemental heating allows each individual to choose the temperature of their own room without making someone else sacrifice their comfort.

What Type of Fireplace Heater is Right for You?

If you already have a fireplace but don’t use it often, then a fireplace insert would be the perfect solution for you. It allows you to save on the cost of renovating or rebuilding your existing fireplace. When you install a fireplace insert , you also get added insulation and all of the heat being produced radiates throughout the room. As a result, you will no longer be losing heat up the chimney.

Why are electric fireplace heaters so popular?

Electric fireplace heaters are often overlooked as a simple and economical way to spot heat areas of your home. While portable space heaters are traditionally the first option people think of, the popularity of electric fireplace heaters has grown tremendously in recent years. This rise in popularity is due to the style and decor of fireplace heaters. Space heaters work great at supplemental heating, but they typically lack the style that people desire.

Why is it important to heat the living room?

It is especially important for the bedroom and living room because you are usually sedentary, and your body energy will be lower. One of my biggest annoyances with a house (or in my case, apartment) is when the heater works really well in the kitchen and the hallway, but it can’t keep the other rooms warm. I blame the large windows that are poorly insulated. I can’t stand working in an overly warm kitchen, and it is impossible to enjoy a movie when your nose is numb from cold.

How to lower your energy bills without sacrificing comfort?

This strategy is called Supplemental Heating, and it’s one that more and more homeowners are starting to turn to. Without a doubt, supplementing the heat in your home is the absolute easiest way to lower your energy bills without sacrificing your overall comfort. There’s a number of ways you can utilize this technique to stay warm.

Why do you need a fireplace insert?

When you install a fireplace insert, you also get added insulation and all of the heat being produced radiates throughout the room. As a result , you will no longer be losing heat up the chimney.

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1.Supplemental Heating Options Breakdown - Steve's Heating

Url:https://www.stevesheating.com/supplemental-heating-options-breakdown/

14 hours ago A supplemental heat source is an additional or backup heating system that can be used in case of an emergency or power outage. These heat sources can include anything from a wood …

2.Supplemental Heat Sources for Your Home - Cates …

Url:https://catesheatingandcooling.com/blog/supplemental-sources-heat-home/

15 hours ago Supplemental heating is defined as “the addition of heat to a space to maintain the desired temperature.” Supplemental heat can come from various sources, including fireplaces, space …

3.Supplemental Zone Heating Options – Electric Fireplaces …

Url:https://www.electricfireplacesdirect.com/blogs/fireside-blog/zone-heating-supplemental-heating-options

24 hours ago  · Wood burning fireplaces. These are the least efficient types of fireplaces for generating heat. Nearly 80% of the heated air is lost up the chimney of a traditional fireplace. If …

4.How To Choose the Best Supplemental Heating

Url:https://www.residencestyle.com/how-to-choose-the-best-supplemental-heating/

5 hours ago Wood Burning Fireplaces. These are the least efficient types of fireplaces for generating heat. Nearly 80% of the heated air is lost up the chimney of a traditional fireplace. If your goal is to …

5.Supplemental Heat | GeoExchange® Forum

Url:https://www.geoexchange.org/forum/threads/supplemental-heat.265/

1 hours ago  · Pellets are typically sold by the ton, which cost between $180-$250, roughly. Homes that heat with pellets as their primary heat source use two to three tons per year. If …

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