Knowledge Builders

when should auxiliary heat come on

by Hailie Weber DVM Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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When AUX heat should turn on?

  • ☆ The temperature outside is below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat pumps work by pulling warm air from outside into your home. ...
  • ☆ You’re trying to increase the temperature by more than 3 degrees. It can take some time for a heat pump to increase the temperature in your home. ...
  • ☆ Your heat pump is defrost mode. ...

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.Jan 9, 2020

Full Answer

What does it mean when auxiliary heat keeps coming on?

Often, the auxiliary heat is coming on because the temperature in the home is set too high. Perhaps you feel most comfortable in the mid-seventies, but the air outside is dipping below freezing. Your outdoor heat pump is unlikely to be able to hold up under these demands.

Why is your auxiliary heat on but no heat?

POSSIBLE PROBLEM & DESCRIPTION

  • Thermostat Set Incorrectly. Many "no heat" calls, especially early in the heating season are the result of thermostats that are not set correctly.
  • Loss of Power to the Air Handler. Many air handlers have more than one breaker that provide power. ...
  • Bad Thermostat. ...
  • Failed Blower- Qualified Technician Recommended. ...

What does auxiliary heat mean on my thermostat?

Auxiliary heat is a secondary heating function your thermostat automatically switches to when it’s too cold outside for your heat pump to extract warmth from the air. This type of heating is often triggered when the outdoor temperature drops to 35 degrees or below.

When should I use emergency heat?

It is used when there is something wrong with first-stage heating (the Heat Pump itself). In other words, if you notice your house is cold and it isn't heating properly and you went outside and noticed that a tree fell and crushed your heat pump, that would be a good time to switch to Emergency Heat.

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What temp should AUX heat come on?

Your auxiliary heat should turn on when the outdoor temps are near 30° Fahrenheit and below. This temperature is when your air-source heat pump struggles to obtain enough heat from the outside air to warm your house. Therefore, when the temperature is below 30 degrees, AUX heat is needed to supplement your heat pump.

Is it normal for AUX heat to come on?

It's normal for AUX heat to turn on when your heat pump needs to heat the home quickly. If you're feeling chilly in the morning, for example, the secondary heat system can help to warm you up. This system turns on automatically, so don't be surprised if it comes on during the night.

Does auxiliary heat cost more?

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. Our suggestion would be to reach out to a professional as soon as possible.

Why is my heat pump always on auxiliary heat?

Why Is My Heat Pump Auxiliary Heat Always On? 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 you're attempting to heat your home by 3°F or more at a time.

Should heat pump and AUX heat run simultaneously?

The system is designed so that both can operate simultaneously. As long as the HP is producing some heat, it's more efficient to use the HP for whatever Btu's you can garner and allow the aux heat to be just that, auxiliary rather than primary.

What triggers auxiliary heat?

Aux heat will kick on when your heat pump cannot deliver enough warmth to heat your home. Typically, your heat pump will energize the auxiliary heat strip inside your secondary heating source to help reach its set temperature faster.

Why is cold air blowing when the heat is on?

You Have Cold Air Blowing Out The Vents When The Heat Is On Because of a Dirty Air Filter. Hiding in the filter of your heating system is dirt and debris. If you aren't cleaning it regularly, this will accumulate over time leading to problems with your heating system's efficiency.

How long does auxiliary heat last?

Auxiliary heat only turns on when your home needs warmth fast. It should only remain on for as long as it takes your home to reach the temperature on your thermostat. What is this? This shouldn't take much longer than 30 minutes.

Is AUX heat the same as emergency heat?

What Are Auxiliary Heat & Emergency Heat? Auxiliary Heat – This is the secondary heat source that turns on automatically. Emergency Heat – This is when you turn on the secondary heat source.

Can I turn off auxiliary heat?

It's, unfortunately, not possible to manually shut off auxiliary heat. But it only turns on when your home needs warmth fast. So if you don't let the temperature drop quickly in your house, it won't come on. That's why the best strategy for solving this problem is to focus on regulating the temperature in your home.

How do I fix my auxiliary heat?

The best way to troubleshoot auxiliary heat is by checking the supply and return air vents. If these are blocked, then this could lead to a lack of heating from your auxiliary unit. You should also check the filters in the furnace and clean them out if they're dirty.

When should auxiliary heat be turned off?

Down here in the south, that should mostly happen at night and during the occasional snowstorm. However, if the weather is warmer and above the freezing level , your auxiliary heat should automatically turn off. If it doesn’t, then you’ve got a problem. So, don’t wait and run the risk of a complete system breakdown or a high heating bill. If your heating system is stuck on aux heat, call Aspire today.

What is auxiliary heat?

Basically, auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating to heat your home. Since electric resistance heating is much less efficient than your heat pump, you only want it to be on when necessary. Otherwise, your auxiliary heat is working when it shouldn’t be and driving up the cost of your heating bill.

What Is Auxiliary Heat and What Does It Mean for Your Heater?

Has your heating system been stuck on aux heat? Perhaps your heating system isn’t working as effectively as it should be? Finally, has your heating bill been outrageously high over the past month? Thanks to our Aspire experts, you don’t have to wonder what is auxiliary heat and how to fix it. Hence, if you do have an aux heat issue, let us take care of it for you.

How to contact Aspire Heating and Cooling?

Are you looking for the right HVAC expert to be your new go-to resource? Call Aspire Heating & Cooling at 336-281-0047 and be on your way to improved indoor comfort in no time.

Does Aspire do heating repairs?

In addition to heating repair, Aspire also does heating system installation and regular maintenance. Thus, if your heating system decides to bite the dust, let us professionally install a brand-new heating system for you. Lastly, the best way to prevent a system failure is with regular maintenance. This service allows us to regularly check your system and its equipment to ensure that everything is working efficiently. Therefore, stop the breakdowns before they happen with our fast and friendly routine maintenance. To learn more about any of our services or maintenance plans, call us at 336-936-9111. Keep your home heated this winter with the help of our professional mechanics.

What temperature does auxiliary heat turn on?

However, when the outside temperature is 32° F or below , your auxiliary heat will usually turn on automatically. There are two main reasons as to why this may happen. In many situations, it’s a combination of both.

Why your auxiliary heat could be staying on?

If your auxiliary heat is staying on, it’s because your heat pump isn’t working as it should be. That could be happening because:

What is auxiliary heat on a thermostat?

As just stated, it’s basically a supplement heat source to your heat pump. Auxiliary heating keeps your home warm when your heat pump isn’t able to do so on its own. It remains on until your house has been heated up to the desired temperature.

When AUX heat should turn on?

Auxiliary heating should only turn on in certain situations. We’ll cover the three most common below. If you find your AUX heat turning on outside of these situations consistently, your HVAC system likely needs repairs or maintenance.

What is the difference between auxiliary heat and emergency heat?

A lot of people don’t really understand the difference between auxiliary heat and emergency heat. The difference is quite simple. When your heat pump breaks down, or it just isn’t working the way it’s designed to, a homeowner can switch to emergency heat. This will completely sidestep the heat pump and rely completely on the heat strips. Auxiliary heat on the other hand uses heat strips together with the heat pump to supplement the loss of heat.

Why does my heat pump turn on?

Your heat pump does this, because it detects that the inability to effectively move the heat from the outside to the inside of your home. Therefore, the heat strips turn and supply any extra heat that’s needed.

How does auxiliary heat work?

The way auxiliary heat works is by using electric resistance to heat your home. This is much less efficient than using your heat pump. As a result, this inefficiency will lead to more expensive electricity bills.

How to contact Aspire Heating and Cooling?

Are you looking for the right HVAC expert to be your new go-to resource? Call Aspire Heating & Cooling at 336-281-0047 and be on your way to improved indoor comfort in no time.

Is aux heat bad?

Is AUX heat bad? The short answer is no. In fact, aux heat is a critical mechanism that keeps your heat pump properly running when the outdoor temperature drops. Since this type of unit doesn’t work the same as a furnace, it can get cold. Consequently, you need a backup method involving heat strips in your unit. When the outdoor temperature dips extremely low, your chilly unit can’t create enough warm air to blow into your home. Therefore, heat strips (basically electric coils) turn on, providing a boost to heat your home.

Do auxiliary heat strips need to be turned off?

However, since these heat strips use massive amounts of electricity, you don’t want them running all the time. So, next, consider SHOULD auxiliary heat come on? Once your vents finally get the kick they need to warm up, the heat strips should turn off. Likewise, once ice melts on your unit, auxiliary heat should cease. If it keeps running, call a heating repair company as quickly as possible to avoid an enormous electric bill.

How Long Does Auxiliary Heat Stay On?

Your auxiliary heat will stay on for as long as it needs to. How long the auxiliary heat depends on how your system is set and what the environment is like.

Why does my auxiliary heat work?

Typically, your auxiliary heat is triggered by the environment or other causes like an issue with your heating system.

What is the Difference between Auxiliary Heat and Conventional Heat?

There is quite a difference between your conventional heat and your auxiliary heat. Auxiliary heat is a supplemental heat source in addition to your conventional heating.

How Do I Turn Off Auxiliary Heat?

If you do not want your system using the auxiliary heat source, it can be programmed to turn off or change when it toggles on to a more manageable level.

Is it Better to Use Auxiliary Heat?

Auxiliary heat is an excellent supplemental heat source. It is not intended for long-term use, and the more you use it, the more expensive your heating bill will be overall.

Is Auxiliary Heat the Same as Emergency Heat?

Auxiliary heat and emergency heat are very different but use the same system to distribute heat.

How Do You Know if Your System Can Keep Up with the Heat Demand?

Much like an air conditioner, your heater or furnace can only pump out so much heat.

How long should you keep your auxiliary heat on?

Auxiliary heat only turns on when your home needs warmth fast. It should only remain on for as long as it takes your home to reach the temperature on your thermostat.

How long does it take for an auxiliary heat pump to come on?

Along these same lines, the auxiliary heat may come on if the unit has been running for ten to fifteen minutes without any change in the temperature of your home. It is signaled as “backup” for your actual heating system since the outdoor heat pump doesn’t seem capable of handling the situation on its own.

Does every Honeywell Thermostat have auxiliary heat?

Not every Honeywell Thermostat has an auxiliary heating feature. This function is only really used in HVAC systems that rely on heat pumps. Not all Honeywell models use this type of technology.

Will any system let me just turn off my auxiliary heat?

No, unfortunately, there are no thermostat brands that let you turn off auxiliary heat manually. That’s why it’s important to maintain your system properly so that AUX heat doesn’t constantly need to turn on.

What does auxiliary heat mean on a Honeywell system?

What does aux heat mean on a Honeywell system? Short for auxiliary heat, this system is designed to heat your home up quickly instead of waiting for the cold heat pump on the exterior of your home.

Why does my aux heat come on?

Oftentimes, the aux heat is coming on because the temperature in the home is set too high.

What happens if your heat pump is always on?

If your heat pump for the auxiliary heat is always on, expect to see higher electric bills. Many homeowners would prefer to learn how to stop their auxiliary heat from coming on at all. Learn more about what to do if your aux heat keeps coming on this winter.

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1.When should my auxiliary heat come on? - Guillaume Boivin

Url:https://guillaumeboivin.com/when-should-my-auxiliary-heat-come-on.html

29 hours ago When should auxiliary heat come on on heat pump? Auixiliary Heat will turn on automatically when heat can no longer efficiently transfer heat from the outside air to heat pump. This is when the outside is around 35-40 degrees and the indoor temperature is around three degrees cooler than the thermostat setting.

2.What Is Auxiliary Heat And Why You Should Worry When …

Url:https://aspireheatingcooling.com/resources/what-is-auxiliary-heat-and-why-you-should-worry-when-it-stays-on/

1 hours ago  · When should my auxiliary heat come on? March 31, 2022 by guillaume boivin The balance point (when it can no longer efficiently transfer heat from the outside air) of an air source heat pump, is usually about 35 degrees.

3.What Is Auxiliary Heat? An Informative Guide for …

Url:https://www.h2ouse.org/what-is-auxiliary-heat/

31 hours ago To recap, auxiliary, or emergency heat should only be on when the outside temperature is below freezing. Down here in the south, that should mostly happen at night and during the occasional snowstorm. However, if the weather is warmer and above the freezing level, your auxiliary heat should automatically turn off. If it doesn’t, then you’ve got a problem.

4.What Does Auxiliary Heat Mean and Should It Be Running …

Url:https://aspireheatingcooling.com/resources/what-does-auxiliary-heat-mean-and-should-it-be-running-often/

16 hours ago  · Auxiliary heat should only be on until your home reaches the desired temperature. For example, let’s say it’s 67 degrees in your home, and you set your thermostat to 71. Auxiliary heat should turn off as soon as the thermostat hits 71 degrees. This shouldn’t take much longer than 30 minutes—if even that long.

5.What You Need To Know About AUXILIARY HEAT?

Url:https://hvac-boss.com/heating/what-is-auxiliary-heat/

6 hours ago Is auxiliary heat supposed to come on? To recap, auxiliary, or emergency heat should only be on when the outside temperature is below freezing. Down here in the south, that should mostly happen at night and during the occasional snowstorm. However, if the weather is warmer and above the freezing level, your auxiliary heat should automatically turn off.

6.How to Stop Auxiliary Heat from Coming On – A Winter …

Url:https://www.h2ouse.org/how-to-stop-auxiliary-heat-from-coming-on/

25 hours ago Auxiliary heat kicks on when your heat pump can't produce enough heat to warm your home by itself. AUX heat mode is normal when: The temperature outside is below freezing . Your thermostat is calling for a high temperature increase (2–4°F)

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