Did You Accidentally Turn On Your EM Heat? If you've accidentally turned on your EM heat and you're frantically Googling “how to turn off emergency heat,” don't worry. Just like turning it on, you can deactivate your emergency heat with the switch.
When this emergency heat setting is turned on, your thermostat will tell the air handler to bypass your heat pump directly and access the electric coils, natural gas, or oil connected to the air handler. As you can see, though, this is not just your run-of-the-mill heating system.
There's no specific timeframe for using the emergency heat setting. If you need it for a few hours, the system should be fine. Or, keep it on until the unit thaws out or is fixed.
This can cause concern, as auxiliary heat typically is not supposed to run all the time. While it's normal for auxiliary heat to kick in during exceedingly cold temperatures, running it too long may indicate an issue with the heat pump.
Using EMERGENCY HEAT or AUX mode can significantly increase your electric bill compared to regular HEAT mode. Only use these settings in true emergencies when you need immediate warmth.
Short answer: No. Switching your thermostat to emergency heat or “em heat” just because it's cold outside will just raise your energy bills like crazy. Don't use emergency heat mode unless your heat pump stops heating your home altogether.
Is Emergency Heat more expensive to run? If you have an all-electric heat pump, then the answer is a definite Yes! It is much more expensive to run your heat pump on Emergency Heat. And as the name implies, should only be run in an emergency until your heat pump can be repaired.
Auxiliary Heat – This is the secondary heat source that turns on automatically. Emergency Heat – This is when you turn on the secondary heat source.
Auxiliary heat isn't a bad thing; in fact, it can be extremely necessary to your comfort and well-being, especially in the event of extreme cold weather. However, auxiliary heat uses a good deal of energy, which leads to an increase in your energy bill.
Cost of Energy Bills in AUX Heat Mode
Because your heat pump and backup heat source work together, AUX mode consumes more energy. This leads to increased energy bills — your costs may be up to 50% higher when the device is using AUX heat.
Emergency heat is a backup heating source that your heat pump uses when it cannot keep up with your heating needs or breaks down. While people may switch this system on whenever they feel that the temperatures outside are too low, this is not wise since the EM Heat system is more expensive than a traditional heat pump.
Most standard heat pumps will function at 100% efficiency until the outside temperature reaches about 40° F. However, when the temperature dips below this, most heat pumps are not able to maintain efficiency. They become much less effective at temperatures between 20° F to 30° F.
Heat emergencies are of three types heat cramps (caused by loss of salt), heat exhaustion (caused by dehydration) and heat stroke (shock). Remove the victim from the heat and have him lie down. Apply cool compresses, elevate the feet, drink fluids and use a fan to blow cool air. Get medical help if needed.
Your system can technically run in Emergency Heat mode indefinitely. Whether your backup heat source is electric or fossil fuel, it's designed for continuous operation without causing damage.
Stay indoors in a location with working Air Conditioning (A/C) or go to a location with A/C. If outdoors, seek shaded areas or wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face from the sun. Avoid overexertion and strenuous activity, especially during the warmest part of the day.
There are a few possible reasons your heat pump might be blowing cold air: Your heat pump is in defrost mode. There's an issue with your heat pump. It's below freezing, and you need a backup heat source.
The cost of running your home on Emergency Heat would be astronomical. Turning to this setting switches the source of your heat from the heat pump to the electric heat strip, which is significantly less efficient and more costly.
Homeowners should expect auxiliary heat to turn on during colder temperatures, especially under 40 degrees. Your heat pump is an amazing appliance that can efficiently extract warmth from the outdoor air and transform it into cozy comfort inside your home.
The difference between emergency heat and auxiliary heat is that emergency heat has to be switched on manually and should only be used in temperatures of 30 degrees or below. However, auxiliary heat will kick on automatically to help heat your home more quickly if there is a sudden drop in temperature.
Auxiliary heat strips supplement the heat pump and produce warm air to quickly heat your home. Those heat strips use substantially more energy and will increase your electric bill.
Auxiliary heat will come on and off as needed, emergency heat will remain on until you deactivate the setting.
Using Emergency Heat May Cause Higher Heating Bills: Emergency heat is more expensive than its traditional counterpart, so you will probably see a spike in your utility bills if you need to use it. You should use emergency heat for the shortest period of time possible.
When emergency heat is turned on, your compressor and heat pump shut down entirely, and your system's backup heating system turns on. This brings in heat without damaging your outdoor heat pump system. In most cases, emergency heat is electric, but it can also run on natural gas or oil.
Switching your system over to the emergency heat or auxiliary setting means your furnace has already been working as hard as it can, lowering its eficiency. Switching it over to emergency heat is always more expensive, so you will likely see an additional spike in your utility bill during that time period.
This heating method works incredibly efficiently until the outdoor temperature reaches about 35 degrees. At this point, the heat pump has difficulty extracting enough heat from outside to keep up with the thermostat setting. This is when many people assume it's time for switching their heat pump to emergency heat.