In today’s HVAC Q&A, we are going to address Emergency Heat. If you’ve owned a heat pump for a long time, you might already know how this feature works. But if you’re a new heat pump owner like Jessica in Chicago, you probably have some questions. I recently had a heat pump installed in my home and noticed an emergency heat switch on the thermostat. How does it work? When should I use it?” Before we talk about what the Emergency Heat (also know as “auxiliary heat” or “aux” heat on some thermostats) setting on your heat pump thermostat is, let’s take a moment to explain exactly what a heat pump does. Heat pumps heat and cool your home by moving or “pumping” heat out of the house in the summer and into the house in the winter. When temperatures fall, it’s harder to extract heat from the outside air, so heat pumps require a secondary heating source, which is usually located in the indoor unit. During the colder months, your heat pump (first stage heat) automatically taps into the Emergency Heat source (second stage heat) in order to heat your home.

Now that you know a little bit more about heat pumps, let’s talk about Emergency Heat. When your system runs solely on its second stage heat source, it’s using Emergency Heat. Emergency heat is the second stage of heat that your thermostat taps into when it is too cold for your heat pump to extract heat from the outside.air conditioning unit manuals Since this second stage heat source is designed to be just that, secondary, running your heat pump on emergency heat increases your HVAC system’s energy usage and results in escalating energy bills.dual ac heater units In most cases, a heat pump’s second stage heat source is electric, but it can also be gas or oil. air conditioner multi split priceThink of an electric second stage heat source like a strip of heated coils in a toaster within your air handler.

If your second stage heat source is oil or gas, it’s probably hooked into your furnace. When you set your thermostat to Emergency Heat, your system bypasses the heat pump and directly accesses either the electric heat strip or gas/oil furnace heat. For electric systems, this basically turns your air handler into an electric furnace, which can be costly. Many people assume that Emergency Heat is designed to be turned on by the homeowner during especially cold weather, but that’s not quite right. It’s designed to only  be switched on by the homeowner in emergency situations, when something happens to the first stage heat source — your heat pump. For example, if the limb of a tree is weighed down by snow and falls on your outdoor unit, damaging it, it’s time to switch on your Emergency Heat and call an HVAC professional. If your heat pump is malfunctioning and shorts out or freezes over, flip the switch and call for an HVAC maintenance appointment. For all-electric systems, your Emergency Heat system should keep you warm until your heat pump can be fixed.

For gas or oil furnace second stage systems, you should be fine for longer periods of time. Now that you know what Emergency Heat is for, make sure you’re using it right. Don’t use your Emergency Heat setting unless your heat pump is damaged. Save yourself money by keeping your thermostat setting on “Heat” during the winter, and if you need to switch to emergency heat, call an HVAC professional as soon as possible to get your heat pump back in shape. Have you been using your Emergency Heat setting improperly? Have you ever had to use it in an emergency? Learn more about heat pumps and other types of heating systems today. Check out our complete guide to heating here.Why is it called a FPH? It's because we like to make things as simple as we can. The product was developed for So we called it a "FPH". And then we moved on .... to work on more cool new heat recovery products, instead of wasting time debating product Cools rooms up to 550 sq. ft.

The Honeywell MM14CHCS 14,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat Pump, in black/silver, has a sleek, modern design and covers areas up to 550 sq. ft. With 4-in-1 technology, 3M electrostatic filter and an environmentally friendly compressor, this portable air conditioner delivers optimum cooling, heating and dehumidification. Plus the full-function remote control allows you to operate it from across the room. 14,000 BTU portable air conditioner with 12,000 BTU built-in heat pump No bucket design cools areas up to 550 sq. ft. Dehumidification up to 79.2 pt. per day Digital LED display and feather-touch controls provide precise temperature control 3 speeds include high, medium and low Automatic on/off timer from 1-24 hours Quiet operation (55 dBA) Washable, pull-up 3M electrostatic filter (back access) Caster wheels easily rolls unit from room to room 3.3 ft. flexible exhaust hose included 5 can unit be vented thru a wall instead of a window

5 Is there a condesation hose. Where dose the condensation drain 5 does this unit come with a filter? I need a part number for the filter for this unit, and is it washable 4 Does this unit have a hose that has to be connected to outside air? You say that it is portable, but does it have to connect to the outside of the home in order for the heat pump to work?There is no better time to make sure your home cooling equipment is in the best shape possible. Whether it is an Air Conditioner System, Integrated Heat Pump or Ductless Splits, ASI Heating, Air and Solar has the parts and whole system installation to keep you cool when you need it. Now, the best is not always the most expensive, so the best way to find a system that fits your space is to Schedule a Free Estimate and let a trained comfort consultant help you decide what will best fit your needs. YgreneWorks Financing Now Available for Solar Power! YgreneWorks offers zero money down financing for High-Efficiency Furnaces, AC Systems, Solar Installations and even water-saving home improvements, conveniently repaid through your property taxes.