The Emergency Heat Switch on Heat Pumps - What is It and How Does It Work

November 13, 2018

All heat pumps are armed with emergency heat switches. This switch is meant to be utilized as its name implies—in an emergency. The emergency heat switch will turn on a strip, or strips, of electric heat and turn off the heat pump. When the temperature outside gets below 40 degrees, many Murrieta residents will flip the switch in order to heat their homes up. While this will do the job, we don’t recommend it. When your system operates in this emergency mode, it can take up a lot of energy and send your utility costs skyrocketing.

Cool Air Solutions suggests only flipping on your emergency heat switch if your heat pump has stopped heating your home. When it’s cold outside and it seems like your heat pump is constantly running, let it do its job. It’s actually much more efficient to let your heat pump run that it would be if your heat pump is running in its emergency mode.

If you’ve found that your heat pump isn’t keeping up with the cooler weather in Murrieta, you should give Cool Air Solutions a call. Investing in a backup heating system might save you some expense in the long run. We can install your backup system to work like a dream with your heat pump. So, when it’s so cold that your heat pump can’t pull warmer air into your home, your thermostat can instinctively switch on your backup heating system. This method will keep your home nice and warm on chilly days—and you can save your emergency heat switch for true heating emergencies.

If you want to learn more about ways you can supplement your heat pump’s heat supply or find out more about how your heat pump operates, call our experts at 951-299-9853. We’ll be happy to help. If it’s more convenient for you, you can also arrange an appointment with us online using our handy scheduler.