QA

Quick Answer: Why Does My Aux Heat Come On

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.

How do I stop my auxiliary heat from coming on?

Tips for Avoiding AUX Heat Issues Schedule preventative maintenance every six months. Clean the areas around the outdoor HVAC unit regularly. Keep ducts and heat vents free of clutter. Don’t use the emergency heating setting for normal heating. Clean or replace the heat pump filter every month or two.

Why does my thermostat say heat on Aux?

When you see the “aux” heat indicator on your thermostat it means your heat pump needed some help reaching the desired temperature. It turns on automatically when the temperature falls about two degrees below the desired setting and turns off automatically when the target temperature is reached.

Does auxiliary heat come on automatically?

Auxiliary heating turns on automatically to help heat your home more quickly if the temperature drops suddenly. The emergency heat setting has to be manually switched on and should only be used in temperatures below 30 degrees.

How often should AUX 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.

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.

How expensive is auxiliary heat?

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.

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

Your Heat Pump May Be In Defrost Mode As heat is released through the outdoor unit, it melts ice formations that would have been difficult or damaging to remove manually. Defrost mode is essentially the same as cooling mode, therefore it is likely your heat pump will blow cool air while in this mode.

Why is my heat not shutting off?

One of the most common issues is the thermostat. The wiring, switches, or heating sensors can fail on your unit. A faulty check valve could be the cause of this type of heating system to fail. If your heating system will not shut down, then you need to call a professional technician for help.

How long should auxiliary heat run?

By default, this time is set to five minutes. This means, if your aux heat is called upon and canceled immediately, it will still run for five minutes before shutting down. If you change the threshold settings, you can configure the minimum on time and save on electricity or heating oil.

How do I know if my auxiliary heat is working?

Just feed the electronic probe into the supply outlet. If the heat pump is off you will know it. You cannot heat a house with 55 degree air.

At what temperature should you switch a heat pump to emergency heat?

The Emergency Heat or Auxiliary Heat setting is the second stage of your heating system that is used when the temperature is too low for the heat pump to be able to remove heat from outside, typically below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do I stop my heat pump from blowing out cold air?

What to do if your heat pump is blowing cold air Turn off the heat at the thermostat and check your air filter. If it’s dirty, change it! Make sure the thermostat is set to “AUTO”, not “ON”. When set to “ON” the fan will stay on even when your heat pump isn’t actually heating.

Should my heat pump run constantly?

Why Does My Heat Pump Run Constantly In Winter? Heat pumps are designed to constantly run when winter hits and the weather outside gets cold. As temperatures drop below 30 degrees, your home’s heat demand matches the production of the heat pump, requiring it to run continuously to move warm air through the home.

Why is cold air coming out of my vents when heat is off?

This issue could be caused by an improper thermostat setting. Check that the fan blower switch is set to “auto” and not “on.” When the “auto” setting is chosen, the fan will only run during a heating cycle and won’t push air that feels cooler through the vents in between cycles.

Why is my heating still on when it’s turned off?

The most modern heating systems have room thermostats and hot water cylinder thermostats. When a diverter fails or gets blocked with debris, hot water intended for the hot water circuit can get into the radiator circuit. Then the radiators will be hot even though the heat is turned off.

How do you know a thermostat is bad?

7 Signs You Need to Replace Your Thermostat Your HVAC Keeps Turning On or Off. Faulty Thermostat Readings. Suspiciously High Energy Bills. Constant Temperature Shifts. Thermostat Is Too Old. Thermostat Fails to Respond to Changed Settings. Your HVAC System Short Cycles.

How do I reset my thermostat?

Reset the Thermostat The method to reset your thermostat will vary depending on the model. Common methods for resetting a thermostat include installing the battery backward for five seconds, pushing a recessed reset button with a pin or paper clip, or shutting off the breaker to the thermostat for 30 seconds.