Does AUX heat come on automatically?

Auixiliary Heat will turn on automatically when heat can no longer efficiently transfer heat from the outside air to heat pump. Auxiliary heat uses electric resistance heating, which is much less efficient than your heat pump. Therefore, a heating system stuck in AUX heat will run up an energy bill.

Should auxiliary heat come on?

What is Aux Heat? Auxiliary heat refers to your heat pump’s backup electric resistance heating. Aux heat should only kick on when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat to warm your home on its own.

How do I turn the auxiliary heat off?

Shut the door and close the vents so that the rest of the warm air can be redirected to the rest of your home. If the temperatures are extremely frigid outside, even this may be too much for your unit. You may need to make some additional changes to your home to keep the auxiliary heat from coming on.

Is running 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.

Why did my AUX heat come on?

What Does It Mean on My Thermostat? If your aux heat indicator is on, it means your heat pump needs a little help reaching its target temperature setting. Aux heat comes from the same heat source as emergency heat, but aux heat works together with your heat pump, so it’s less expensive than emergency heat.

Why does my thermostat say aux heat?

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.

Why does my thermostat say auxiliary heat?

Is auxiliary heat Expensive?

Auxiliary heat can handle more extreme temperatures since it uses electric heat strips. What this means, unfortunately, is that it’s more expensive than the conventional heat provided by a heat pump. While a gas furnace is not as efficient as a heat pump, it is more efficient than a heat pump using auxiliary heat.

What does it mean when my thermostat says auxiliary heat?

Why does my nest say aux heat?

AUX heat can turn on when the heat pump alone isn’t working fast enough, it’s too cold outside, or your heat pump needs to defrost. If you have a heat pump with AUX heat, your Nest thermostat will use Heat Pump Balance to determine your lockout or breakpoint temperature automatically.

How do I know if my heat pump has auxiliary heat?

Aux heat appears as a setting on a wall thermostat. If you don’t see an aux heat enabling switch or an aux heat light on your thermostat, then your heating system doesn’t have it. On the mechanical or equipment side, heat pumps with aux heat contain another section to their air handler.

What is the difference between auxiliary heat and emergency heat?

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.

When to use auxiliary heat on heat pump?

When the ambient outside air gets below around 40 degrees, heat pumps can’t perform their intended job of pulling heat from the outside air for inside use and must rely upon an auxiliary system. That auxiliary system built into the units is electric resistance heat — just like you’d see in a toaster where wires heat up and glow red.

Why does aux heat keep turning on?

Oftentimes, the aux heat is coming on because the temperature in the home is set too high. You are asking your furnace to work too hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. Perhaps you feel most comfortable in the mid-seventies, but the air outside is dipping below freezing.

How does the auxiliary heat on my heat pump work?

Auxiliary heat is when the secondary heat source turns on automatically . This means, when the temperatures start to drop and your heat pump cannot produce enough hot air to warm your home the aux heat will turn on. Emergency heat is when you turn on a secondary heat source manually.

Why does auxiliary heat go on?

Effectively, your heat pump flips back over into air conditioning in order to thaw out the frost accumulation on the condenser. Another reason your auxiliary heat may be coming on is that your heat pump is in defrost.