This gives you a little cushion room for unpredictable variables. 2) If you test your home’s air supply and find that your heat pump is blowing cold air, call and schedule an appointment with a professional who can fix your heat pump. No heating appliance should be used 24 hours a day. Otherwise, just keep your thermostat set on “heat.” There is no temperature to switch it over to emergency heat, even if your heat pump is running constantly due to cold weather. It depends on ambient temperature and heat loading or heat loss of the structure being cooled or heated (respectively). I had a new heating and air conditioning system installed over the summer. Emergency heat should really only be switched on by the homeowner in emergency situations, when something happens to the first stage heat source—your heat pump. When your heat pump uses its backup auxiliary heat to help it heat your home, you won’t notice. They are the most cost-effective option (when compared to other electric heating methods that create original heat), and they can be a great way to optimize your year-round heating and cooling costs. It’s always a good idea to round up when determining how long you should run your heater or heat pump. If you are not at home during the day, there is no need to run your heat pump … (Yes, even cold air has heat energy in it.) Although heat pump controls should get simpler, this guide is designed to help you get the most out of the heat pump you have now, whether it has just been installed or was installed some time ago. 10 things you should know about operating a heat pump in winter. This allows your old system to become the backup heat source. If your heat pump is constantly running, there are likely three main causes: Unusually cold weather: Heat pumps are designed to work much more gradually than a furnace. When it becomes 3 or 4 degrees, the resistance heater comes on and that’s what really drives the cost up. The warranty on the entire machine is for 2 years from date of installation, or from the date of manufacture if no proof of installation date can be provided. Inspect the heat pump coils for ice buildup daily during cold weather. It'll stay on for 2-3 seconds and then turn off. Part of the installation included a new condensation pump. Moreover, since 75% of heat loss is due to evaporation, it’s also a great idea to use a solar pool cover. Of course the coils heat the house quickly and the whole things then stops correctly after a couple minutes. As long as you buy a heat pump optimized for your own climate zone (see above), your heat pump will continue to operate near its usual 300% efficiency all year long. Outdoor Heat Pump Fan Does Not Run when Heat Pump is Running When the heat pump is operating to deliver either warm or cool air the outdoor compressor/condenser unit fan should be operating. However, your heat pump is powered by electricity – and when you pair solar panels for electricity with heat pumps for heat (which use electricity for power), you are heating your home for an average of about 9 cents per kWh vs. 14.5 cents per kWh without solar, effectively reducing your cost to run your heat pump by almost 40% annually. I have never selected the "emergency heating" setting for my unit, its always in standard heating when in operation. It’s true that some heat pumps struggle in below-freezing weather, and may need a resistive electric booster in such conditions. We have a heat pump and recently installed an ecobee thermostat. 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