Emergency heat on a heat pump can be a lifesaver when winter strikes and equipment fails. Yet many homeowners confuse it with normal heating or auxiliary heat. This guide explains what emergency heat is, when to use it, how much it costs, and how to stay safe and efficient in U.S. climates.. Emergency heat keeps your home warm when your heat pump can't do the job alone. Rather than using warmth from the outside air, this system uses secondary heat to keep your house warm in case of a frozen or malfunctioning heat pump. Understanding what it means and how to respond helps you stay comfortable and avoid unnecessary energy costs.
Emergency heat serves as a valuable backup option, but it's not something to use every day. When you understand how it works and when to use it, you can stay warm while avoiding high energy bills. At Meade's Heating and Air, we provide heat pump installation, furnace repair, and maintenance.. My research and conversations with HVAC professionals have taught me much about emergency heating. This article explains the differences between emergency and primary heating and when to turn on emergency heat in heat pumps. I also go over using the HVAC system's backup heat. Read to the end for answers to frequently asked questions.