On your thermostat. EM heat is an option on your thermostat that you can manually turn on to activate backup heating. Understanding what is considered normal gives you a better idea of how to correct an issue with your HVAC system on your own. Although there is no direct way to turn off the auxiliary heating, you can opt for these indirect solutions. For some homeowners, the “AUX” heating source will be electrical resistance heating, which are essentially large wire heating elements that are heated by electricity. Once the ice on the heat pump has mostly melted, the heat pump goes back to normal and AUX heat turns off. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. hide. Thank you!! Also, the auxiliary heat enabling switch is not included in the wall thermostat that controls that kind of heat pump system. In these cases you can manually enter a higher differential to avoid the auxiliary heat coming on for a certain time or temperature difference (it is up to you what value you would like to keep it at). This is a great time to make sure that all of your air filters are changed and that the furnace itself does not need any major repairs. AUX heat turns on to keep you warm. When it reads that the room temp is 70 degrees and I have the thermostat set at 70 degrees why does it kick into AUX heat? Once NEST SENSE > Heat Pump Balance is enabled, if you go back into SETTINGS > EQUIPMENT > Equipment Settings > HEAT PUMP you'll have a setting for the "Use compressor when ... temperature is above" option which is ignored , followed by a message " Nest Sense Heat … (pump) (Only applies on heat pumps with auxiliary heat) Heat from an auxiliary source is generally more expensive than heat from air exchanger heat pumps. This will turn the heat pump off so that it stops making ice and allow the warm air from backup elements to thaw the coil. Because consumers have many more auxiliary heat options to work with for augmenting heat pumps, this allows them to experience a winter or two in a milder climate zone without the feature before committing to the extra investment, whichever one it may be. Other times, it is influenced by the make and model of your thermostat. This allows you to set the ideal temperature between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. i have it set at 67 degrees and that's where its been ever since i've turned on the heat. Allison, understanding how manage a heat pump thermostat is indeed an important part of realizing the benefits. Electric heat strip - This electric heat strip is auxiliary heating (or “aux heat” as it shows up on your thermostat). Add a few layers to your outfit or sleep with an extra blanket to keep your furnace from working so hard. HouseMachinery.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. share. Page 11: Cooling heat i smanually activated bypressing theread HEAT button for four seconds. 12 comments. I am having an issue with my honeywell 3000 thermostat. It may be more effective, but it comes with a specific cost that you might not be anticipating. The same fire icon is shown for when the regular heat is running and when the aux heat is running instead. I have a new heat pump that will, when needed (if the temperature is 2 degrees off the set temp) , kick on axillary heat strips and warm the air quickly. If the temperature does not pick up within the first few minutes, many of the new Honeywell models will prompt the aux heat setting. By bumping your thermostat up three degrees, the auxiliary heat must kick on to catch up with your new demands. Hello. I'd like to just set it 3 degrees higher to 61 and let the heat pump raise the temp without the aux heat. For the most part, you can stop the auxiliary heat from coming on by making a few lifestyle changes in your daily routine. When the winter winds start swirling, many people find that their home struggles to maintain a warm and comfortable temperature. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'housemachinery_com-box-3','ezslot_1',105,'0','0']));It is usually more difficult to maintain a warm temperature when the low temperatures of the climate are approaching. Before the winter season really begins, it is best to schedule a time to have your system inspected and tuned up. The furnace is wired with compressor and control circuit to one of these aux banks so turning their breakers off will also turn the compressor/controller off. For those homeowners who never had an issue with their old thermostats but are suddenly experiencing this phenomenon, it may have to do with the specific model of thermostat that you purchased and installed.