Accidentally Turned On Emergency Heat: Learn What To Do

Every thermostat has a special setting called ” Em heat”. But what exactly is this setting? It’s often misunderstood as a setting that you can use to turn on the thermostat during cold temperatures. This is false. This secondary heating system, also known as “EM”, is a backup to your primary heating system in case your primary heat goes out. You don’t want it to be switched on without you knowing what you are doing.

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Whatever the situation, it is important to understand the settings of your home appliances before you try to mess with them. This guide on EM Heat will help you understand how to use your heat pump in your house.

What is EM Heat?

EM heat on thermostat settings stands for emergency heating and is used to control your home’s heating system. You likely have an emergency heating thermostat setting. This will also include a heat pump and a hot-water backup system.

A majority of systems use a heat pump to set the primary temperature and then activate secondary heating (gas, oil, or electric) when additional heating is needed. All heat pumps require a secondary heating source in colder climates below 35 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because the heater taps into the setting when outside temperatures drop too low.

If you manually turn on your EM heater, it will draw heat from the secondary source. Your backup heat pump now works alone, rather than working with it. It is far less efficient than your primary heating system and should be used only in extreme circumstances unless you are willing to pay high heating bills.

How does EM heat work?

The heat pump is part of a two-part system that heats homes. It includes the heat pump as well as the auxiliary heating source. The primary heat pump is located outside the house while the second stage heating source can be found inside.

This second heating stage can be used to provide heat as an additional source when your heat pump is unable to extract heat from outside. Different thermostats and systems have different ways of activating this secondary source. This secondary heat source is usually activated when the temperature drops below a set threshold.

The heat pump is located outside most homes and collects frost on the coils. This secondary source kicks in when the heat pumps are temporarily turned off to defrost the unit. It is therefore not necessary to change the EM heat setting manually. The thermostat will usually indicate when the setting has been turned on with light.

This secondary heating system can be turned on by you, but it is usually automatic and used in conjunction with your primary heating system. This is what you call “EM heat”

When should I use EM heat?

Many homeowners aren’t sure when they should use emergency heat. But it’s easy: emergency heat is for emergencies only.

Some people think that this is an option for extra-cold days or when they require additional warmth. However, they will be disappointed when they receive their heating bill. 

Your heating system will activate your backup heating system when the temperature drops below freezing.

When should you activate your EM heating? If your heat pump breaks, emergency heating should only be activated. You should not use emergency heating for longer than necessary to fix your heating system.

Examples of Emergencies

You may need to have your heating system repaired if it isn’t keeping your home warm. If your primary heat pump freezes and won’t defrost, you can turn on your emergency heat while you wait for a service technician to inspect it.

Are You afraid of accidentally turning on your EM heat?

Don’t panic if you accidentally turn on your emergency heat and are desperately searching the internet for “how to turn it off emergency heat” You can turn off your emergency heat just like you did to turn it on.

How EM Heat Works With Your Heat Pump

Heat pumps work by drawing in heat from outside. The heat pump’s emergency heat will turn on and off when it gets too cold outside. The secondary heating system will then be used by your heating system. If your heat pump switches to backup heat in cold temperatures, it is a sign that something is wrong and should be checked by a technician.

However, activating your EM Heat manually sets off a different set of events. The main heat pump will be bypassed and the system will go into an auxiliary mode. The system then uses the indoor unit only as a heat source and relies on the backup heat source for heat. From where does emergency heat come? It could be an electric heat strip, a backup gas furnace, or oil. You can expect higher operating costs if your EM heat system is electric.

How Much Does it Cost to Use an EM Heat pump?

EM Heat is more efficient than a heat pump-based system. Therefore, it should not be used long-term. Because backup systems such as an electric strip and gas furnace are less efficient at pulling in heat, this is why EM Heat can be costly. The electric strip runs on electricity but it is known to increase electric bills.

What happens if you turn on emergency heating?

When your thermostat is set to emergency heat, the heat pump will cease trying to heat your home from the outside. It will instead use the backup heat strip to heat your home. Your heat pump is now an electric furnace.

Is it ok to use emergency heat?

The short answer is no. Your energy bills will go up if you switch your thermostat to emergency heat, or “em warmth”, just because it is cold outside. If your heat pump isn’t heating your home, don’t turn on emergency heat. For assistance, contact a professional heat pump technician.

Can emergency heat set off a fire?

It is more common to have a furnace in the city limits than to have heat pumps outside of the city limits. They can both fail, leading to an HVAC system overheating and possibly a fire. The majority of heat pump systems include an air handler, which is often equipped with an emergency heat package or auxiliary heat.

Is the emergency heat activated automatically?

The emergency heat setting turns on automatically when the outside temperature drops below a set temperature. This is usually 30 degrees Fahrenheit. To manually turn your heat pump on, contact an HVAC professional.

What are the disadvantages of emergency heat?

Supplemental heat is more expensive to run than a heat-pump.

At What temperature are heat pumps ineffective?

Most heat pumps will not work as well when temperatures fall to between 25-40 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature for a heat pump is 40 degrees. Heat pumps lose efficiency once outdoor temperatures fall below 40 degrees. They also consume more energy to perform their job.

Is it ok to leave a heat pump on constantly?

Heat pumps are the best way to heat your home in the colder months. However, they can be expensive and not cost-effective. Energywise recommends that you turn off your heat pump whenever you aren’t using it. This is to prevent excessive energy waste.

Why would you need emergency heat?

The Emergency Heat, or Auxiliary Heat, is the second stage in your heating system. It is used when outside heat is not sufficient to heat the home. This is typically below 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

Are heat pumps able to work below 20°?

A heat pump can be used at any temperature as long as it switches to emergency heat when the temperature drops below 25-30 degrees Fahrenheit. If it becomes too cold, the heat pump will recognize it and switch to an alternative emergency heat setting.

When is it time to turn off the heat?

Experts recommend that the indoor temperature be below 64 degrees Fahrenheit. This threshold may need to be higher if you have children, seniors, or are sick. When you go to sleep, lower the thermostat.

Are emergency heat services more expensive?

Use of emergency heat may result in higher heating bills. Emergency heat is more costly than its regular counterpart. If you do need it, you’ll likely see an increase in your utility bill. Emergency heat should be used for as short a time as possible.

What is the cost of emergency heat?

You can see that there is an increase in the price of emergency heat in extreme weather.

Do I need to turn down my heat pump at night?

It’s easy to forget about it. The best heat pumps work when they maintain a constant temperature. It is not recommended to lower the temperature at night or when you are away from the home, such as at work or school. This can cause significant changes in your ability to manage a gas furnace or baseboard heating system.

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