01/28/2026
Activating emergency heat in extremely cold weather is a common recommendation, yet it is not usually the best approach. If emergency heat is required to maintain a comfortable temperature, it likely indicates an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. In a properly functioning system, auxiliary heat and the heat pump work together seamlessly. A correctly sized and installed system should maintain the desired temperature without relying on emergency heat. However, emergency heat may be necessary in certain situations, such as severe weather conditions that impact system performance. Issues with defrost mode and auxiliary heat are common causes of heat pump struggles in cold weather. Here is a more detailed article. I hope this helps.
There has been a lot of advice being tossed around by contractors and builders about the best time to use the emergency heat feature on an all-electric heat pump system. The answer is never! That was easy. Next article… In all seriousness, “Emergency Heat” should be used as described, ONLY dur...