When Does a Heat Pump Switch to Emergency Heat?

When you switch your heating system on for the season, the heat will turn on and off as needed to maintain a comfortably warm temperature in your home. However, during extreme weather conditions, you might be wondering, when does a heat pump switch to emergency heat?

When the temperature outside dips below freezing, your heat pump might have trouble transferring enough heat to keep your home cozy. The good news is that most heat pumps have an emergency heat mode. We’ll explain how this mode works and why you want a heat pump to have an emergency heat setting. 



At Inland Empire Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating, we’re Riverside’s professional heater repair team. Our heating experts can help you with all your heat pump needs. Call 951-336-1892 to speak to an HVAC specialist today.

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

A heat pump absorbs the heat from the outdoor air or the earth and uses that heat to warm your home. When the temperature outside gets too cold, there might not be enough heat available to draw in from outside. 

When outdoor temperatures dip into very cold or freezing territory, the heat pump switches to a backup source of heat. The emergency heat mode ensures warmth and comfort in your home, even if outdoor temperatures are below freezing. 

How Does The Emergency Heat Mode Work?

You can find the “emergency heat” mode on your heat pump thermostat. In this mode, the heat pump uses an auxiliary heating system which is a backup heat source of either electric heating strips or a gas furnace. 

So when does a heat pump switch to emergency heat? There are a few instances that can trigger emergency heat mode:

• The outdoor temperature drops below a certain temperature, usually 35 to 40 degrees F
• The heat pump’s standard heating mode is broken
• The power goes out
• The temperature you set on your thermostat is too warm for the heat pump to reach in standard heating mode

Advantages of Heat Pumps with Emergency Heat Modes

Heat pumps are more efficient than traditional heating systems, but a heat pump with emergency heat mode offers even more benefits, including:

• Gas-based emergency heat continues to work even during a power outage
• Emergency heat is more affordable to operate during an emergency compared to other options

Heat pumps with emergency heat keep homes comfortable and safe during a power outage or blizzard and are an energy upgrade for homeowners. Owning a heat pump can actually lower your energy bills and save you money. 

Save Time and Money with Riverside’s Professionals 

It is important to stay comfortable during freezing winters and to know how a heat pump works in cold weather. It’s also great to have a system that can reduce your bills! 

Inland Empire Comfort Air Conditioning & Heating located in Riverside, CA, can help you with all your home heating system needs! Whether your heater has stopped working or you have questions like, “When does a heat pump switch to emergency heat?” we have you covered.

Call us at 951-336-1892 to schedule heat pump installation or repair.