Emergency Heat: What It Is, When to Use It, and When Not To
When winter weather rolls through North Carolina, we hear this question all the time:
“Should I turn on emergency heat?”
It’s a good question — and an important one.
Emergency heat can protect your home and your system in the right situations.
But using it at the wrong time can quietly drive up your power bill and put extra strain on your equipment.
Let’s walk through what emergency heat really does, when it helps, and when it’s better to leave it alone.
🔥 What Is Emergency Heat?
Most homes in our area use heat pumps for heating and cooling.
In normal operation, your heat pump pulls heat from the outdoor air and brings it inside. Even in cold weather, there’s still heat in the air that your system can use.
Emergency heat is your system’s backup heater.
When you turn on emergency heat:
The outdoor unit shuts off
Your system switches to indoor backup heat only
Heat comes from electric heat strips or a backup furnace
Think of it like a spare tire on your car.
It’s not meant for everyday driving — but it’s very helpful when something isn’t working the way it should.
❄️ When Emergency Heat Is a Good Idea
There are times when emergency heat is the right choice.
1. When your outdoor unit is covered in heavy ice
A little frost is normal.
But thick ice on the fan or coils can block airflow and damage the system.
Using emergency heat temporarily allows the outdoor unit to rest and prevents ice from being pulled deeper into the system.
2. When your heat pump isn’t producing warm air
If your system is running but blowing cold air, emergency heat can keep your home warm until the issue is fixed.
This is especially helpful at night or during storms when temperatures drop quickly.
3. During severe winter weather
Freezing rain, long cold stretches, or power fluctuations can all affect heat pump performance.
Emergency heat can help maintain steady warmth and protect your equipment during extreme conditions.
⚠️ When Emergency Heat Is Usually Not Needed
This is where many homeowners accidentally cost themselves money.
Emergency heat is not designed for everyday heating.
You generally should not use it:
Just because it’s cold outside
As your normal winter setting
To heat the house faster
For long periods of time
Why?
Because emergency heat uses a lot more electricity than your heat pump.
Your heat pump is designed to heat efficiently.
Emergency heat is designed to heat quickly and safely — not cheaply.
Leaving it on can cause your energy bill to rise much faster than expected.
💡 A Very Common Situation We See
This happens more often than you’d think:
A homeowner turns on emergency heat during a storm.
The weather clears. But emergency heat stays on for days… or even weeks.
The system keeps running on backup heat, and suddenly the power bill jumps.
Many people don’t realize emergency heat is still on until they call us asking why their bill is so high.
If you’ve used emergency heat recently, it’s always a good idea to double-check your thermostat and switch back to normal heat once conditions improve.
🛠️ How to Tell If You Might Actually Need Emergency Heat
You may want to consider emergency heat if:
The air coming from vents feels cool instead of warm
Your home won’t reach the temperature you set
Your outdoor unit is completely iced over
The outdoor fan is not running at all
Your system runs constantly but never warms the house
If you’re unsure, that’s okay — most thermostats don’t explain this very clearly.
That’s where a quick phone call can save you money and frustration.
🤝 Our Honest Advice as Local Professionals
Emergency heat is a great safety feature when it’s used the right way.
But using it too often or too long can lead to:
Higher energy bills
Extra wear on your system
Hidden problems going unnoticed
At Thermal Solutions, our goal isn’t to sell you something you don’t need.
We believe in helping homeowners:
Understand their systems
Avoid unnecessary costs
Protect their equipment
Stay comfortable all winter long
Sometimes a simple setting change or small adjustment makes all the difference.
📞 Have Questions About Your System?
If your heat pump is icing up, not heating properly, or you’re unsure when to use emergency heat, we’re always happy to help.
Thermal Solutions HVAC
📞 (919) 892-5499
🌐 www.thermalsolutionsnc.com
Honest service. Small-town values. Real answers you can trust.
