All heat pumps are armed with emergency heat switches. This switch is meant to be utilized as its name implies—when there is an emergency. The emergency heat switch will turn on a strip, or strips, of electric heat and turn your heat pump off. When the temperature outside drops below 40 degrees, many Alice residents will flip the switch in order to make it warmer. While this will do the job, we don’t recommend it. When your system works in this emergency mode, it can utilize a lot of energy and send your utility bills skyrocketing.

Rescue Heating & Air advises only flipping on your emergency heat switch if your heat pump has stopped heating your home. When it’s cooler outside and it seems like your heat pump is constantly running, let it do its job. It’s actually much more efficient to let your heat pump run that it would be if your heat pump is running in its emergency mode.

If it seems that your heat pump isn’t keeping up with the cooler weather in Alice, it’s wise to give Rescue Heating & Air a call. Investing in a backup heating system may save you some expense in the long run. We can install your backup system to work like a dream with your heat pump. So, when it’s so cold that your heat pump can’t pull warmer air into your home, your thermostat can instinctively switch on your backup heating system. This method will keep your home warm and cozy on chilly days—and you can save your emergency heat switch for actual heating emergencies.

If you want to find out more about ways you can supplement your heat pump’s heat supply or find out more about how your heat pump operates, call our experts at 361-265-4371. Our experts are happy to help. If it’s more convenient for you, you can also arrange an appointment with us online using our handy scheduler.