The Investigation
What is an Emergency Heat Strip?
The heating strip in a heat pump, often called electric resistance heating or an emergency heat strip, is an auxiliary heating component designed to provide additional warmth under certain conditions. Heat pumps are incredibly efficient for heating and cooling a home by transferring heat from the outside air into the house during the winter and vice versa during the summer. However, their efficiency can drop in extremely cold conditions when there isn’t enough heat in the outside air to meet the home’s heating demand.
This is where the heating strip comes into play. It’s essentially a set of electric resistance coils, similar to what you might find in a toaster but on a larger scale. When the heat pump can’t extract enough heat from the outside air to warm the home to the desired temperature, the heating strip activates to provide additional heat. This process is much less efficient than the heat pump’s normal operation because it relies on electric resistance heating, which consumes more electricity to produce heat.
The homeowner can manually activate the heating strip if they need additional warmth, or the heat pump system can automatically trigger it under certain conditions, such as when the outside temperature drops below a point where the heat pump alone can’t efficiently heat the home. This auxiliary heating helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature even during cold weather.
It’s important to note that while heating strips provide a valuable backup heat source, relying on them too heavily can lead to increased energy costs. Therefore, they are best used sparingly, only when necessary to supplement the heat pump’s output during cold periods.
Ignoring a Faulty Heating Strip
Ignoring a faulty heating strip can lead to dire consequences for the comfort of your home and your wallet. Without this critical component functioning correctly, the heat pump must work overtime, struggling to maintain even a barely comfortable temperature. This relentless operation leads to increased wear and tear on the system and spikes in energy consumption as the unit fights a losing battle against the cold. The cost? Substantially higher utility bills and the looming threat of a complete system breakdown.
Moreover, the emergency heat mode (signaled by “AUX” on the thermostat) is significantly less efficient than the heat pump’s standard operation. Due to an unchecked heating strip issue, prolonged reliance on this mode could lead to excessive energy costs. And let’s not forget the potential price of procrastination—a complete system failure requiring an expensive replacement rather than a more manageable repair.
The Resolution: Warmth Restored
Mike’s process was nothing short of forensic. He carefully dismantled the necessary components to access the heating strip, inspecting each part keenly. Upon finding the faulty coil, he explained its function and failure to the homeowners.
Mike replaced the faulty heating strip with a new, fully functional one.
Mike’s dedication to his craft was evident from diagnosis to solution. He left the homeowners with a repaired heating system, a deeper understanding of how their home stays warm, and the peace of mind from knowing their system was in capable hands.
As the heat once again flowed through the vents, filling the home with warmth, the mystery of the unwarming home was solved. The homeowners could finally shed their layers of blankets, thanks to Mike’s expertise and the detailed care he took in solving the case. It was a reminder that behind every cold case in the HVAC world, a story of a Hillside tech is ready to solve the case.
Do you have an unsolved mystery with your HVAC system?
A case of unexplained drafts, unseasonal chills, or a thermostat that seems to have a mind of its own? Reach out to the experts, and let’s crack your cold case together.
Stay tuned for more episodes from “Hillside’s Cold Case Files,” where we unravel the mysteries of home comfort, one case at a time. Remember, in the world of HVAC mysteries, leaving it to the professionals isn’t just a suggestion—it’s the solution.
