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Heating & Heat Pumps

What is Auxiliary (Emergency) Heat Strips?

Auxiliary heat strips are electric resistance heating elements installed in a heat pump's indoor air handler. They supplement the heat pump automatically during very cold weather, defrost cycles, or large thermostat increases. Emergency heat is the same strips run alone, manually selected when the heat pump itself is not working; resistance heat costs considerably more to run.

Why it matters to you

Most Charleston heat pump homes have strips, and in our climate they should run only on rare frigid nights. Strips running constantly in mild weather usually signal a heat pump problem that is quietly raising your bill.

Practical guidance

Avoid big thermostat jumps with a heat pump, since large increases can trigger the strips; gentle setbacks or a steady setting usually cost less. Use emergency heat only as a temporary measure while waiting for service.

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