how much more expensive is emergency heat
Emergency heat is usually far more expensive than normal heat from a heat pump—often around 2–5 times more per unit of heat, and in some situations up to about 6 times more. Because of that, it is meant only for short-term use when the main heat pump cannot keep up or has failed.
What “emergency heat” actually is
- In a typical heat pump system, “normal” heat comes from the heat pump moving heat from outside air into your home, which is very efficient.
- Emergency (or AUX) heat usually uses electric resistance strips or a separate gas/oil furnace as backup when the pump can’t keep up or breaks.
- Many thermostats let you manually switch to EM HEAT, which forces the system to use only that backup heat source.
How much more expensive it is
- For all‑electric systems with heat strips, emergency heat commonly costs about 2–5 times as much as running the normal heat pump to deliver the same heat.
- Some HVAC pros and utilities note that in cold snaps, relying on emergency heat can push costs even higher, up to roughly 6× compared with standard heat pump operation.
- Gas or oil backup can be less extreme: it is still generally more expensive than the heat pump, but how much more depends on local fuel prices and furnace efficiency.
When using it makes sense
- When the outdoor unit is broken, frozen over, or not running at all, emergency heat is there to keep the house from getting dangerously cold until service arrives.
- During rare, very low temperatures where the heat pump simply cannot maintain the setpoint, a short stint on emergency heat can keep rooms livable, but you will pay a premium on your bill.
Simple ways to avoid bill shock
- Keep the thermostat at a modest, steady setting (around 68°F is a common recommendation) so the system does not constantly call for AUX/EM heat.
- Improve insulation, seal drafts, and close doors to unused rooms so the heat pump can do more of the work without needing the backup strips.
- For spot comfort (like one room where you sit or sleep), a properly used portable space heater can use less power than running whole‑house emergency heat, though safety rules must be followed carefully.
Quick takeaway for “how much more expensive”
- Expect emergency heat on an all‑electric heat pump to cost roughly 2–5× more than normal heat, with worst‑case situations approaching about 6× more.
- Because of that, treat emergency heat as a last‑resort backup, not as your everyday heating mode.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.