Understanding Your Home’s Heating System

January 1, 2024

As we begin the new year, the warmth of our home is essential in fighting the winter chill. But have you ever wondered what type of heating system keeps you cozy? Each heating system will keep you warm, whether it’s a gas, electric, or oil furnace, an electric heat pump, or a dual-fuel system. As your electric provider, we aim to provide you with all the tools to identify what system you have in your home and how to operate your unit for the highest efficiency in the long run.
What type of heating system do you have?
If your thermostat has an emergency/auxiliary heat option, you most likely have a heat pump as your primary heating source, with an electric or gas supplemental heat source.
If your thermostat does not have an emergency/auxiliary heat selection, you have a gas, oil, or electric furnace as your primary heating source for your home.
If you determine your primary heat source is a heat pump, adjust your thermostat to heat mode in two–degree increments or less. Raising the thermostat more than two degrees above the room’s temperature will activate the emergency heat. The emergency heat should only run when the heat pump goes into a defrost cycle when the outside temperature drops below 32 degrees. Once the heat pump cycles to defrost, it will rely solely on the emergency/auxiliary heat to maintain the home’s thermostat setting. If you notice your emergency/auxiliary heat is operating and the outside temperature does not justify it, verify your thermostat setting. If your settings are correct, then contact a professional HVAC company to inspect your unit.