Compressor To Aux Heat Delta

Most heat pump thermostats have a setting called “Compressor to Aux Heat Delta,” which is defined as the number of degrees in difference between the set point (desired temperature setting) at the thermostat and the actual indoor temperature. It is a minimum at which the system will turn on the auxiliary heat to run simultaneously with the heat pump as a supplemental “surge” for additional heating capacity. The default number is usually 3º F, but can be adjusted at digital programmable thermostats.

     When you turn the heat setting up to 70º while the indoor temperature is 65º, for example, then the system will add the electric resistance heat coil to hasten the temperature increase. If, however, the indoor temp is 65º and you set the thermostat to 67º, the AUX HEAT will not come on as a supplement. In day-to-day ordinary usage, the system would restart before the temperature differential reaches 3º, so the “Compressor to Aux Heat Delta” setting would only kick in when you do a big temperature setting increase, such as after arriving back from vacation on a cold day.

When AUX Heat Activates

The only two other times that the AUX HEAT should come on are when the outdoor temperature is below approximately 35º—which is when the heat pump can’t produce enough heat by itself—or if the condenser (outdoor unit) is in defrost mode. Otherwise, the heat pump system is malfunctioning and it’s time to call for professional repair.

    Also see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Air Conditioning Troubleshooting

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  To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts: 

• How long does a home thermostat last?

• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner? 

• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong? 

• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner? 

• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump? 

• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?

• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank? 

• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while? 

• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough? 

• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?  

• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs? 

   Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.