What is the EM heat on the Honeywell thermostat?
To put it into simple words, the EM stands for the emergency heating system. It is a popular feature that is built into the Honeywell thermostats.
It enables a user to switch to an auxiliary or backup heating source in an event where the primary heating source is no longer functional. And it uses a backup electrical heating strip to maintain the temperature within the building.
We are here to help you learn how to properly and effectively use the EM heat on the Honeywell thermostat system.
Honeywell heating pumps
The Honeywell heating system comes equipped with three basic heating pumps or heating systems:
Primary heating pump
It is the standard heating setting for the Honeywell heating system. In this mode, the heating unit sucks hot air from the environment and warms the indoors and vice versa.
Auxiliary heating pump
When the heat provided by the primary heat pump is insufficient to maintain the indoor temperature, the heating system activates the auxiliary heating pump. The auxiliary heating pump uses an electrical heating strip as its heat source.
Tertiary furnace pump
In such an event that disables the electrical heating strip, the auxiliary heating pump will switch to a gas furnace as its default heat source. A user may manually divert from an electrical to a gas heat source for budgeting purposes.
When to switch to Emergency heating:
Few precedents would require enabling the emergency heating setting on your Honeywell thermostat. Some of which are:
In extreme weather conditions, the heat output of the primary heat pump might not be enough to raise the internal temperature of the room or building. It is advised to switch the emergency heating on, In such extreme conditions. The additional boost from the backup heating source would help maintain the required indoor temperature. Suppose a tree has fallen on your primary heat pump, or a squirrel has chewed up the electrical lines, and the main heating pump is not functioning. In such unfortunate situations switching to the emergency-heating pump would be appropriate.
What does switching to emergency heating actually do?
The working and function of an emergency heating system are the same as the primary heating system. The only differences are as follows:
The heating system is now relying on the secondary heating pump to supplement the necessary heat to maintain the internal temperature of a room or building. The emergency heating system uses a secondary heating source, which is either an electrical heating strip or a gas furnace.
Beware of when and how long to use the EM heating!
As stated before, the emergency system is “only for emergencies.” There are some proper reasons why that is, too. Before converting to Emergency heating, a user must also consider additional factors. Some of which are as follows:
Skyrocketing Utility bills:
The heating units used in the emergency heating system are not as energy-efficient as the primary sources. So, if left for a prolonged time, the utility bills would be considerably higher when compared to using primary heating sources. In addition, the secondary heating systems are designed to provide a greater output of heat, so they use as many resources as well. Just something to keep in mind when switching to the emergency heating setting.
Do not use Manual switching if possible:
Unless there is something wrong with the automatic switch of the Honeywell emergency heating system, it is recommended not to manually switch to the emergency heating system. The manual switching requires the user to manually reset the primary heating system. And if not careful, the heating system would remain stuck in the auxiliary setting without the user’s knowledge.
Conclusion
Well, folks, that is all! We have covered in detail, what the Honeywell thermostat em is, how it works, and when to use it.
Just take care not to overuse the setting. Because folks, the em is made for emergency situations. Prolonged use could wear out the internal mechanisms of the units and lead to further headaches down the road. Also, keep an eye on the thermostat. We do not want you good folk to pay more than needed.
The following are some commonly asked questions
Where is the indicator that my emergency heating system is on?
The Honeywell thermostats have built-in lights to indicate if the emergency heating is on or not. So, keep a look out for an indicator light next to the emergency heating button. And that is the surest way of knowing if the em heating is on or not.
How expensive is it to use emergency heating for a prolonged time?
Short answer, Yes. It is expensive to use emergency heating for a prolonged time. Usually, emergency heating uses gas or electrical strips to supply heat, which can be a burden to upkeep.
Do I have to manually switch to emergency heating?
No, Honeywell emergency heating is an automatic process. The units have built-in sensors that allow the system to know when to divert the heating systems. That being said, manual switching is enabled but is generally not encouraged due to previously stated reasons.
What’s the difference between regular and emergency heating?
The difference is in the heat source used in each setting’s function. Primary heating uses the environmental heat to warm the indoors, whereas emergency heating uses electrical heating strips or gas furnaces (which have a greater output but are more expensive).
