As soon as winter hits your city, the first thing you do is rush to your thermostat. The thermostat is a savior, especially in areas with fluctuating temperatures.
For those of you who do not know what a thermostat is, It is that device, probably in the living space of your house, that is used to regulate the inside temperature. A truly amazing device that ensures controlled temperature inside your house and allows you to adjust it to make you feel comfortable and cozy.
The working of a Honeywell thermostat reset is basic and usually does not require changes/fixtures for years. However, there might be a chance that you get alarmed by slight changes on the display board.
If your thermostat says “Aux Heat,” then you do not necessarily have to panic as it is a fundamental update.
Understanding the Basics of Honeywell Thermostat
The Honeywell Thermostat is most likely to have a heat pump, and if you can see “Aux Heat” written on it, then it is related to the heat pump in your device.
Heat Pump is solely responsible for regulating the temperature by transferring heat from one area to another. When your house feels all chilly and comfortable during summers, the heat pump takes the inside air and transfers it out, and vice versa during winters.
If there is any glitch in the heat transfer depending on the temperature you have set, the thermostat is bound to give you an update.
What is Auxiliary Heat on Honeywell Thermostat
Now that you know the basics, you might be wondering where auxiliary heat comes from.
Your Honeywell Thermostat has an air handler which does the job of electric heating. Auxiliary heating and emergency heating are both functions of the air handler that works continuously during winter. The auxiliary heating system works along with the heat pump to maintain the temperature of your house.
In any case, when the desired temperature is not met, the thermostat is built to automatically activate the auxiliary heating, resulting in the “Aux Heat” message on the display screen. Depending on the model of pump heat in your thermostat, the auxiliary heating is automatically managed, while in some cases, you have to manually change the set temperature of your house to meet the thermostat’s heating level.
What Causes the Auxiliary Heat to Turn On?
Auxiliary heat works in conjunction with the heat pump, but at times, it might fail to meet the requirements of your house, which leads to the Aux Heat ” message.
This is not an indication of worry, so you need not panic. The “Aux Heat” message is turned on due to two main reasons-
Lack of Heat Generation
The fundamental reason for the message is to give you an update that the heat pump is unable to generate enough heat to meet your desired temperature. In such situations, the heat pump shifts the work on auxiliary heating to keep the space warm but this should not be the default setting for long hours.
“Defrost Mode” is on
If you can see icing on the front unit of your heat pump, this is an indication that your device has “defrost mode” on. The Honeywell device automatically activates the mode to melt the formation of ice inside the heat pump. During this period, it is the auxiliary heating system that does the job of keeping the space warm, and therefore, you see “Aux Heat” written on the display board.
Faulty Device
If you can not detect the above two reasons, then it might be time to consult a professional, as there can be an issue with the valve, compressor, or condenser of the device.
Additional Tip: Auxiliary heat is usually on for a maximum of 30 minutes. If you find it on every time you turn on your thermostat or if the Aux Heat lasts for more than 30 minutes, you should get the device checked by a professional.
How to Stop Auxiliary Heat from Coming On
If you stay in the US, especially in the North Eastern parts, it becomes nearly impossible to completely control auxiliary heating. This is simply because of the fluctuating temperature. However, you can actively keep a check to avoid frequent “Aux Heat” by-
- Keeping the Thermostat temperature low
- Close the doors and vents of rooms that are not in use for the time being
- Ensure that your room has natural warmth and coziness.
- Seasonal Heating Tune-up
- Frequent servicing from a professional
- Honeywell thermostat reset
Round Up!
The thermostat is a simple device for telling you the temperature of your house. It is the heat-up that does all the backhand jobs and ensures the maintenance of the desired temperature, which can, at times, lead to slight fault.
You do not need to panic with the “Aux Heat ” symbol as it is just an update that your device will control itself, or you can do it by changing the desired temperature from the thermostat.
Auxiliary heating is an amazing addition to the Honeywell Thermostat, as it protects you from manually changing the heating system. Remember that Auxiliary heating and Emergency heating are different.
The latter is used to manually shift the load of heating from the heat pump’s shoulder.
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