If your electric bill seems high this winter, the culprit may be your heat strips. Think of them as the “gas pedal” of your heating system—when activated, they significantly increase energy consumption, much like burning rubber on the road.

What Are Heat Strips?

Heat strips are the emergency or auxiliary part of your heat pump, used when temperatures are exceptionally cold or when the system performs tasks like defrosting. While necessary at times, they use more energy than regular heat pump operations. When the thermostat is raised too quickly, your system switches into auxiliary mode, activating the heat strips and driving up your costs.

Small Adjustments, Big Savings To avoid using heat strips unnecessarily, make gradual adjustments to your thermostat. If you lower the temperature while sleeping or when you’re away, avoid raising it more than two degrees at a time when you return. Raising it too quickly triggers auxiliary heating mode, using more energy.

Use a Programmable Thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to control the temperature remotely and ensures the system only uses heat strips when necessary. This way, you can warm up your home without increasing energy use.

The Cost of Heat Strips. Normally, running a heat pump costs around 30 to 35 cents per hour. But when the heat strips are activated, the cost jumps to about $1.30 per hour. If your system is running in auxiliary mode without extreme weather conditions or drastic thermostat changes, it may need servicing. Contact a licensed professional to prevent unnecessary energy use.

Save on Energy Bills. Though we can’t control the weather, we can control how we adjust our thermostat. By making small adjustments and only raising your thermostat in 2 degree increments and using a programmable thermostat, you can keep your system running more efficiently and save on your energy bill. For more tips, visit the EnergyWise section at joemc.com.