Kinty Jones warns homeowners about two thermostat settings that can spike winter bills

Kinty Jones Heating and Cooling says Northwest Arkansas homeowners often confuse AUX heat with EM HEAT, a mix-up that can drive up electric bills during winter. The company is urging heat pump users to check thermostat settings before the first cold snap and avoid large overnight setbacks that trigger costly backup heat.

Why it matters: - Northwest Arkansas sits in a mixed climate where heat pumps are common and backup heat runs more often than in mild regions. - Confusing AUX heat with EM HEAT can turn a routine cold-weather setting into one of the most expensive mistakes a heat pump owner can make. - Large thermostat setbacks can also trigger electric resistance backup and erase overnight savings.

What happened: - Kinty Jones Heating and Cooling is urging homeowners across Northwest Arkansas to check thermostat settings before the heating season changes over. - The company is warning that many homeowners do not understand the difference between auxiliary heat and emergency heat. - Kinty Jones says the confusion can show up on winter electric bills after a homeowner leaves emergency heat on.

The details: - AUX heat is automatic and kicks in when the heat pump cannot meet demand alone. - On a common all-electric system, the heat pump and electric strips run together during auxiliary heat. - AUX heat also engages during defrost cycles, when the heat pump briefly reverses to warm the outdoor coil. - EM HEAT is a manual choice that stops the compressor and runs the backup source alone. - On an electric system, EM HEAT turns the air handler into an electric furnace. - Trane describes emergency heat as a setting for a true emergency, meaning the heat pump has failed and it is cold outside. - Honeywell’s thermostat guidance says AUX can run with the compressor, while EM HT stops the compressor and runs only the emergency source. - Kinty Jones says one common pattern is a homeowner who switches to emergency heat in December and forgets to switch it back. - Dropping the thermostat sharply overnight can cause a large morning recovery load that brings in the strips. - The Department of Energy advises minimizing electric resistance backup use and recommends thermostats that ramp temperature up gradually. - Manufacturer guidance also recommends keeping the thermostat in normal HEAT mode, using small setbacks, and raising temperature a degree or two at a time. - Frequent auxiliary heat use in mild weather can signal an undersized system, a dirty filter, or a heat pump that needs service. - If it is 40 degrees or above outside and the home will not hold temperature without emergency heat, the heat pump needs attention rather than more backup. - Kinty Jones recommends confirming the thermostat is set to HEAT rather than EM HEAT before the first cold morning. - Kinty Jones also advises homeowners to identify whether backup heat is electric strips or a furnace. - The company offers an $89 diagnostic and around-the-clock support at (479) 899-7415.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects how heat pumps behave in the region’s in-between winter weather, where backup heat can be necessary but expensive if used incorrectly. - The guidance also treats backup heat as a diagnostic tool, not just a comfort feature, which can help homeowners spot service issues early.

What's next: - Homeowners are being urged to inspect thermostat settings before the first cold snap. - Households with frequent AUX heat use or poor temperature recovery should schedule service while appointment calendars are still open. - Kinty Jones says early inspection can reduce the odds of an avoidable winter bill spike.

The bottom line: - In Northwest Arkansas, the difference between AUX and EM HEAT can be the difference between normal winter operation and a much higher electric bill.