Pump the brakes on use of auxiliary heat

Heat pump customers, this is for you: The less you use auxiliary heat to help warm your home, the more energy efficient you’ll be, which will likely make your monthly bill a bit more manageable.

With your thermostat set on “Heat,” auxiliary heat automatically kicks in during very cold weather (usually under 40 degrees Fahrenheit) when your heat pump is unable to maintain the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat. (A heat pump does not create heat. It absorbs heat energy from the outside air – even in cold temperatures – and transfers it to the indoor air.) A simple way to reduce the use of auxiliary heat is to lower the temperature on your thermostat. The U.S. Energy Department recommends setting it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months. And if you put an extra blanket or two on the bed at night, you could lower it by another degree or two and save even more.

We also recommend having a licensed professional conduct a thorough checkup to make sure your heat pump is in the best working order possible.