Warren Technology WKS0502
Electric heating element for air handlers and heat pumps. Available for professional installation throughout Greater Los Angeles by LC Heating & Air (CSLB #1073586).
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Understanding Heat Strips
What is it? A heat strip (frequently called an electric resistance heater or auxiliary heat) is a massive grid of coiled, high-resistance wire housed directly inside an air handler. It functions on the exact same thermodynamic principles as a giant industrial toaster, using 240-volt raw electricity to generate blistering heat instantly. It serves primarily as a Stage 2 or Emergency backup heating source for heat pump driven systems.
Why it matters: While heat pumps are incredibly efficient, if the mechanical compressor breaks down in the dead of winter, or a freak deep-freeze rolls through knocking the heat pump's efficiency down, the heat strip guarantees the home remains warm and pipes do not freeze. It provides instantaneous, overwhelmingly powerful heat, though at a significantly higher electricity usage rate than the heat pump.
Signs of Failure
- Pungent, electrical burning smell that lingers well past the initial winter start-up
- System blows frigid air when the thermostat is manually forced into 'Emergency Heat' mode
- Inexplicably high, catastrophic electric bills (indicating the heat strips are stuck in the ON position)
- Tripped high-voltage electrical breakers at the main panel when heating kicks on