Heat Pump Aux heat question....

[farbeondriven]

Do they have an electric water heater?
If they have an old fashioned rotary type electric meter outside, you can stand and watch the wheel speed up and slow down when the Aux. heat kicks in and out. If it's spinning fast when you know the aux heat is not on, then they have another issue.

yes electric water heater.......I know when the aux heat is on and off as I cycled all the controls and confirmed via amp draw

[farbeondriven]

ranging anywhere from 20-35 would be my guess for an average for od temerature at night

[Core_d]

Im no expert, but heat pumps arnt to efficient in the 20s right? 5 Kw is 1.5 tons, what kind of BTUs would the house need at those temps? Not to mention longer defrosts.

[Dowdhvac]

Do they have an electric water heater?
If they have an old fashioned rotary type electric meter outside, you can stand and watch the wheel speed up and slow down when the Aux. heat kicks in and out. If it's spinning fast when you know the aux heat is not on, then they have another issue.

Or you could just check the amp draw of the aux/emer heat....