When checking an electric furnace, the technician should check what?

A technician checking an electric furnace should verify the sequencers, heat strip elements, high-limit switches, and thermal fuses, then confirm proper amperage draw on each strip using a clamp meter. In Tampa Bay's humid climate, corroded terminals and tripped limits are the most common causes of heat strips failing to energize. Home Therapist includes a FREE diagnosis on every visit.

Are heat strips safe?

Yes, heat strips are safe when they are installed correctly and the air handler is maintained. They are electric resistance heaters with built-in safety limit switches and fuses that shut them off if they overheat. Warning signs include a burning smell, a tripped breaker or discolored wiring. Turn the system off and call us for a FREE diagnosis.

How to test electric heat strips with a multimeter?

Turn the power off at the breaker, disconnect the wires, and set the meter to ohms. A good element reads continuity, usually a low resistance. No reading means it is burned out. Also check the sequencer and thermal limit. Heat strips are high voltage, so call us for a FREE diagnosis.

How many amps should heat strips pull?

It depends on the kW size of the kit and the voltage. Divide watts by volts: a 5 kW strip on 240V pulls about 21 amps. Each kit's nameplate lists its rated amps, and the breaker and wire must match. A strip pulling zero amps while heat is called for has failed.

What thermostat do HVAC techs recommend?

Techs commonly recommend a reliable Wi-Fi thermostat such as an Ecobee or Google Nest, as long as it is compatible with your system. Heat pumps with heat strips need correct emergency heat wiring and settings. We install both brands, and every AC install package includes a thermostat.

How to use ecobee thermostat?

Set the mode to Heat, Cool or Auto, then touch the screen or use the app to set the temperature. Create a schedule so it adjusts when you are away. With a heat pump, confirm the equipment type is set correctly so the heat strips only run when needed. Call us if setup gets confusing.

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Heating Troubleshooting

Heat Strips Not Working?

Tampa cold snap below 40°F, heat pump backup heat strips not kicking on? Common + usually fixable. CAC1819196.

Heat strips not kicking on? We test the breaker, sequencer and elements and quote the repair before any work starts.

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At a glance

Check first: The heat strip breaker; it is separate from the AC breaker
Quick test: Set Em Heat, wait 2 minutes and feel a vent; cold air means dead strips
When strips run: Below about 40 degrees outside, when the heat pump cannot keep up
Usual failures: Sequencer, contactor, burned element, limit switch or control wire
Sequencer replacement: $449 to $549
Contactor replacement: $279
Running Em Heat: About 3 times the cost of normal heat pump heating
Test before winter: Run the Em Heat test in October

Reviewed by Richard Morales, Co-Owner & FL Class B Air Conditioning Contractor (FL license CAC1819196)Updated Oct 15, 2026

Quick Answer

Heat strips failing in Tampa = (1) tripped breaker (separate from AC breaker), (2) failed relay/contactor ($279), (3) burned heat strip element ($279 labor, heater kit priced separately), or (4) wiring issue ($779 low voltage cable). Heat strips are rarely-used in Tampa so failures hide until cold snap. FREE diagnosis. Call (813) 343-2212.

Heat Strip Failure Causes

Tripped Breaker

DIY possible

Symptom: Separate 60A breaker for heat strips. Tripped = no heat strip power.

Reset breaker. If trips again: call.

Failed Relay

Call a tech

Symptom: Heat strips don’t engage when thermostat calls for aux heat.

Relay replacement $279.

Burned Heater Kit

Call a tech

Symptom: Strip element burned out. Breaker may trip.

Heater kit replacement $279 labor simple, $850 with wiring, with the kit itself priced separately.

Low Voltage Wiring

Call a tech

Symptom: Thermostat not sending aux heat signal.

Low voltage cable replacement $779.

Why Heat Strips Rarely Matter and Suddenly Do (Tampa Climate Context)

Tampa Bay winters are mild, which is exactly why heat strip failures sneak up on homeowners. Your electric heat strips only engage when outdoor temperatures drop below roughly 40°F, and Tampa sees that kind of weather only a few days a year. The rest of the winter, your heat pump handles heating duty on its own by pulling warmth from outdoor air, and the strips sit idle inside your air handler.

An open air handler showing the blower and coil in Tampa, FL 33618.

That rarity is the problem. A burnt-out heat strip element or dead sequencer can sit undiagnosed for 10 or 11 months out of the year without anyone noticing. Then a cold snap rolls in from the Midwest, temperatures dip into the upper 30s overnight, and homeowners wake up at 4 AM to a 58°F house. We get the bulk of our heat strip calls the week after Christmas and the first two weeks of January.

Emergency Heat vs Auto Mode: What Actually Happens

Your thermostat has two heat settings for a reason. In Auto mode, the system runs the heat pump first and only kicks in the strips when outdoor temps drop low enough that the heat pump alone cannot keep up. In Emergency Heat (Em Heat), the heat pump is completely bypassed and the electric strips run alone as your only heat source.

This matters for diagnosis. If you switch your thermostat to Em Heat and nothing warm comes out of the vents after 2 or 3 minutes, your strips are confirmed dead. The heat pump is out of the picture in that mode, so cold vent air in Em Heat points directly at the strips, the sequencer, or the contactor.

How to Test Before the Cold Snap Arrives

We recommend every Tampa homeowner run a 2-minute heat strip test in October each year. Flip the thermostat to Em Heat, set it 3 degrees above room temperature, and wait 2 minutes. Put your hand on a supply vent. Warm air means your strips are working. If something feels off, call us for a FREE diagnosis before December.

The 5 Causes of Heat Strip Failure in Tampa Homes

Open electrical panel with wiring in Brandon, FL 33511. — Electrical Panel Wiring in Brandon, FL 33511

Open HVAC unit showing components in Wesley Chapel, FL 32317. — Open HVAC Unit Components – Wesley Chapel, FL 32317

Cause	What Fails	Typical Repair Cost	How Common
Failed sequencer	Controls staged activation of strip banks, wears out from thermal cycling	$449 to $549	Most common
Failed contactor	Relay that energizes the strip circuit, pitted or welded contacts	$279 to $349	Common
Open-circuit element	Burnt out nichrome wire inside the strip assembly	$349 to $499 per element	Common
Tripped limit switch	Safety shutoff triggered by overheating, often from a dirty filter or blocked return	$279 reset + FREE diagnosis of root cause	Less common
Low-voltage control fault	Thermostat wire break or bad W2 signal, strips never get the call for heat	$279 to $449	Least common

What a Tech Actually Measures

A single 5kW heat strip pulls roughly 20 to 22 amps at 240 volts. A 10kW strip pulls 40 to 45 amps. Most Tampa air handlers have a 10kW or 15kW total strip package, which means our clamp meter should read between 40 and 60 amps on the strip circuit when the thermostat calls for Em Heat. If we clamp the wire and see 0 amps with the thermostat calling, the fault is upstream in the sequencer, contactor, or control wire.

Is Running Emergency Heat All Day a Problem?

Yes, and your power bill will tell you so. Emergency Heat costs roughly three times more to run than normal heat pump operation because you have bypassed the efficient part of the system and are heating purely with electric resistance.

Reading amps with a clamp meter during HVAC service in Tampa, FL 33610.

Let’s run the math on Tampa rates. TECO and Duke charge around $0.14 per kWh. A 10kW heat strip running at full capacity pulls 10 kWh per hour, which costs $1.40 per hour. During a cold snap, strips typically run 6 to 8 hours a day. That works out to $8.40 to $11.20 per day in strip usage alone. A 5-day cold snap adds $42 to $56 to your bill.

Signs Your Strips Are Running When They Should Not Be

Heat pump reversing valve stuck, so the outdoor unit cannot switch to heat mode
Defrost board failing, which can lock the system into a defrost loop
Outdoor coil iced over in cold damp weather, blocking airflow
Thermostat miscalibrated or set to Em Heat accidentally

If your heat pump is blowing cold air during a cold snap, the issue is usually in the outdoor unit, not the strips. See our heat pump blowing cold air guide.

60-Second DIY Self-Diagnostic Flowchart

Set your thermostat to Heat mode, temperature 5 degrees above current room temp. Wait 3 minutes.
Put your palm flat on a supply vent. If vent air feels warm, system is working. If cold, go to step 3.
Look outside at the condenser unit. Is it running and the fan spinning?
Outdoor unit NOT running + vent is cold = strips are the primary failure.
Outdoor unit IS running + vent is cold = heat pump problem, not strips.
Switch thermostat to Emergency Heat (Em Heat) mode. Wait 2 minutes.
Check vent again. Warm air in Em Heat mode = strips work, heat pump is the issue. Cold air in Em Heat = strips are dead.

Florida Code Corner: Heat Strip Installation in Tampa

Replacing individual heating elements and sequencers inside an existing heat kit does not require a permit in Hillsborough County. Replacing the full air handler or heat kit assembly as a unit requires a mechanical permit under Florida Building Code Section 1006 and must be pulled by a contractor holding a valid CAC license. Home Therapist holds CAC1819196 and pulls every required permit on system replacements. Call (813) 343-2212 to confirm what your specific job requires before any work begins.

Florida Statute 553.885 requires CO detectors in all dwellings with fuel-burning appliances. While electric heat strips do not produce CO, many air handlers share a utility space with a gas water heater. That combination requires working CO protection on that floor. Home Therapist checks CO detector presence on every heating service call.

Tampa Seasonal Failure Pattern: When Heat Strip Problems Surface

Tampa heat strips pass an entire year with almost no use. That long dormancy means failures cluster predictably at specific points in the heating season, not randomly throughout the year.

Late October: First cold fronts drop overnight lows into the 50s. Homeowners switch from cooling to heating for the first time since February. A sequencer that developed a fault over the summer sits dormant all fall until the first genuine cold call: then it either works or trips the breaker immediately.
November: Sustained cool weather in the 40s demands the heat pump plus aux heat together for the first time. A burned-out element or a tripped thermal fuse that was invisible all fall reveals itself the moment temperatures require second-stage heat.
December and January: Peak cold snap season. The coldest nights of the year cluster in this window. An air handler running auxiliary heat for 8 to 12 consecutive hours stresses every component that was borderline. This is when partial failures become complete failures.
February: A second or third cold front after January hits a system that barely held through the first round. Elements that were marginal in December fail completely under another prolonged cold period.

The only reliable way to catch heat strip problems before a cold snap is a fall heating test. Switch the system to heat mode for 20 minutes in September or October. If the AUX light does not illuminate and the house warms slowly, schedule a service call before November. Call (813) 343-2212.

What to Do Right Now

Check breaker, separate breaker from AC.
Set thermostat to HEAT + AUX HEAT (or EM HEAT) to force strips on.
Listen for clicks from air handler when strips activate.
Call for FREE diagnosis.

FREE diagnosis. Heater kit: $279 (or $850 with wiring). Relay: $279. Wiring: $779.

What Tampa Bay customers say

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FAQ

When checking an electric furnace, the technician should check what?
A technician checking an electric furnace should verify the sequencers, heat strip elements, high-limit switches, and thermal fuses, then confirm proper amperage draw on each strip using a clamp meter. In Tampa Bay's humid climate, corroded terminals and tripped limits are the most common causes of heat strips failing to energize. Home Therapist includes a FREE diagnosis on every visit.
Are heat strips safe?
Yes, heat strips are safe when they are installed correctly and the air handler is maintained. They are electric resistance heaters with built-in safety limit switches and fuses that shut them off if they overheat. Warning signs include a burning smell, a tripped breaker or discolored wiring. Turn the system off and call us for a FREE diagnosis.
How to test electric heat strips with a multimeter?
Turn the power off at the breaker, disconnect the wires, and set the meter to ohms. A good element reads continuity, usually a low resistance. No reading means it is burned out. Also check the sequencer and thermal limit. Heat strips are high voltage, so call us for a FREE diagnosis.
How many amps should heat strips pull?
It depends on the kW size of the kit and the voltage. Divide watts by volts: a 5 kW strip on 240V pulls about 21 amps. Each kit's nameplate lists its rated amps, and the breaker and wire must match. A strip pulling zero amps while heat is called for has failed.
What thermostat do HVAC techs recommend?
Techs commonly recommend a reliable Wi-Fi thermostat such as an Ecobee or Google Nest, as long as it is compatible with your system. Heat pumps with heat strips need correct emergency heat wiring and settings. We install both brands, and every AC install package includes a thermostat.
How to use ecobee thermostat?
Set the mode to Heat, Cool or Auto, then touch the screen or use the app to set the temperature. Create a schedule so it adjusts when you are away. With a heat pump, confirm the equipment type is set correctly so the heat strips only run when needed. Call us if setup gets confusing.

When do heat strips kick in?

Usually below 40°F outside when heat pump can’t keep up, or during defrost cycle. Tampa uses them only a few nights a year.

Emergency heat mode?

Forces heat strips only, bypassing heat pump. Useful if heat pump is broken. Much higher electric bill.

Why didn't I notice sooner?

Tampa barely uses them. Failure goes unnoticed until a cold snap forces the issue.

Check before winter?

The Home Therapy Club includes a fall AC tune-up ($20 a month per AC system).

What is the difference between Emergency Heat and Auto mode?

Auto mode runs the heat pump first and brings in the electric strips as a supplement when outdoor temps drop. Emergency Heat bypasses the heat pump entirely and runs the strips alone.

How much does it cost to run heat strips in Tampa?

Roughly $2 to $4 per hour for a typical 10kW to 15kW strip package at Tampa electric rates. A full cold snap that triggers strip use for 5 days adds $50 to $150 to your bill.

My heat pump stopped working, should I use Emergency Heat?

Yes, as a stopgap. But call us right away because Em Heat costs about 3 times more than normal heat pump operation.

How do I know if my heat strips burned out?

Run the Em Heat test. Switch the thermostat to Em Heat, wait 2 minutes, and feel a supply vent. Cold air in Em Heat mode confirms the strips are dead.

How often do heat strips need replacement in Tampa?

10 to 15 years is typical. Tampa strips rarely get used, so the elements tend to last longer than the sequencer or contactor controlling them.

Why is my electric bill so high in January?

Heat strips. During cold snaps, strips can add $50 to $150 to a single month’s bill.

Can I run my heat pump without heat strips?

Yes, but it will struggle below 40°F outdoor temps. The strips exist specifically to supplement the heat pump when outdoor air is too cold for the pump to extract enough warmth on its own.

Should I replace my heat strips with a dual-fuel system?

No. Dual-fuel systems make sense in colder climates where strips would run much of the winter. Tampa sees only a few cold days a year, and the gas line install cost does not pay back.

Home Therapist serves all of Tampa Bay. HVAC license CAC1819196. Call (813) 343-2212 for FREE diagnosis on any heat strip or heat pump issue.

Can I test whether my heat strips are working without calling a tech?

Yes, partially. Switch the thermostat to Emergency Heat mode and set it 5 degrees above room temperature. Emergency Heat bypasses the outdoor heat pump and runs only the electric strips. If the house warms noticeably within 20 minutes, the strips themselves are functional: the problem is in how and when they are being called during normal heat mode. If the house does not warm in Emergency Heat either, the strips have a fault. Call (813) 343-2212 for a FREE diagnosis. A clamp-meter reading on the heat kit circuit gives a definitive answer in under 2 minutes on-site. Licensed CAC1819196.

What does it feel like when heat strips partially fail versus fully fail?

A full heat strip failure feels like the heat pump running continuously on a cold night without the house ever catching up. Discharge air from vents is mildly warm, not hot. A partial failure (where one of two or three sequencers has failed) feels similar but less severe. On mild 45-degree nights the system may still reach setpoint using the heat pump alone. The partial failure only surfaces on the coldest nights when every watt of strip output matters. A tech measuring amperage on each strip circuit can distinguish partial from full failure immediately. Call (813) 343-2212.

My heat pump is brand new but the heat strips still failed: is that possible?

Yes. Heat strips are a separate assembly from the outdoor heat pump. A new outdoor unit does not include new heat strips unless the air handler was also replaced. If your indoor air handler is 8 to 12 years old with the original heat kit, its elements and sequencers are aging independently of the outdoor unit. The two components have different service lives and fail independently. Call (813) 343-2212 to have the heat kit tested alongside any outdoor unit service. Licensed CAC1819196.

Where we work

We serve the three counties of Tampa Bay from our shop at 1408 W Linebaugh Ave in Tampa.

Hillsborough County

Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Carrollwood, Town ’n’ Country, Plant City, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Apollo Beach, Valrico, Lutz, Seffner

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St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Safety Harbor, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach

Pasco County

Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, New Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Trinity, Zephyrhills, Dade City

See every city and ZIP code we serve

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🛡 FL Licensed: CAC1819196 · CFC1431159💼 $1M General Liability + Workers’ Comp🏠 Family-owned since 2017⚡ Same-day service

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Reviewed by Richard MoralesCo-Owner & FL Class B Air Conditioning Contractor, Home Therapist

Richard co-owns Home Therapist Cooling, Heating, and Plumbing and holds the FL Class B Air Conditioning Contractor license (CAC1819196) since 2017. The company holds licenses CAC1819196 (FL Class B AC Contractor, Richard Morales) and CFC1431159 (FL Plumbing Contractor, Alex Morales), serving Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties with a four-technician field team and 1,300+ customer reviews averaging 4.8 stars.

Published: April 18, 2026Last reviewed: October 15, 2026

Heat Strips Not Working?

Quick Answer

Heat Strip Failure Causes

Tripped Breaker

Failed Relay

Burned Heater Kit

Low Voltage Wiring

Why Heat Strips Rarely Matter and Suddenly Do (Tampa Climate Context)

Emergency Heat vs Auto Mode: What Actually Happens

How to Test Before the Cold Snap Arrives

The 5 Causes of Heat Strip Failure in Tampa Homes

What a Tech Actually Measures

Is Running Emergency Heat All Day a Problem?

Signs Your Strips Are Running When They Should Not Be

60-Second DIY Self-Diagnostic Flowchart

Florida Code Corner: Heat Strip Installation in Tampa

Tampa Seasonal Failure Pattern: When Heat Strip Problems Surface

What to Do Right Now

FAQ

When do heat strips kick in?

Emergency heat mode?

Why didn't I notice sooner?

Check before winter?

What is the difference between Emergency Heat and Auto mode?

How much does it cost to run heat strips in Tampa?

My heat pump stopped working, should I use Emergency Heat?

How do I know if my heat strips burned out?

How often do heat strips need replacement in Tampa?

Why is my electric bill so high in January?

Can I run my heat pump without heat strips?

Should I replace my heat strips with a dual-fuel system?

Can I test whether my heat strips are working without calling a tech?

What does it feel like when heat strips partially fail versus fully fail?

My heat pump is brand new but the heat strips still failed: is that possible?

Heat Pump Blowing Cold

Heat Pump Replacement

Maintenance Plan

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