I have owned my home for 2 years...this is the coldest winter right
now in many years. My house is at a chilly 45-50 degrees....my heat
pump was working fine until this terrible weather came in (it's been
well below zero...like 20 below on my thermometer).

Is it normal for the heat pump to not really warm my house above 50.
(Keep in mind I live in a chalet/a-frame and the thermometer is on the
windowed side of the house where it has drafty patio doors and house-
entrace doors however, the back bedrooms are chilly too).

The heat pump is having to go into defrost cycle alot (of course, it's
freezingggg out!) How would I know if there was something wrong with
the heat pump and to call a technician? I can't tell if it's just
because it's super cold out OR if there is sometihng wrong that it
won't heat well. Is there a switch on my thermostat I can change to
get me some heat (I read something about emergency heat/electric
heat?) My house is all electric, no gas.

Help!?

KJ