Heating with reverse cycle air conditioning

During the colder months, we want to be able to heat our homes efficiently, but not break the bank. This blog will outline some of the benefits of using your air conditioner to heat your home in winter.

Almost every household across Australia has at least one reverse cycle air conditioner. By using this unit, as opposed to an old school electric heater, you can cut your heating costs by up to 66%.

Reverse cycle air conditioners work by extracting heat from the air outside and transfer it inside, even on the coldest of nights. Up to three or more units of heat can be transferred for every unit of electricity used to run the air conditioner, therefore making the cost of heating more economical.

Types of reverse cycle air conditioners

• Split systems: these are suitable for rooms up to 100 square metres. They are permanently mounted systems with the compressor unit installed outside, and the condenser installed inside.
• Multi-split systems: these are suitable for areas up to 200 square metres. They are a type of split system that has one external compressor that is connected to multiple indoor units, which enables different rooms to be heated independently.
• Ducted systems: these are designed to heat or cool the entire home. The system consists of a heat pump installed outside or in the ceiling, ducting through the ceiling or floor to distribute the air through vents, and a return air vent to recirculate air back into the system. It is recommended that ducted systems be zoned to divide the home into sections able to be heated independently.

Choosing the correct unit size

The right sized unit will help to keep operating costs low. An undersized or oversized unit will perform poorly and inefficiently. We recommend getting a detailed inspection of your home from a qualified air conditioning technician before purchasing a unit.

Tips on keeping your home warmer in winter

To help reduce heating costs, and have less of an impact on the environment, here are some tips on how to be comfortable and save money.

• Ensure your home is properly insulated.
• Close curtains and blinds at night to trap heat in. During the day, open them on north facing window to take advantage of the sun. You must also ensure you have adequate ventilation.
• Only heat rooms that are in use.
• Close off internal doors between heated and unheated rooms.
• Hot air rises, so it is best to set ceiling fans to their ‘winter’ mode and run it on a low speed to help evenly distribute the warm air.

Quality Air can install, service and repair a wide variety of brands. Contact us today or lodge an online enquiry for us to get in contact with you.