Heating with reverse cycle air conditioning

Keeping warm during winter

A ducted reverse cycle air conditioning system comprises of a central unit which is connected by ductwork to outlets throughout the home or workplace. This unit will be installed in your roof and is powered by a compressor located on your building’s exterior.

Reverse cycle air conditioners take heat from the air outside and use it to warm the air inside. This makes for a far more energy efficient way of heating your home than conventional heaters, as these have to generate the heat themselves. Most air conditioners have an automatic defrost cycle for greater efficiency. Even when the mercury drops as low as minus 10ºC, the system can still heat your home.

Other benefits

As well as keeping you cosy during the winter months and cool and refreshed in summer, ducted reverse cycle air conditioners purify the air. There are a number of air conditioning systems on the market that have built in air purification filters that trap even the most microscopic airborne particles – for example smoke – whilst others are also able to break down odours and suck up and deactivate bacteria and viruses.

If we compare reverse cycle to electric element heating the usage is as follows:
Element (or Resistive) Heating- 1kw of electrical energy creates 1 kW of heat
Reverse Cycle Heating – 1kw of electrical energy creates typically 3 kW of heat

The additional energy created is due to a combination of;

  • The heat of compression: the refrigerant gas is recirculated inside the outdoor unit’s compressor. The process of compressing a cool refrigerant gas into a high pressure hot gas generates heat (energy) and this is captured in the refrigerant gas and transferred to the indoor unit where air passed across the heat exchanger and dissipates the heat.
  • The refrigeration cycle: the process or cycle itself is highly efficient due to the characteristics of the refrigerant and its ability to transfer heat (energy).

Whichever style of reverse cycle air conditioner is best for your home or work place can depend on many variables. However, the highly efficient reverse cycle process will deliver toasty warm air throughout the winter months and the cool, dehumidified air you crave on those summer days and evenings.