What is reverse cycle air conditioning, and what are its advantages?
Reverse-cycle air conditioners are a great way to regulate your home’s temperature. They allow you to warm up and cool down your home based on your needs and are also a very energy-efficient option. They work wonders and can help you save money, so reverse-cycle air conditioning is a must-have addition to your home.
What is Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
Reverse cycle air conditioners are also sometimes called heat pumps. This type of air conditioner uses a refrigeration cycle to cool your home, while the reverse refrigeration cycle helps to warm it up instead. This reverse cycle air conditioning process works by heating your home using a compressor. The compressor pumps the refrigerant through the chambers and into a condenser. When the refrigerant is compressed, it starts to warm up, which ends up as the hot air blown into your home. After some time, the refrigerant finished working. Then, it will flow through an evaporator and start to cool down. It then gets pumped back into the condenser and is recycled. By reversing this cycle, cold air is blown into your home instead, which leaves you cool and calm throughout the warm weather.
How Does It Work?
Reverse cycle air conditioning allows you to control your climate, allowing you to choose between cool or warm air. It uses the heat that can be extracted from the air outside – even on winter nights – and helps transfer it inside. The refrigerant gas is passed through an external coil, which helps absorb the heat from outside air. It is then pumped through a compressor into an evaporator inside your home. This process releases the heat into your house.
This process is different from electric heaters. Electric heaters directly create heat by using elements that heat up through the use of electric currents. Some examples of ‘direct element’ heaters are portable heaters and panel convectors. Off-peak storage heaters are another example. These heaters are immensely inefficient since all the electricity used to create heat is used to warm the room. However, reverse cycle air conditioning can transfer up to three or more units of heat for every unit of electricity used. Hence, the running costs of this process can easily be as low as one-third of the costs of direct element heaters.
What Are the Advantages?
Reverse cycle air conditioners have many advantages that you should make use of. The following are a few reasons why you should consider using them:
Warms You Up in the Winter and Keeps You Cool in the Summer
Reverse cycle air conditioners are great because they allow you to cool your house in the summer and heat it in the winter. By having both heating and cooling functions, you have full control of the climate inside your home. They are a great substitute for fans and gas heaters.
Very Efficient Machines
Reverse cycle air conditioners are exceptionally efficient machines, even in extreme temperatures. For every 1 kW of electricity consumed, a reverse cycle air conditioner will generate at least three or more kW of heating or cooling. They can also efficiently recycle air over a dozen times within an hour. This means that you can save a lot of money. You could potentially see a reduction in your power bill by about 30%! This is especially important since electricity prices are ever-rising. However, you should still check the energy consumption rates for the air conditioners you are considering. This is because each of them has different energy ratings. Usually, appliances that have more stars are more energy efficient.
Adjust to A Room’s Temperature
Many modern reverse-cycle air conditioners have thermostats and advanced inverter technology. These allow them to adapt to the temperature and conditions of a room, which in turn helps save energy. The inverter technology enables the unit to reach the desired temperature faster. It does this before maintaining it with minimal fluctuations to ensure your comfort.
Purifies the Air
Other than heating and cooling, reverse cycle air conditioners can also help purify the air in your home. It can even help remove any dust or smoke in your house. Many models have built-in air purifying filters that help trap fine airborne particles. They also purify the air that it processes. Some models even have features that help rid your home of odours and can help absorb and kill airborne bacteria and viruses. This can be essential, especially if you have asthma, allergies, or any respiratory ailments. This advantage is essential since it caters to the health of your family.
Green Choice
Reverse cycle air conditioners are energy efficient, making them environmentally friendly. These systems produce only a third of the greenhouse gases that standard electric heaters tend to create. For the most efficient models, they may even make less than a fifth of the typical emissions of conventional electric heaters. This is an excellent option since it is a better choice for the planet and your electric bills – a great double bonus!
A Quiet Choice
These models have been created with noise reduction in mind. With technology, manufacturers have minimised operating noises across many different units. This ensures a family’s peace of mind when these machines operate.
Conclusion
With all the significant advantages, reverse-cycle air conditioners are an excellent addition to your home. They have many functions that will save you money and improve your family’s health. They are also fantastic since their energy efficiency helps reduce their carbon footprint. Undoubtedly, the reverse-cycle air conditioner promises many great functions and benefits.
Further Reading
Aircon or Gas: What’s the Difference?
How Often Do You Need to Service Your AC?
Energy-Efficient Heating Solutions for Winter
Split System Air Conditioner vs. Window AC Unit: Which is Better?





