5 Benefits of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning

For the ultimate in year-round climate control for your home, reverse cycle air conditioning certainly ticks all the boxes.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that most homes with an air conditioner could only cool their living spaces in summer and needed a gas or electric-powered heater for the winter. Now, as we hit the middle of winter, the ability to introduce warm air to a cold house – all with just a press of the remote control button from the same aircon system that cools us in summer – does not go unappreciated.

Whether you have a split system conditioning the air in a single room or a ducted system heating your entire home, let’s explore five of the biggest benefits of a system that both heats and cools.

How Does Reverse Cycle AC Work? 

But first, a quick refresher on how a reverse cycle air conditioner provides heating and cool air for your home.

Consisting of indoor and outdoor units, a reverse cycle air conditioner works by absorbing heat energy from the inside air. It then cools that air by pumping refrigerant through a cooling coil. This coil then cools the air that flows over it. The indoor unit blows the air throughout your house to condition the living space to your desired temperature.

In the cooler months of the year, it applies a reverse refrigeration cycle to heat the interior of your home. That reverse cycle effectively involves a reversal of the refrigerant flow. The reverse cycle process provides a variety of benefits during hot summers and freezing cold winters. Let’s explore them now.

How You Benefit from Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner Technology

A reverse cycle air conditioning unit offers many additional advantages beyond just heating and cooling your home. Here are five benefits:

1. They Offer Great Energy Efficiency

For energy-efficient heating and cooling, reverse cycle air conditioning systems are among the most preferred solutions. According to the Australian Government’s Energy website, a reverse cycle system operates with anywhere from 300 to 600% efficiency.

That efficiency only continues to improve, especially when it comes to energy cost and usage. Some models even feature sensors that can identify whether or not there are people in the room and will either leave the unit running or switch it off. This makes for energy-efficient cooling and heating – a wonder for your energy bills!

It’s important to bear in mind that energy efficiency can vary from unit to unit and display different energy ratings. Therefore, if it is one of the key features that you want from your reverse cycle air conditioner, be sure to look for a model from one of the leading brands that comes with a higher energy rating.

2. They’re Also Highly Cost-Effective

Purchase and installation costs for a reverse cycle air conditioner can be higher than a space heater or evaporative cooler. But the cost savings you’ll enjoy when you run the unit will more than make up for the initial purchase expense.

These units are usually split system air conditioners, which are relatively easy to install and are great for air conditioning one room or a select area of the house.

But cost savings aren’t the only way reverse cycle air conditioning will benefit you in terms of cost effectiveness. You’ll also benefit from simply having just one unit to take care of your heating and cooling instead of running separate systems in multiple rooms for each function.

3. They Can Provide Cleaner, Healthier Air

Many reverse cycle air conditioners can improve the air quality in your home, with purifying capabilities that allergy sufferers in your home will truly appreciate.

If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies triggered by unwanted particles or impurities in the air, then look for a reverse cycle air conditioning system with a built-in air filter.

In addition to being an allergy sufferer’s best friend, these air purifying filters can also neutralise unpleasant odours and defuse airborne viruses and bacteria.

4. They Are Safe For Families 

Reverse cycle air conditioners offer comparatively greater safety levels for your family than other heating solutions. They reduce the potential for fire hazard that might come with a faulty gas heater or a portable heater coming into contact with a flammable product.

In winter, they also eliminate the risk of young children burning themselves on conventional electric heaters or portable units that might be within arm’s reach. Being a split system air conditioner, the indoor unit is usually installed high on the wall (or on the ceiling).

As for cooling, reverse cycle air conditioning minimises injury risk as hands don’t come into contact with fast-moving fan blades. All in all, it’s factors like:

• a lack of exposed flames or elements
• no fan blades and
• wall or ceiling installation

That means they become one of the safest heating and cooling options for families.

5. They Are Quiet When They Run

When it comes to room comfort, air temperature is certainly a key factor. But it’s not the only factor. The noise from an air conditioner also plays a significant part in determining a room’s general comfort level.

While an unserviced gas heater or ceiling fan will likely get noisy, a reverse cycle system is generally whisper quiet by comparison. When you can’t hear an air conditioner running but can feel it, you know it’s providing optimal comfort.

How to Get the Most from Your Reverse Cycle Air Con System

To really enjoy the benefits of your new reverse cycle air conditioning system, follow these tips before purchasing your unit.

1. Insulate your home – Quality insulation will help your reverse cycle air conditioning unit operate with optimal efficiency. Pay particular attention to the insulation in your ceiling.
2. Take note of star ratings – The energy rating system will determine the level of energy efficiency your reverse cycle air conditioner will provide. Like most household appliances, the more stars it boasts, the more energy efficient your unit will be.
3. Choose the right size unit – Room size is important in determining the size of the reverse cycle air conditioner that you need. An undersized aircon will need to run twice or three times as long to do the same job as an aircon sized correctly for the space. It will use far more energy, so you pay higher energy costs. Meanwhile, a system that is too big for smaller spaces will short cycle and, as a result, also use more energy than you want.
4. Use smart technology – If you’re creating a smart home, use Wi-Fi connectivity to control your home’s temperature before you get out of bed in the morning or when you’re about to arrive home. Many brands offer this capability.

Speak to an air conditioning technician for assistance with determining the right capacity air conditioning system for your home.

Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning – The Option That Makes Sense

With so many heating and cooling options available to homeowners, reverse cycle air conditioning simply makes sense all year round. The multitude of benefits includes:

• Highly energy efficient
• Superior cost effectiveness
• Delivery of clean and healthy air
• Optimal family safety and
• Quiet operation

These benefits merely scratch the surface. For a heating and cooling system that delivers optimal comfort and performance, steer clear of basic electric heaters or ceiling fans. You can trust a reverse-cycle system to get the job done.

For more information, contact the reverse cycle air conditioner experts at Metropolitan Air Conditioning. We deal in all major brands, including ActronAir, AquaMAX, Braemar, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric, Rinnai and many others.

Please note: Thanks for reading our blog “5 Benefits of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.