Most people don’t know that air conditioners can be used as heaters in the winter. It is possible, but you will need to have an AC unit with a heating option.
If you are thinking about getting an air conditioner for this purpose, there are some things you should know before buying one.
- What do you need to know before buying an air conditioner if you want to use it as a heater?
- Why AC units with heating options are a good choice for winter
- The different types of AC units available and which one is right for you
- Which AC heater is right for you?
- How does an air conditioner change into a heater – heat pump?
- Why would you choose an air conditioner with a heating option over a regular space heater?
- How to set up your AC unit as a heater
- Tips on how to use your air conditioner as a heater correctly
- Things to consider when purchasing an air conditioner with heating
- Concluding thoughts on the benefits of using an air conditioning unit with heat
What do you need to know before buying an air conditioner if you want to use it as a heater?
When looking to buy an air conditioner to use as a heater, there are a few things you need to take into account. Firstly, you will need to make sure that the AC unit you purchase has a heating option. Not all air conditioners have this feature, so it is important to verify before buying.
Another thing you will need to consider is the climate where you live. If you live in a colder climate, you will likely need a more powerful air conditioner to serve as a heater. Conversely, if you live in a warmer climate, you may not need as much power.
- Local climate
- Home square footage
- Window and doors
- Insulation in the home
- How many people are in the home
- Temperature preferences of home residents
- Other appliances that can generate heat
Why AC units with heating options are a good choice for winter
If you are looking for a way to heat your home during the winter, using an air conditioner with a heating option is a great choice.
AC units with heating options are designed to provide heat as well as cooling, so they are perfect for use in the winter.
Additionally, they are often more powerful than traditional space heaters, making them a more efficient and affordable option.
Additionally, they use less energy than most space heaters, making them more economical to use.
Finally, air conditioners with heating options are often more affordable than traditional space heaters.
So, if you are looking for a way to keep your home warm during the winter, an air conditioner with a heating option is definitely a good choice.
Just be sure to verify that the unit you choose has a heating option before buying it, and consider the climate where you live. With those things in mind, you can be sure to find the perfect air conditioner for your needs.
The different types of AC units available and which one is right for you
There are a variety of different AC units available. You can find an AC unit to suit your needs from any number of brands, from the likes of Carrier and Haier.
Which AC heater is right for you?
Different types of air conditioners with heat:
- Portable A/C Heater combo unit
Portable heat and AC units provide steady and fast cooling and heating for rooms. They are very good for small spaces like dorms, apartments, cabins and campers, office buildings, bedrooms, or living rooms.
- Through-the-wall air conditioner
These through-the-wall air conditioners with heaters are perfect for bedrooms, dens, studies, or home offices.
- A window air conditioner with heat
You can use these units year-round with a supplemental heating function.
- Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner and Heat Pump
These AC’s should be sized/installed by a qualified professional.
These energy-efficient systems are the ideal solution for open-room applications up to 600 sq. ft., such as classrooms, sunrooms, open floor plan flexible-use spaces, man caves, home theaters, offices, studios, bedrooms, bonus rooms over the garage, and even basements and garages where heating and cooling is wished.
Ductless Mini Splits are an affordable way to have air conditioning and heating in your home. They can be installed in just a few hours and you will not need ducts.
If you’re only looking for a way to heat your home in the winter, then it’s important that your AC unit has a heating option. It’s also important that the AC unit is powerful enough to heat up your home efficiently
How does an air conditioner change into a heater – heat pump?
A heat pump is a machine that moves heat from one place to another. There are many types of heat pumps, but A/C units, refrigerators, and freezers are all different kinds of machines that move the heat somewhere else.
A heat pump is a device that can cool and heat the same space. It works just like an air conditioner, but the cycle can be reversed so the cold air goes out and the warm air stays in.
To get a better idea of how this works, you should know about the basics of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. Whether you are talking about a portable air conditioner or central AC, they use the same process. A chemical refrigerant carries heat from one part of the system to another, and then releases it when it is done.
There are four major components of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle:
- The compressor forces the refrigerant into a hot and high-pressure gas. This gas is then pumped into the condenser.
- The coil is a long tube with coils. It can be found on the back of your refrigerator. The liquid turns back into gas as it gets cold. In a central AC, the coil is outside and the heat stays outside as well. In a portable unit, the heat from the coils goes out through an exhaust hose that goes to the outside air.
- The expansion valve makes the refrigerant a liquid. Then it pumps it into the evaporator.
- An evaporator is another coil. Inside the coil, it takes less pressure. This makes the refrigerant change into a gas. As it turns into a gas, it uses energy to take heat from the air and make cold air. Then a fan blows this cold air into the room.
Then the gas from the evaporator, which is cold and low pressure, goes back to the compressor. This starts a new cycle.
The air conditioner takes the heat from one side of the system (the inside) and transfers it to the other side of the system (the outside).
So how does the AC heat instead of cool?
A reversing valve is all it takes to change the direction of how thermal energy goes through a heat pump system (AC unit).
When the reversing valve is flipped, the flow of refrigerant through the system changes direction. In heating mode, the hot condenser coils now become cold evaporator coils and vice versa.
Instead of venting the hot air outside, the cold air is expelled and the warm air goes into your room.
Why would you choose an air conditioner with a heating option over a regular space heater?
You will save money and the environment when you use a heat pump. It uses less electricity than most space heaters.
The reasons for this are scientific, as resistance heaters convert energy to heat by sending electricity through a resistor. While 100% of the electricity used is converted into thermal energy; it still takes quite a lot in order to keep just one room warm!
A heat pump moves heat from one place to another. This is because it uses the natural properties of thermal dynamics. It does not need electricity to make heat, so less energy is needed.
This means that using a heat pump in your home will make it a lot cheaper to heat up the whole space. You will not need to use space heaters, which can be expensive.
Heat pumps are becoming popular because they use less electricity. But some people cannot install the whole system in their house, so they might want to get a portable air conditioner heating system.
How to set up your AC unit as a heater
Most air conditioning units have hot and cold modes. When you feel a little bit cold, turn on the hot mode (usually the sun symbol button) and set your thermostat to your desired temperature and then wait for the AC unit to heat up your room. It’s that simple!
Tips on how to use your air conditioner as a heater correctly
- During the winter, the air outside is usually dry. When you heat up your home, you add more dryness to it. This means that your house will have less moisture in it. Dry air can make you sick. It can also cause cracks in your floors, panels, and other parts of the home. That is why before turning on the heating system, you could find out if there is enough moisture in the air by measuring it with a hygrometer to be extra safe. If it needs more moisture, then use a humidifier to add some of that back into your house.
- If the air in your house is too dry, it can cause wood to shrink. This will make it hard to open windows and also lead to gaps or cracks that let in cold, dry air. So again a humidifier might be the answer to keeping your house at a comfortable humidity level.
- It is not good to switch from an AC system to a heater overnight because it puts too much pressure on the equipment. You should instead change gradually. When the temperature starts getting colder in the fall, turn off your AC and turn on your heater at a low level as needed (not as high as you think). Change the temperature gradually as needed.
Things to consider when purchasing an air conditioner with heating
When purchasing an air conditioner with heating, there are a few things to consider. One is the size of the unit. You will need to make sure that it is big enough to heat your entire space.
Another thing to consider is the price. Air conditioners with heating tend to be more expensive than regular air conditioners. You will also need to decide if you want a window unit or a portable unit.
Window units are installed in a window, and portable units are easy to move from room to room and can be installed anywhere in your house. They both have pros and cons.
It is also important to pick the right type of heating function for your house and lifestyle.
For example, if you live in a small apartment and only need heating for one room, you will not need as much power as someone who lives in a big mansion with multiple rooms to heat.
Concluding thoughts on the benefits of using an air conditioning unit with heat
Most people use their air conditioners during the summer to cool down their homes, but you can also use them as a heater in winter.
If you want to purchase an AC with heating capability for your home, there are things that should be considered before making this decision.
One is size – does the unit have enough power and capacity to heat up your space?
The second thing to consider is the price – do you need something affordable or would it be better if you spent more on higher-quality equipment?
You’ll also need to decide whether window units or portable models will work best for your needs or maybe a ductless mini-split air conditioner is ideal.
Also, you should know that it’s not recommended to switch immediately from an AC unit to a heater because this puts too much pressure on the device. You should instead change gradually by turning off the AC when it gets colder outside in the fall and switching to your heating system at low-temperature levels when needed.
By taking these things into consideration when purchasing an air conditioner with heating, you will have a more enjoyable winter without feeling too cold or spending a fortune.