Heating with Air Conditioners

Heating with an air conditioner is an increasingly common way to regulate the temperature of the rooms we live in during times when outdoor temperatures drop. Today, an increasing number of residential air conditioners (split solutions) have a built-in heating capability. With the development of technologies (inverter air conditioners), the units are becoming increasingly efficient in heating and saving electrical energy, and their prices are becoming more affordable.

Air conditioners with a heating option are most commonly installed when you want to heat and cool a space with a single unit. Heating with an air conditioner is most suitable in climates with mild winters. New technological solutions, such as inverter air conditioners, enable efficient heating even at very low outdoor temperatures -- down to -20°C (depending on outdoor conditions).

How an Air Conditioner Heats

Put simply, an air conditioner heats in the reverse way to how it cools. The most commonly installed residential air conditioning systems (split) consist of an outdoor and indoor unit.

When the air conditioner is cooling -- if you place your hand in front of the indoor unit, you will feel cold air, and when you place your hand in front of the outdoor unit, you will feel warm/hot air.

When the air conditioner is heating, it works in the reverse way compared to cooling. The indoor unit blows warm air, and the outdoor unit blows cold air. In other words, the unit operates in the opposite direction.

How to Choose an Air Conditioner for Heating

When choosing an air conditioner, the following basic parameters should be taken into account:

• Size (volume) and number of rooms that need to be heated
• Climate where the space to be heated is located (Mediterranean, continental, mountainous)
• Financial possibilities

With the defined parameters, contact authorized dealers/service technicians of air conditioners to work together to choose the best air conditioner heating solution that meets your needs.

The size of the space directly affects the required heating capacity of the unit, while the number of rooms determines the location where the indoor unit will be installed or the number of indoor units that must be installed in the space.

Climate conditions (primarily temperature) affect the decision of whether to heat with an air conditioner or choose a different solution, and the choice of technology the air conditioner uses. Inverter technology in units enables efficient heating even at low outdoor temperatures down to -20°C (depending on outdoor conditions).

How to Maintain Your Air Conditioner

Maintaining the air conditioner during the heating season is identical to maintaining it during the cooling season. Be sure to have the air conditioner regularly serviced when switching the operating mode so that it works as efficiently as possible. Leave regular servicing to employees of authorized service centers who are professionally trained for these types of work.

An air conditioner is primarily maintained to ensure the technical functionality of the unit and to ensure air hygiene. Inefficient operation (poor heating, noise, strange sounds, etc.) is primarily a consequence of the unit's malfunction and the presence of objects that do not belong in the unit.

Regularly clean the air conditioner filters. All you need is a little good will and a little time. The filter should be checked every two months during the heating season, and more frequently is recommended in polluted environments, in the presence of pets, or with intensive use of the air conditioner.

Tips -- Good to Know

• When looking for a suitable air conditioner for heating purposes, consult with professionals who are trained and have experience working with air conditioners
• Pay special attention when choosing an air conditioner that will operate in areas where outdoor temperatures drop low -- in that case, be sure to choose an air conditioner with inverter technology
• Depending on your needs and preferences, use humidifiers in heated spaces to achieve optimal air humidity
• As the outdoor temperature drops, the heating efficiency of the air conditioner decreases -- this is why inverter technology was developed, which significantly increases heating efficiency at lower temperatures and saves energy
• In cases when the outdoor temperature drops very low, parts of the unit begin to freeze -- that is why air conditioners have an automatic defrost option that periodically activates during operation

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