Reverse cycle air conditioning offers a heating and cooling solution within the one single system.
The reverse cycle air conditioner systems feature; the condenser, compressor, evaporator, and restrictive device work in tandem to cool or heat your home with a flick of a switch.
During warm seasons, the compressor reverses the flow of refrigerant by using the refrigeration cycle to remove heat indoors, thus cooling the building. While in the cold seasons, a reverse refrigeration cycle is used to warm up your home.
The indoor coils become the heat source by capturing outdoor air and releasing hot air indoors, and finally, a fan blows air through these coils to distribute the heat inside the building.
Reverse cycle air conditioning is also called dual-cycle or two-stage cooling because it has an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor evaporator coil.
This gives them an edge over electric heaters that only generate heat energy and are not as energy efficient.There are two types of reverse cycle split systems, listed below.
Heat pump.
Thermostatic expansion valve (TXV).
Heat pump models are usually more efficient than blue tube models and less expensive than the TXV models. TXV with advanced inverter technology adaptable to room condition and temperature provides more efficient cooling at high ambient temperatures.
The major difference is the outdoor unit. Split system air conditioners have indoor and outdoor units, hence the term "split system". On the other hand, a reverse cycle air conditioner has an indoor coil outdoor (external coil) with just one compressor to drive both coils, so it is also called a "dual-cycle" or "reverse cycle" system.
Yes, reverse cycle air conditioning is good because a reverse cycle air conditioner has little energy consumption, making it an energy-efficient unit compared to a conventional air conditioner. This makes reverse cycle air conditioners' energy efficiency better for your electricity bill! Fridges and freezers are designed to work in all conditions, hot or cold. When you reverse their operation from cooling to heating, their automatic defrost cycle allows them to equally provide fast, efficient heating with no need for a flue, chimney, or ducting. Moreover, heat pump-based heating systems can also produce domestic hot water by pre-heating the water that feeds your instant gas or instant electric hot water service.
You can easily feel the cold drafts around the window unit, especially during summer. Some window units also have no filters to remove dust particles and other pollutants from the outside air before blowing this dirty air into your room.
Reverse cycle air conditioners don't have these shortcomings as they are located indoors and use an evaporator coil located inside your home or office.
A reverse cycle conditioner also has a filter to collect any harmful pollutants entering with air drawn in from outside. The condenser is placed outside, secured in a special enclosure beneath your window.If you already own a standard split system installed, all you need for reverse cooling is an outdoor heat pump unit that will connect straight to your existing indoor unit. The overall price for reverse cycle air conditioning is less than having standard cooling or heating ducted in each room. A high-quality heat pump indoor unit with remote control starts at $650, with prices increasing depending on the model and capability of the unit purchased. Additionally, you will need to pay around $1,000 for installation costs, including gas lines, if you are installing an air source heat pump system.
A reverse cycle air conditioner is generally cheaper to run than counterpart air conditioners in relation to the electricity consumed. This is because the heat pump function in reverse cycle splits means less power consumption. And with a few tweaks, it can even generate electricity for you, in turn, reducing your electricity prices by using renewable energy sources like heat energy from the sun. Your reverse cycle air conditioner will adjust accordingly depending on the weather. When the weather is hot, your outdoor heat pump will simply act as a fan instead of cooling your home, by drawing cooler outside air through the evaporator coil.
A properly installed high-quality split system with a compressor/condenser should last around 20 years. Heat pump systems are more efficient and made of higher quality materials, so they last quite a bit longer. But ultimately, it'll depend on the model you choose. Generally speaking, installation matters. Professional installation via an expert installer guarantees 25 years or more.
The most important benefit of using a reverse air conditioner is that you can save up to 60% on your energy bills every month. With no exhaust flue required (for conventional heating applications such as wood-fires and heaters), you can install them anywhere in your home.
This includes locations where this was previously impossible due to ventilation issues (ie: near bedrooms). Reverse cycle heating also provides cooling in the summer, making it possible for you to enjoy your summer with no worry about your air conditioning and your winter warm enough without the risk of overrunning your heating system.Conditions inside your home are kept at the best levels possible using a reverse cycle air conditioning system. The inverter technology used in these systems allows you to control the airflow through your vents, meaning that even if the outside temperature is low or high, you can get perfect conditions inside of your property.
Another upside to it, installation is easy and in no time can quickly cool down any room without having to wait around for it to happen. While each day will be different with this kind of unit, chances are you won't experience much hotter or colder weather than what's being forecasted which means that energy bills will remain stable over time. For more information on the energy use of air conditioner's, take a look at the Australian Government's Energy Rating guide.A split system air conditioning unit is an appliance for your home which has three main components; the outdoor condenser coil, the indoor evaporator unit, and a control panel to regulate how much heat it uses and its cooling abilities. The outdoor component, or compressor, draws in cool air and pumps it into the evaporator unit inside your home via a series of copper tubes, while simultaneously removing heat from this area and sending it outside. This process provides clean, fresh, and healthy air to all areas of your property so you can breathe easily.