Myth: Air conditioning cannot heat
Air conditioning is used for cooling, right? Well, yes, but that is only a small part of the story.
Modern air conditioning systems are air-to-air heat pumps, which can also be used for heating. But how exactly does that work? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of air conditioning as heating? You can read it in this blog post.
Air conditioning as heating: the story of Julie and David
Julie and David bought a detached house built in the 1960s that they thoroughly renovated. Both the living areas and the bedrooms were originally heated with an electrical system. They replaced it with an energy-efficient and user-friendly air-to-air heat pump from Daikin. David: "The choice for an air-to-air heat pump was quickly made. On the one hand because of the exceptionally low power consumption. On the other hand because of the high level of comfort, such as the fast response time and the possibility to both heat and cool. Our rooms are warm within ten minutes in the winter. In the summer we can cool the rooms down in a few minutes.” To provide the heat pump with electricity, the couple also had solar panels installed on the roof. “Thanks to our solar panels, we have greatly reduced our energy costs for heating and cooling,” they say happily.
Heating and cooling based on cool air
The air conditioning systems that allow you to cool and heat are also called heat pumps. They transport heat from one environment to another using a coolant. Innovative air-to-air heat pumps are an environmentally friendly way to extract heat from the air. For example, in the summer you can use the air conditioning to cool the rooms in your house. The heat from inside is then discharged to the outside. In the winter, you reverse the process. The heat pump then extracts heat from the outside air – this is even possible at an outside temperature of -15°C – and then releases that heat to the inside air, in order to heat your home.
The advantages of heating with air conditioning
If you decide to buy air conditioning, you may want it to do more than just cool or heat the air. A modern air conditioning system creates a perfect indoor climate. The very best air conditioners even filter the air for unhealthy or irritating particles, such as pollen. Such an integrated system has many advantages: You can connect one outdoor unit to multiple indoor units. You then control each indoor unit separately, for an optimal temperature in each room. The compact heat pumps are easy to install. Even if you only have limited space in your home, it is possible to install one. The advanced inverter and heat pump technologies ensure optimal efficiency and maximum energy savings. You will quickly notice this in your wallet! The air conditioners are available in various models, such as wall or floor models. There is certainly a unit that fits seamlessly with your interior.
The disadvantages of heating with air conditioning
If you are renovating, you cannot connect an air-to-air heat pump to existing heat emission systems, such as radiators or underfloor heating. If you want to keep them, you can combine them with an air-to-water heat pump. Also important: you can connect a maximum of five indoor units to one outdoor unit of an air-to-air heat pump. Do you want to cool and heat more rooms? Then consider a different heat pump system, such as an air-to-water heat pump.
What does air conditioning with heating cost?
The price of an air conditioner that can both cool and heat depends on many different factors, such as the number of indoor units, the type of indoor unit, the capacity, the options, etc. For a detailed quote, please contact an installer in your area. Tip: if you are renovating and have a heat pump installed, you may be eligible for a subsidy.
