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It is common to hear that people are stressed out when choosing the type of air conditioner they need for their home or office space. Indeed, choosing the right air conditioner calls for adequate steps to be taken if you want to enjoy long-term benefits.
However, you may get discouraged when you consider the different types of models available in the market, which you may have to go through before making your decision. The split system and reverse cycle air conditioners are two common types among Australian consumers. Still, you must find out the differences between these models if you are considering buying one soon.
How Does Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning Function?
A reverse cycle split system, also known as a reverse cycle heat pump, uses the vapour compression refrigeration cycle. This type of cycle uses an electrical input to compress the refrigerant to the point that it becomes hot enough to keep the air heated.
Rather than take air from the inside of a room and transfer it outside, a reverse cycle air conditioner would absorb air from outside and transfer it inside through the refrigeration process. This process works just the same way. It makes the air conditioner cool the air but in reverse, which gives it the name Reverse Cycle.
Since heat is created during the refrigeration process, there is no need to use any expensive heating elements or burn fossil fuels to generate heat. An electrical grid, batteries, or solar panels can also be used as the electrical source.
How Does A Split System Air Conditioner Work?
The split system air conditioner is a type of refrigerant air conditioning that is commonly used. The system forces a liquid refrigerant through the system, intending to cool the air and vice versa should there be a need to heat the space.
The system comes in two parts: an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor unit. The indoor unit is visible inside the home and distributes cool or warm air around the room. Some of the features the unit uses to work include filters, a heat exchange coil, a fan, and a remote signal receiver.
Split System Vs Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner
You can buy either a reverse cycle air conditioner or a split system air conditioner if you need to heat or cool a room. If you do this, there is the potential benefit of saving on the upfront as well as the long-term maintenance costs compared to when cooling or heating appliances are purchased separately.
Advantages of using a split system air conditioner
Easy maintenance
Split system air conditioners come with washable filters, which you can easily remove for cleaning. Usually, the outside unit does not require any cleaning, although its design makes cleaning possible.
Visual appeal
The indoor central unit has a seamless design. With this design, the unit can blend effortlessly with the interior décor of any modern home. It can be positioned high up on the wall of a house, and you can install it out of the direct line of vision, making it less intrusive.
Low noise
The inside unit gives off a very low noise level. This makes it relatively unnoticeable in most cases and discreet when adequately positioned.
Temperature efficient
Split system ACs use thermostats to control their temperature. This ensures efficiency in the way the temperature is maintained.
Energy efficient
While split systems are noted for being efficient, they have been observed to be less expensive to run when compared with ducted air conditioning systems. This means you can choose which of the rooms in a home needs cooling or heating.
This way, you can reduce electricity costs and limit environmental impact. Split systems have energy rating labels, and consumers can use systems that offer them high enough energy efficiency ratings.
Affordable
For most people, money for purchasing air conditioners for their home or office is an issue. The cost of a split system is lower than a ducted air conditioner, and the same can be said about the installation costs.
Easy installation
A split system air conditioner takes less time to be installed, and the process can be completed in a day or less. Usually, no major constructions are required for the process.
Range of types and models
A wide range of brands and models are available for split system air conditioners for anybody to choose from in the marketplace. With this opportunity, consumers can choose the brand, power output, and the cooling or reverse cycle air movement they need.
Advantages of reverse cycle air conditioners
Give warmth during winter
A reverse cycle air conditioner can give warmth during cold periods, and this should be great news for those who live in temperate regions and cold areas in Australia. With its reverse cycle air technique, this AC type differs from the conventional portable electric or gas heater.
Conventional heaters work to create heat energy, while a reverse cycle system will absorb heat from the outside air and warm the inside of a home or office with it. The system was designed with cold conditions in mind, so you can expect a good reverse-cycle air conditioner to have an automatic defrost cycle.
This makes its operation more effective, and when temperatures are as low as 15 degrees celsius, a reverse-cycle air conditioner will still be able to heat your home.
Cool during summer
It requires only the flick of a switch for a reverse-cycle air conditioner to get into the cooling mode. This type of AC is a super-energy efficient system and would easily leave your home cooler by simply absorbing heat from the inside and dissipating it outside.
With the modern technology it offers, it can cool temperatures as high as 46 degrees celsius in your home. With this, it is not necessary to install bulky or cumbersome fans.
Adaptable and flexible
Most of the modern reverse cycle air conditioning units you see around will make you understand the push for energy efficiency now. These units come with thermostats, and they also make use of advanced inverter technology.
This way, they are capable of adapting to the condition and temperature of the room. Inverter technology ensures the delivery of one of the most energy-efficient means for heating and cooling your home while using electricity.
As opposed to how a conventional air conditioner works on and off, inverter technology works like a car accelerator by using gentle adjustments of its power to get to the desired temperature faster.
Single payment, double benefit
Another outstanding benefit that comes with the installation of a reverse cycle system is that you will only need to make a once-off payment for a unit that will perform two different functions. All that is required is to change the unit’s mode of operation by switching between cooling or heating according to the temperature desired.
In some areas in Australia, you could use the heater one day and require the cooler the next. In such instances, using a reverse cycle system would significantly reduce the home’s cooling and heating expenses.
Help with air purification
Reverse-cycle air conditioning systems are suitable for heating and cooling and are remarkable in the way they help purify the air inside them. Many of these systems come with built-in air-purifying filters that trap fine dust and particles in the air.
Get Expert Assistance Before Making A Purchase
While each of these types of ACs has benefits they offer people who may be interested in buying them, there are certain demerits that you may have to look at before making the purchase.
For example, duct air conditioners require a more complex installation process, and their maintenance could cost more. On the part of split systems, you need to know that their outside compressors can give off a lot of noise and may not be capable of reaching cool temperatures effectively in large spaces.
As such, you must talk to a professional about your cooling and heating needs in your home or office. This is the surest way to arrive at the best and most suitable purchase that would be worth the investment.
