If you’ve ever been near the outside portion of an air conditioning system when it’s operating, you’ll notice that it puts out a lot of heat. You may even wonder if using an air conditioner, like a window AC heater, is possible. It depends on the system – some are built as heat pumps and can safely heat your home, while others were never designed for it.
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Is It Possible To Use Window AC as a Heater?
Some air conditioners can be used as heaters, and they’re quite efficient at it – these dual-purpose systems are known as heat pumps. However, they must be specifically designed to provide heating and cooling, and not all air conditioners have the necessary settings or equipment. A standard window AC heater setup, for example, typically lacks these components. For the unit to provide heat, it must have a reversing valve and a few other key components found in true heat pumps.
Heat Pump Turns an AC System Into a Heater
Air conditioners that provide both heating and cooling are typically called heat pumps, but not always. Heat pumps function the same as an air conditioning system during the summer, absorbing heat from the interior of your home using a refrigerant inside the evaporator coil, then shedding that heat outside at the condenser coil.
In the winter, however, the cycle can be reversed to absorb heat from the outside air and bring it inside. This is done with a reversing valve that changes the direction of refrigerant flow in the system, effectively switching the roles of the evaporator and condenser coils.
Only air conditioners designed to produce heat should be used for heating purposes. Incorrectly running a portable air conditioner or window AC heater could damage the unit. In worst-case scenarios, it can allow condensate to drip into your home, causing costly water damage. It can even pose a risk of electric shock or fire – another reason a properly installed heat pump is the safer long-term choice.
Upgrade Your System to a Mini-Split or Heat Pump
If you want to upgrade your air conditioner to a system that provides heating and cooling, consider installing a heat pump or a ductless mini-split. Both systems function as heat pumps, cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is a large split system that looks similar to a central air conditioner. It has a condenser unit outside and an air handler with an evaporator coil inside. The heat pump delivers heated or cooled air through a system of air ducts to each area of the home.
Ductless Mini-Splits
A ductless mini-split features a large condenser unit outside and one or more air handlers inside the home. Each air handler supplies heated or cooled air to a single room or zone, with no ductwork to leak or waste energy. Each can be controlled individually, allowing you to customize the temperature of each room.
Ductless mini-split systems can be designed to heat a single room for easy upgrades when you add an addition or if you need extra heating and cooling capacity. They can also be built to heat and cool multiple rooms or an entire home, with one air handler for each zone.
Heat pumps and ductless mini-splits offer highly efficient heating and cooling in one system. If the appropriate heat pump for the climate is installed, there is no need for a separate heating solution. Plus, they produce heat using only electric power, making them ideal for areas lacking the natural gas service required to install a furnace.
Schedule Heating Installation in Carbon County
When you’re ready to move on from a makeshift window AC heater and upgrade to a proper heat pump or ductless mini-split, talk to our Andreas Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning team. We can recommend the most efficient heat pump or ductless HVAC system for Pennsylvania’s chilly climate and provide a professional heat pump installation that ensures efficient, long-lasting performance.
Our HVAC company has been family-owned for four generations. We offer outstanding customer service that earns excellent reviews from our clients. We serve Carbon County, Lehigh County, Monroe County, and parts of Northampton and Schuylkill counties. With our unparalleled honesty, integrity, and commitment to hard work, you can count on us for all your heating and cooling needs.
Call Team Andreas today to schedule a heat pump or ductless mini-split installation in Eastern Pennsylvania.