Almost all of us buy air conditioning for cooling indoor air. And this is right, because this is its main function. As for using it for space heating, this is a completely different conversation. Nevertheless, the issue is relevant, especially if there is no electric heater or its power is not enough. Let's see how to turn on the air conditioner for heating and what is the principle of its action.
Some general information
I would like to note right away that modern split systems are designed for air cooling. If the first air conditioners could not heat at all, today almost all manufacturers have taken care of this feature. But there are many nuances to which you need to pay attention. For example, it is not recommended to use the air conditioner for heating in winter at a temperature outside the window of -15 or lower. Firstly, this will not give the desired effect, and secondly, the device may fail, and you will not be able to change it under warranty. It is best to turn on the split system for heating in the autumn or spring, when the central heating is still not working, or when it is still cold, and the heat is no longer in the batteries. Well, now let's deal with the question that interests us.
How to put air conditioning for heating
Now I would like to consider the inclusion process directly, and only then to deal with other nuances. First of all, you need to find out if your split system has such a function, this information can be obtained by reading the instructions. If so, now you need to figure out how the air conditioner works for heating. First you need to pick up a control panel or go to the electronic panel of the air conditioner. There you can find a button called mode. It serves to switch modes. Some manufacturers introduce another name for the key we need - Heat. You need to press the desired button several times, and watch when a small image appears on the screen in the form of the sun and the inscription Heat. Then you will need to adjust the temperature using the appropriate buttons and enjoy the result. By the way, the result will not appear immediately, but in 5-10 minutes. As you can see, turning on the air conditioner for heating does not take more than two minutes. Let's go ahead and talk about how the device works.
Reverse mode, or heating
If the split system works to heat the air in the room, then, in fact, you are using reverse, in simple words - the reverse mode. If warm air was taken in from outside while cooling the air, and cold air entered the room, then the system works for heating somewhat differently. Warm or cold air is taken from the outdoor unit, which depends on the season, then the stream passes through the heating element and enters the room already heated. But it is worth paying your attention to the fact that the lower the temperature outside the window, the less use is made of a split system working for heating. There is one more nuance. It consists in the fact that freon works in reverse mode, and for this a 4-channel valve is used, which complicates the design of the product.
What happens inside the air conditioner at minus temperature
We all know that at too low a temperature, a machine running on mineral oil is very difficult to start. However, this can be solved using synthetic oils. So, what is it all about. The fact is that the air conditioner also has a case with oil, and it is located in the external unit, in other words, outside the window. When the temperature decreases, the oil thickens, and nothing can be done with it, these are the properties of this liquid. For this simple reason, many manufacturers do not recommend switching on the split system at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. Do not forget that approximately 65% of air conditioners do not have a heating element, so they actually generate heat by moving air from the street to the room. Factory Freon is not suitable for operation at too low temperatures, so you will need to use a special brand of refrigerant, for example, R410A. But here you need to install a winter road. Let's see what it is and what it is for.
What is a winter road and why is it needed?
As you can understand from the term itself, this is what protects the device in the cold season. Winter road is an additional set of equipment that will allow you to safely use the split system at sub-zero temperatures. The kit includes an electronic board, designed to slightly reduce the speed of the compressor. In addition, a heating casing is mounted on the crankcase with oil. This partially protects the liquid from frost. A heating cable is also inserted into the drainage path. As you know, drainage is a pipe that drains condensate and other moisture from the room to the outside. At low temperatures, the liquid may freeze halfway, resulting in a plug. If all these elements are installed, then the operation of the air conditioner for heating in the winter will not be a significant problem.
Monoblock air conditioning as a heater
Let's see if it is possible to use such a split system to heat a room. The principle of operation of such an air conditioner is quite simple. There is a large corrugation that sends warm air out the window (cooling mode). A fairly powerful pump allows you to increase the performance of this small device. Inside there are two airtight compartments: one accumulates hot air, and the second cold. If not a freon circuit is used, but a ceramic heater, then, in fact, we have both air conditioning and a heater. You can use such a unit at any temperature, since we do not have any grease in the crankcase, or an external unit. But this raises the issue of installation. Most often, the pipe is vented, sometimes into the window. If you do not know how to turn on the air conditioner for heating this type, then read the instructions. In most cases, you need to use the panel on the case, find the Made button there and switch to Heat mode.
Important details
In principle, we have already figured out how to turn on the air conditioning for heating. I would like to say that if you had planned to use the split system as a heating device in advance, then your choice should be more careful. Such devices should be accompanied by a winter road, for which you will receive a full guarantee from the manufacturer. You already know how air conditioning works for heating, so you are well aware of all the risks if you do not use a winter road. I would like to note that inverter systems that can work even at minus 20-30 degrees Celsius are best suited for heating a room.
Conclusion
So we talked with you about how to turn on the air conditioning for heating. There is nothing complicated, it is much more important to carefully study the instructions. If it says that the device cannot be turned on for heating at sub-zero temperatures, then this is not recommended. Better call the service center and find out if a winter road is possible. And further. Regardless of how the air conditioner works for heating, good or bad, do not forget that its main purpose is to cool the air in the room. For air heating, mobile monoblocks with ceramic heating elements are better suited. So you not only warm the room, but also do not harm the expensive equipment. In any case, of course, it's up to you.