A reverse cycle heating and cooling system is an air conditioning unit that can both cool and warm the air of a particular room in your house or workplace. This means that during the winter, you can enjoy the comfort of a warmer room and during the summer a cooler room.

Components of a Reverse Cycle Heating and Cooling Air Conditioner

To understand how this piece of equipment works, you need to know the various components it houses and what they do. The main components include a condenser, condenser fan, compressor, expansion valve, evaporator, evaporator blower and refrigerant.

Ways That Reverse Cycle Heating and Cooling Systems Work

During the Winter

During the winter, warm air is absorbed from outside and into the reverse cycle heating and cooling unit through the evaporator and blower (you may find it extremely cold outside, but there is usually some warm air). A refrigerant passes through the evaporator coils to absorb the heat from the warm air obtained from outside. It further moves through an expansion valve and gets into the compressor.

The compressor pumps the refrigerant into the condenser through condenser coils and chambers. During this compression, the refrigerant warms up and the resulting hot air is blown into the room by the condenser fan. The cycle continues as long as you have the reverse cycle heating and cooling unit turned on for heating.

During the Summer

During the summer, hot air from a room is absorbed into the reverse cycle heating and cooling unit through the condenser and condenser fan. It passes through the condenser coils that are usually filled with a refrigerant, which cools it and sends cool air into the room. The warmed refrigerant moves into the compressor and is converted to a hot gas that is pumped to the evaporator where it cools down and lets hot air out.

The cooled refrigerant then flows through the expansion valve and into the condenser coils to cool the additional warm air absorbed. The cycle continues as long as you have the reverse cycle heating and cooling unit turned on for cooling.

Types of Reverse Cycle Heating and Cooling Air Conditioning Units

You might either come across split systems, multi-head split systems, wall/window mounted or ducted systems. Which one should you choose? You need the guidance of a reverse cycle heating and cooling air conditioning service company. A representative has to do a site visit to get the actual size of the room to be heated and listen to your needs. Such information helps him or her recommend a unit that suits your needs.