What Are The Advantages Of A Reverse Cycle Heat Pump?

Why you should consider a reverse cycle heat pump?

Basically, a reverse cycle heat pump is used to heat your home in winter, AND cool your home in summer, all with one energy-efficient unit. It’s so brilliantly simple! Hands down, it’s one of the most efficient ways to heat your home using electricity.

There are so many advantages to using a reverse cycle heat pump for heating and cooling. Here are just a few:

They warm in winter
They certainly do, and it’s all about the heating technique! A reverse cycle heat pump works very differently to conventional gas or portable electric heaters. Conventional heaters have to ‘create’ heat energy, while a reverse cycle heat pump ‘absorbs’ heat from the outdoor air to warm the air inside, which is a more energy efficient technique.

When in heating mode, the unit works in the opposite way to cooling, in that it draws heat in from the air outside before distributing it around the room. To get a bit technical, a refrigerant is passed through an external coil, absorbing heat from the outside air. This refrigerant is then pumped through a compressor into a fan coil unit inside the home, releasing heat into the room. It doesn’t have to be warm outside for the unit to do this, as it can perform this function even in freezing conditions.

Built with cold conditions in mind, a good reverse cycle heat pump will have an automatic defrost cycle for more effective operation. So even when the mercury drops as low as minus 15ºC, your reverse cycle heat pump can still heat your home.

They cool in summer
With a flick of the switch, your reverse cycle heat pump is now in cooling mode. Again, using a super-energy efficient system, the unit will absorb heat from the inside air and dissipate it outside, leaving your home cooler. Today’s modern technology means your heat pump unit can cool your home in temperatures well over 30ºC. So forget cumbersome or bulky fans. This is the perfect cooling system made for our climate.

They’re extremely efficient
The one word you’ll hear over and over again when talking about reverse cycle heat pumps is efficient… efficient in terms of energy use, efficient in cost over time, efficient in heating, efficient in cooling. They really do provide one of the most efficient means of heating a home available.

In fact, modern reverse cycle heat pumps are becoming more efficient over time, particularly in terms of energy consumption and cost, making them a very good investment in comfort and health. And as electricity prices continue to rise, heat pump efficiency is becoming increasingly important. They’re efficient even in the most extreme conditions. For example, one kW of electricity consumed, will generate three or more kW of heating or cooling.

When comparing energy consumption for different heat pumps, remember there are different energy ratings, so ask a specialist to explain what the numbers mean. As with other appliances, the more stars your heating and cooling unit has, the more energy efficient it is.

They’re adaptable and flexible
As part of a push for energy efficiency, many modern reverse cycle heat pump units come with thermostats and advanced inverter technology, which means they’re able to adapt to the temperature and condition of the room. Inverter technology helps to deliver one of the most energy efficient ways to heat and cool your home using electricity. Unlike a conventional heat pump’s on/off operation, inverter technology works like the accelerator of a car, gently adjusting power to reach the desired temperature faster, then steadily maintaining it without fluctuations, for uninterrupted comfort and more efficient operation.

More efficient than portable heaters
Reverse cycle heat pump units are usually much more efficient than plug-in portable electric heaters, which can sometimes be cheap to buy but costly to run. Also, consider the size of the space you wish to warm with your heating source. Many portable heaters are only designed to warm a very small area like the ground around your icicle-cold feet, for example, and the heat may not emanate to a wide enough area to truly warm your environment, or your body, unless you literally sit on top of it, which is neither safe nor practical!

You only pay once
A particular advantage of installing a reverse cycle heat pump is that you only pay once for a unit that performs two functions. All you need to do is change the unit’s mode to switch between heating for those winter months and cooling to quickly cool your home in the warmer summer months. Some New Zealanders actually live in an environment where they could use the heater one day and the cooler the next. So having a reverse cycle heat pump could help make your home’s heating and cooling expenses much more efficient.

They help purify the air
Dust and smoke be gone! Reverse cycle heat pumps don’t just heat or cool your home, some split systems can actually purify the air inside it. Daikin’s heat pumps feature a built in air-purifying filter that traps fine airborne particles, helping you purify the air inside your home. Some even decompose odours, and absorb and deactivate bacteria and viruses. Considering New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world, as well as high levels of hayfever and other allergies, this is an unexpected advantage of a reverse cycle heat pump and can make it an important factor when considering your growing family’s needs, not just in terms of heating or cooling, but in terms of health.

Less noise equals greater comfort
When it comes to a heating or cooling system, perfect climate control is the key factor that can affect comfort in your home, but it’s not the only one. Operating noise levels can also have an impact on comfort levels. Some manufacturers of reverse cycle heat pumps are investing in, and developing technology to reduce operating noise across their units, maximising a family’s comfort at every level.

Better for the environment
Here’s another fantastic advantage to choosing a reverse cycle heat pump. These systems tend to produce only one third the greenhouse gas emissions of standard electric heaters. Some reverse cycle units that are rated above a 5 star energy rating such as Daikin’s only 7 star energy rated split system* (US7) will actually produce less than one fifth of the emissions of conventional electric heaters.

More split systems today are using the new R32 refrigerant with 66% lower global warming potential factor than R410A which is the common refrigerant type.

Less greenhouse gas emissions means a happier planet.

*25 Class Model, as of 22/10/14 - visit www.energyrating.gov.au for details

They can be professionally installed
When purchasing and installing a reverse cycle heat pump, you’ll get specialist help on the optimal heating solution for your home which is a real value-add. Every home is different, so a Daikin Specialist Dealer can evaluate your needs and advise on the most appropriate solution, ensuring that you receive a top quality product that operates effectively and efficiently thanks to professional installation and support.

So there you have it. The advantages of reverse cycle heat pump - heating, cooling, comfort, clean air and flexibility all year round. And of course, optimum energy efficiency. Could it be just the thing you’re looking for?