Did you know that your air conditioning unit can heat your home, too? In addition to cooling your home during the hot summer months, an air conditioning unit can also be used to heat your home during the winter. An air conditioner can provide heat for your home by reversing its standard operations. Instead of pushing cool air into the house, an air conditioner can pull hot indoor air and send it outside. This article from Sun City Air Conditioning experts will explain how you can use your air conditioning unit as a heater and much more!
What Is a Cooling Only Air Conditioner?
A cooling-only air conditioner is exactly what it sounds like, one that only cools the air in your home. This type of air conditioning unit has a reversing valve installed in the unit and can be switched to heating mode. Cooling-only air conditioners are typically less expensive than systems with both cooling and heating modes. However, if you want the convenience of heating your home with your air conditioner, you may want to consider a system that can do both.
How to Heat Your Home With an Air Conditioner
The first step to using your air conditioning unit to heat your home is to ensure that you have the correct thermostat settings for both the cooling and heating modes. Typically, you will want to set the thermostat to a higher temperature when using your air conditioner as a heater.
To heat your home with your air conditioning unit, you will want to turn the thermostat to the heating mode and set the temperature higher than what you would typically set it at if you were using it only to cool the house. You will also want to make sure that you turn the fan setting to “on” so that the warm air is circulated throughout your home.
Other Ways to Heat Your Home Using an A/C Unit
- You can use your air conditioner to remove moisture from the air. This is a great way to help control humidity indoors and can be very useful during winter.
- You can also use your air conditioning unit to exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. This is a great way to help refresh your home and avoid indoor air quality issues.
- You can also use your air conditioner as a dehumidifier to help remove excess moisture from the air. This is a great way to help control humidity indoors and can be very useful during winter.
Tips for Using Your A/C to Heat Your Home
- Ensure that your air conditioning unit is in good condition and ready to operate for winter. If your air conditioner is having issues, it may not be able to provide enough heat to your home.
- Ensure that you use the thermostat correctly for both the cooling and heating modes. Typically, you will turn the thermostat up when using the air conditioner to heat your home.
- If you notice that your air conditioner isn’t heating your home enough, consider adding a space heater to supplement your air conditioner.
- If you notice that your air conditioner is overheating your home, turn the thermostat down and turn the unit off or unplug it. This can save your system from damage and save you money on your energy bill.
Downsides of Using Your A/C to Heat Your Home
- Using your air conditioner to heat your home can raise electricity bills. If you use your air conditioner to heat your home, check your energy bill monthly to see how much you are being charged.
- Using your air conditioner to heat your home can cause your unit to work harder, decreasing its lifespan.
- Using your air conditioner to heat your home can create an uncomfortable indoor environment. If you are using your air conditioner to heat your home, you will want to make sure to open windows to let fresh air in and circulate the indoor air.
Conclusion
An air conditioning unit is a great thing to have during the winter months. However, if your air conditioning unit is cooling your home, it will not be able to remove excess moisture from the air, exchange indoor air for fresh outdoor air, or provide white background noise. An air conditioner can provide all of these benefits when in heating mode.
If you want to keep your home comfortable and warm during the cold winter months, consider using your air conditioning unit to heat your home. Using your air conditioning unit to heat your home will allow you to take advantage of the energy-saving benefits of an air conditioner and help keep your home warm and comfortable.
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