You must admit that the heating system in our houses is not perfect, and often we have to heat the room on our own. Not all air conditioner owners know that the equipment can be used not only to cool the air, but also to warm it up. In this article, we will tell you in detail how to turn on warm air on the air conditioner.
You will also learn the principle of operation of the air conditioner in heating mode, the rules for operating the equipment, the advantages and disadvantages of using it in winter. As a bonus, we will tell you what to do if, after all the manipulations, the air in the room does not heat up.
The content of the article:
- Features of the air conditioner for heating
- Which air conditioner to choose for heating?
- Installing a winter kit for the air conditioner
- Permissible temperature for heating operation
- Inverter air conditioners
- How to set the air conditioner for heating?
- Why does the air conditioner not work for heating?
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Features of the air conditioner for heating
In our country, air conditioning is rarely used to heat a room. It's all about climatic features, in particular, the famous Russian frosts.
The compressor, which compresses the refrigerant, which is distributed among the parts of the device, "suffers" from low temperatures. An oil is dissolved in it, designed to lubricate rubbing parts. In cold weather, it thickens, and parts of the equipment wear out quickly.
In winter, the temperature and humidity of the air often change, as a result of which condensation forms during the operation of the air conditioner. To remove excess moisture, a drainage system is provided in the form of a tube brought out to the street
At low temperatures, the water in the drainage tube freezes and a plug forms in it, which blocks the drainage of condensate. In this case, excess moisture seeps into the room through the inner case, which leads to equipment breakdown.
After the air conditioner is set to heat, the refrigerant must be warmed up. However, due to low temperatures, this does not happen. As a result, the cooled refrigerant, which has not had time to heat up, enters the compressor, which leads to a hydraulic boost. As a result, the device becomes unusable.
A simple split system can be used to heat the room in the off-season. Most often, this option is used during the period when the central heating hasn't been turned on yet, and the house is cool and damp. Heating by air conditioning is more economical than most heaters (more heat is produced with the same electricity consumption).
The principle of operation of the split system: the air is heated in the outdoor unit, after which it enters the indoor unit through the pipeline, and the fan redirects the warm air downward. However, with the arrival of frost, it is prohibited to use this type of air conditioners.
Models with a heat pump are suitable for year-round operation. The air enters the outdoor unit, where it is warmed up. Further, by means of freon, it is redirected to the indoor unit, from where the warm air enters the room.
The main advantage of using an air conditioner to heat a room is energy savings. In heating devices, electricity is converted into heat at a rate of 1: 1.
In air conditioners, electricity is not converted. It is spent on the transfer of thermal energy. To obtain 1 kilowatt of heat, you need 250-350 W of energy, which is 3-4 times less than the consumption of a standard heater.
An indispensable air conditioner with heating function also in the off-season. With the help of an air conditioner, you can heat the air in the room to a comfortable temperature, and since there is no frost yet, nothing threatens the device.
There are few disadvantages of heating a room with an air conditioner. One device cannot heat the air in all rooms. Like other heating appliances, air conditioning dries the air.
Which air conditioner to choose for heating?
If you plan to use the air conditioner not only for cooling the air in the summer, but also for heating in the cold season, then you should choose a model with an inverter compressor. Since the operation of the equipment will be carried out in a wide range of temperatures, a prerequisite is a smooth control of the compressor capacity.
If the device breaks down as a result of non-compliance with the temperature parameters, this is not a warranty case. In winter, it is recommended to disconnect the air conditioner from the mains. To protect the outdoor unit from icicles and snow, a visor should be installed
It should also be borne in mind that the device must be designed to operate at temperatures of -20 - 25 C.
Only in this case, you can be sure that the manufacturer has provided all the components for work in the winter:
- fan speed controller in the outdoor unit;
- the presence of a defrosting mode;
- special version of the compressor;
- crankcase and compressor heating;
- heat exchanger with anti-corrosion layer, etc.
Regular models air conditioners for a house or apartment they can also heat the air, but their operation is allowed at temperatures up to -5 C. However, do not forget about the opportunity to "strengthen" the equipment by installing a winter kit.
Installing a winter kit for the air conditioner
Standard models of air conditioners can be retrofit winter set, which will allow the equipment to operate in low temperatures.
The package consists of several devices, which:
- heat up the drainage system;
- prevent refrigerant overcooling;
- prevent oil thickening.
The basic principle of operation of additional equipment:
- The temperature sensor allows you to adjust the rotation speed of the fan located in the outdoor unit. With a decrease in temperature, its speed decreases. This avoids thickening (freezing) of the oil and icing of the housing.
- Heating of the compressor crankcase, so that the device is always ready to start.
- Heating of the drainage system to prevent the formation of ice plugs and to effectively drain the condensate.
It would seem that a solution has been found. However, it was not there. Installing a winter kit allows you to turn on the air conditioner at lower temperatures set by the manufacturer, only for cooling.
Equipping the air conditioner with a winter kit, it is still prohibited to use it for heating in frost. The risk of water hammer also increases significantly.
The winter kit is most often installed in rooms that are undesirable to ventilate, but need to be cooled. For example: server and computer centers, where it is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature for the safety of the equipment.
The principle of operation of an air conditioner for heating is extremely simple - heat is absorbed during evaporation, and its release occurs during condensation.
In order to understand how the equipment heats air, you need to understand how it is cooled:
- In the gaseous state, the refrigerant enters the compressor.
- Under pressure, it is compressed and heated to a high temperature.
- The refrigerant flows from the compressor to the condenser and becomes liquid.
- The refrigerant pressure decreases and is redirected to the evaporator of the indoor unit. Here it again goes into a gaseous state.
- The refrigerant "boils", causing the indoor air to cool. The collected heat is "thrown" into the street.
- The gaseous refrigerant is returned to the compressor. The cycle is closed.
In heating mode, the condenser and evaporator are swapped. This is made possible by a special valve that reverses the refrigerant flow.
Permissible temperature for heating operation
Most often, most split systems work effectively at temperatures below -5 ° C. With more severe frosts, the efficiency of the equipment decreases and there is a risk of icing of the drainage system and condenser.
Taking the temperature readings of the air, you need to take into account the error of the thermometer. Therefore, at the critical temperatures declared by the manufacturer, it is better not to turn on the device.
The lower permissible temperature limit depends on the type of refrigerant. Some air conditioners effectively heat the air even at -15 ° C. In harsh climatic conditions, inverter models are used, in which the intensity of the compressor can be adjusted.
Inverter air conditioners
Inverter air conditioners can be used all year round. Their distinctive feature lies in the way they control the operation of the compressor. With a decrease in temperature, performance is reduced to the required indicator by changing the speed of the electric motor.
Energy efficiency ratio inverter air conditioner — 5. This means that you will receive 5 kW of heat by spending 1 kW of electricity.
Disadvantages of inverter air conditioning systems:
- high price;
- significant weight of the outdoor unit;
- sensitivity to power surges;
- more complex repairs.
Advantages:
- rapid achievement of the set temperature;
- practically silent;
- it is impossible to turn on the device at temperatures below permissible.
Continuous operation of the equipment (without periodic on / off switching) saves up to 30% of electricity.
How to set the air conditioner for heating?
Before turning on a conventional split system for heating, you should make sure that the equipment provides this option.
Before starting operation, be sure to study the instructions, in which the presence of this mode is indicated by the sun icon or the "Heat" key. If an option is provided, see the lower temperature threshold
Stages of connecting the air conditioner to heating by means of the control panel.
- Connect the equipment to the mains.
- Press the "on / off" button once. Most often, it differs from other buttons in color.
- Press the "Mode / Heat" key or the button with the image of a droplet, sun, snowflake. After that, the image of the sun appears on the display.
- Set the desired temperature.
Warm air will begin to flow after 5-10 minutes.
Using the control panel, you can adjust the position of the louvers and the fan speed.
If the remote control does not have the "HEAT" button or the sun, at the same time, other modes are provided, then your device is not intended for heating the room.
Stages of connecting the air conditioner for heating using the buttons on the device itself:
- Connect the equipment to the mains.
- Click on "on / off". The button is located on the indoor unit or under the plastic panel. A short press changes the modes (from cold to warm). A long press turns off the device.
- The temperature can only be adjusted using the control panel.
A more detailed guide on how to turn on the air conditioner for heating is in the instructions.
Why does the air conditioner not work for heating?
First of all, you should make sure that this option is provided in selected climatic device. If the temperature outside the window is negative, then the cause may be a breakdown of the compressor, freezing of the oil or the drainage system.
If the display shows information that the device is functioning normally, do not rush to panic. It takes time to warm up the indoor unit - up to 15 minutes. During this time, after starting the device, the temperature in the room will begin to rise.
Refrigerant leakage can be another cause of malfunction. This occurs as a result of poor adhesion of the interconnect tubes. Call the service department, which will fix the problem and add refrigerant.
After air conditioner installation filters should be cleaned in time. If you ignore this requirement, then damage can not be avoided. To accurately determine the source of the problem, you need to pay attention to the display screen, which displays the error code. The meaning can be found in the instructions.
If 15 minutes after system startup the air does not heat up, try resetting the settings. To do this, once again read the instructions on how to adjust the air conditioner for warm air. Repeat all the steps from the beginning. Then turn on the system again and check its operation after 15 minutes.
If the image of the sun or the inscription "HEAT" flashes periodically, then most likely the battery should be replaced. Sometimes it's enough to just pull them out and insert them again.
The reason for the lack of heating may be an insufficient amount of freon. In this case, contact the service department.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
How to turn on the air conditioner in heating mode:
Most models of air conditioners will have a hard time in the winter in the harsh climatic conditions of our country. The price of devices that can work in severe frosts "bites". With the help of an air conditioner, it is advisable to heat a small room, as well as to operate the equipment in the off-season. For full heating of a large house or an entire apartment, it is better to purchase a heater or heat gun.
What climate technology do you use to create favorable “weather at home”? Or maybe you have experience in setting up an air conditioner for heating? Share your stories and tips in the comments.
