Heat pumps: why using an air conditioner to heat your home is not a good idea at all

Is it convenient to use air conditioners to heat rooms? That's why it's not a good idea in most cases

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Many in the summer use the air conditioner to combat the heat in the summer. Those who have installed it in their homes will have asked themselves at least once: is it a valid alternative to stoves and radiators in the winter, especially in periods when temperatures suffer a drastic drop?

Let's find out what are the advantages and disadvantages of heating rooms using an air conditioner.

Is it a good idea to use the air conditioner to heat your home? Not exactly

First of all, it is good to clarify that to generate warmth in the house it is necessary to opt for heat pump air conditioners, which - unlike the traditional one - allows you to heat the rooms and reduce the humidity. The main advantage is that it does not need the same maintenance as the boiler. The only maintenance an air conditioner needs is to clean the filters, which should never be underestimated. In addition, heat pump heaters can heat a room in no time.

However, it is not exactly the best solution, especially when it is very cold. In fact, the operation of heat pump air conditioners is strongly affected by external temperatures. If they are very low or the humidity is very high, the motor tends to work less efficiently. This happens because one is created ice layer on the surface of the external unit which prevents it from hindering the heat exchange. Therefore, in order to efficiently heat the spaces of a home, the frost that constantly forms must first be melted.

Furthermore, air conditioners cannot adequately heat large rooms or large spaces. Generally an air conditioner can guarantee good heating in small rooms of about 40/50 square meters. To heat larger rooms, however, it may also be necessary to use two air conditioners with a net increase in electricity consumption and cost. In this case, radiators are certainly the most suitable and convenient choice.

But not only. Air conditioners often tend to excessively dehumidify the environment, causing many health problems and forcing the use of a humidifier to compensate. Finally, the use of these appliances involves the need to install an external motor and this is not always feasible, especially in older homes with architectural constraints.

So when to use air conditioners to heat?

Surely you are wondering: then should you never use air conditioners in autumn or winter? The answer is yes, but only in certain precise circumstances and for a short time, namely:

when very small rooms need to be heated
when the outside temperatures are not too cold
when the humidity is very high
in cases where there is no gas distribution network or there are dangers associated with its use

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