Heating with an Air Conditioner – The Pros and Cons in One Place

Yes, you can heat with an air conditioner: an efficient cooling-and-heating A/C can maintain a pleasant air temperature in winter, too, and the same unit cools in summer. Comfort has its limits, however – an A/C heats the air, the floor stays cold, the unit can be heard, and it needs regular cleaning. We weigh these up below.

Fresh air, a walk or sledging feels good in winter, too, but only really so if a pleasant warmth greets you when you get home. Today there is a wide choice of heating methods, and more and more people ask whether an air conditioner is enough for the job.

The advantages of heating with an air conditioner

Safety

An air conditioner burns no fuel in the home, so there are no combustion products, carbon monoxide or open flame to worry about. Many people have heard of accidents linked to other heating methods – with an air conditioner this risk does not exist.

Cost and efficiency

As an air-to-air heat pump, a cooling-and-heating A/C uses the heat of the outdoor air, so with a unit of good energy rating the monthly heating cost can be favourable. According to information from MVM Optimum, in Hungary the preferential H tariff can also be requested for split air conditioners with an SCOP of at least 3.4 that can both heat and cool, during the heating period, from 15 October to 15 April. The Geo tariff recommended when the article was published can no longer be taken up in new contracts. The H tariff cannot be used for heating film or infrared panels.

One unit, two jobs

Because it can both cool and heat, you do not need two separate appliances. Indoor units mounted on the wall near the ceiling take up no floor space either, so furniture can be arranged freely.

The disadvantages of heating with an air conditioner

Constant background noise

An air conditioner has a characteristic humming sound. If it has to keep the heat up all day, it runs the whole time, and after a while this sound can become annoying. Quieter units exist, but even they are not completely silent – anyone sensitive to monotonous background noise should try this out in advance.

Regular cleaning

An air conditioner has to be cleaned every six months. If this is neglected, a dirty unit can cause illness, and the equipment may even shut down.

Warm air, cold floor

In summer, blowing in cold air is exactly the point. In winter, however, the A/C warms the air, not the floor – warm air rises, the floor stays cold, and feet easily get cold. The airflow also circulates dust around the home.

How is radiant infrared heating different?

Infrared heating targets the problem of cold feet: built in under the floor, it warms the floor itself and the people in the room. The warmth of heating built in under the floor can be felt within 5–15 minutes, depending on the floor covering, faster than with systems that take hours to warm up. Because it does not heat by circulating air, there is no need to fear airborne dust, and it makes no noise. It cannot cool, however; that needs a separate solution. You can read a measured comparison of the two heating methods in the comparison of infrared heating and air-conditioner air heating.

Summary

An air conditioner can be useful, because it heats in winter, cools in summer, and with the right unit can be run on a preferential tariff. It does not warm the floor, however, it is audible, and it moves dust along with the air. We would not like to talk anyone out of heating with an air conditioner, nor talk anyone into infrared underfloor heating: it is worth requesting a quote for both for your own home and deciding on the basis of your comfort needs. If you choose an air conditioner, our articles on choosing a cooling-and-heating air conditioner and economical air-conditioner use will help; a comparison of heating methods can be found on our electric heating page.

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• Infrared heating or a heat pump – 9 criteria for the decision