Air Conditioner - Heat-Cool Versus Heat Pump

Some window and wall air conditioners offer heating and cooling.

Heat-Cool Models

During the heat cycle "resistance" heaters are energized and warm air is blown into the room. These are coil heaters similar to electric dryer heaters. You get 3.413 BTUs of heat for every watt expended. Because these Heat-Cool models use a resistance heater, they will operate in the Heat Mode regardless of outdoor temperature.

Heat Pump Models

During the heat cycle, the compressor continues to pump and a reversing valve changes the direction of the flow of gas. This process essentially moves the warm condenser coils that are normally outside to the inside. In a warm climate, the heat pump is more efficient, while in a cold climate (average temperature below 35 degrees Fahrenheit consistently) a heat-cool model is more efficient.

• At temperatures below 35 degrees, the compressor cycles off for the heat pump and resistance heat is used like a heat-cool model.
• At 47 degrees, the rating point for heat pumps, it is 2 1/2 times more efficient to operate than a resistance heat model.
• Split System air conditioner systems (NLA) did not have resistance back-up heat.

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