Features of the operation of “warm” air conditioners and their possible malfunctions

Air conditioners and split systems with FREE installation

Most split systems, in addition to cooling, also work for heating. This function is especially relevant in the off-season. In private homes, the device sometimes serves as the main source of heat.

Is this heating method effective and what conditions need to be created for a split system in winter, read this article.

How does an air conditioner work for heat?

First, let's look at how the cooling process occurs:

1. Freon in the form of gas enters the compressor, where it is compressed and heated to +70–90 C°.
2. The hot refrigerant flows into the condenser (located in the outdoor unit), where it turns into a liquid state.
3. The condensation process is accompanied by cooling of the freon with the accompanying release of heat.
4. The refrigerant is then sent to the evaporator of the indoor unit, where it becomes a gas, releasing cold and absorbing heat from the room.
5. Afterwards the whole path is repeated.

To start the reverse process, that is, to obtain heat, air conditioners use a four-way valve. It changes the direction of freon circulation. As a result, the external unit becomes an evaporator, and the cold is discharged outside. The indoor unit functions as a condenser in which the freon is cooled and releases heat.

Classification and general information

People's health, quality of life, and productivity are largely determined by the state of the environment. To minimize the impact of cold, it is necessary to create a comfortable microclimate in the premises. Today, air conditioners do an excellent job of this task. Units are usually divided into split systems, as well as mobile and window monoblocks.

Split systems consist of indoor and outdoor units. They also have their own classification:

• Wall-mounted. They are the most popular and most often installed in office and residential premises.
• Columned. They are used in restaurants, concert halls, hotel lobbies for supplying and distributing air in the ceiling space.
• Ceiling. They direct air flows along the walls or ceiling.

Also today, large facilities can use multi-systems. They consist of one common and several internal blocks, which are located in different rooms. Among the main characteristics of air conditioners it should be noted:

• power consumption;
• performance;
• noise level during operation;
• functionality.

We recommend that you read: Window air conditioner

The cost of air conditioners depends not only on the main characteristics or brand, but also on the class of the unit. The most affordable are budget devices. They are easy to use, but at the same time they have a fairly high noise level and relatively little functionality.

Mid-range devices are also quite noisy during operation, but are more reliable. The most expensive are luxury air conditioners. They are characterized by maximum efficiency, are silent and have advanced functionality.

What is better to warm up: air conditioning or heater

During the off-season, people most often use heaters. Their main disadvantage is high energy consumption with low output. For example, an oil heater uses 2 kW per hour at the same power rating.

Understanding how an air conditioner works for heating an apartment, it is not difficult to guess that it will be more profitable for heating. The split system does not have a heating element, and electricity is only needed to operate the motor and fan. Heat will be supplied to the room due to freon condensation. When a split system consumes 700 W of electricity, it emits about 3 kW of heat.

What is efficiency and thermal efficiency of air conditioners

The principle of operation of air conditioners for heating is practically no different from cooling. But there is one point that reduces the efficiency of the split system, and therefore the efficiency. These are low air temperatures outside.

Firstly, the oil in the air conditioning compressor crankcase begins to freeze at such temperatures. The unit itself operates under fairly heavy loads, which leads to its wear. Secondly, a coil located outdoors is not able to deliver the required amount of cold so that the efficiency of the air conditioner is maximum. Its recoil area is not enough. These are quite serious problems that are solved in different ways. Eg:

• crankcase heating is installed;
• a special refrigerant with higher heat transfer characteristics is used;
• an electronic plateau is used, with the help of which the speed of the split system compressor is reduced,
• a heating wire is installed along the condensate drainage from the indoor unit so that the water inside does not freeze.

Now to the issue of efficiency and effectiveness of the split system. Both indicators are interrelated. That is, efficiency is an assessment of the efficiency of the air conditioner. It is calculated taking into account power consumption and useful power. The latter is the amount of thermal energy produced per unit of time. The first is electrical current consumption.

The ratio of the second to the first should not be less than one. When the outside temperature is above zero, it makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the split system several times. Usually it's 2-4. For example, if the power consumption of an air conditioner is 1.2 kW, then the power of thermal energy released should be 2.4-4.8 kW. Although the last limit is already critical.

Necessary conditions for correct operation of the air conditioner in winter

Split systems are most often used in the off-season, when central heating has already been turned off and has not yet been turned on.

Non-inverter air conditioners and inexpensive inverter air conditioners can be operated at outdoor temperatures not lower than -5-7 C°.

Middle-class inverter split systems operate at temperatures outside the window of -15 C°. Models from the premium segment can be turned on for heating even in 20-degree frost. To operate more efficiently, such devices take part of the air from the room, which allows them to compensate for smaller temperature differences. Also, in expensive models, high-quality freon flows, which boils at -30..-35, and not -18 C°.

If you only need to heat the apartment before turning on the heating, you can use an inexpensive split system. If you need to heat the room in severe frosts, give preference to more expensive models.

The operating conditions of air conditioners are specified in the operating manual. Check with the seller for the maximum permissible values ​​to guide you when choosing a suitable device.

Advantages and disadvantages of a split system for heating

Whether or not to heat using an air conditioner is a matter for each user to decide for himself privately. But if the decision turns out to be positive, then you can be sure that the air will not dry out, as when using heating devices. There are other advantages:

• environmentally friendly use (no CO2 emissions);
• Three times more heat will be produced than electricity consumed.

But in addition to improving the microclimate, there are also pitfalls. You should definitely be aware of them if you use them regularly.

1. The device will wear out 3-5 times faster. This will happen due to thickened oil, which will lose its properties.
2. There is a trend towards replacing the refrigerant - R410, which is safer for the ozone layer, will be used. This requires the installation of more advanced compressors.
3. The performance of the device will become half the nominal.
4. Air conditioning for heating often breaks down in winter.

How should an air conditioner work for heating in winter?

If the device can operate at temperatures down to minus 20 degrees, then it can be turned on at -15-18 C°. The difference between the operating temperature and the starting temperature is 2-5 degrees. This will be reflected in the operating instructions.

The device must be warmed up before active use. For this:

• Set the room temperature parameters to around 18-21 °C and turn on the split.
• Set the blower speed to minimum.
• Let the system operate in this mode for about 5-10 minutes.

Then set the desired temperature and give the system time to heat the room.

The heating does not turn on: what to do?

Why doesn't a modern air conditioner work for heat? There are three options:

1. Incorrect procedure when switching to heating mode.
2. The heating function is not provided by the manufacturer.
3. The air conditioner is out of order.

If, when changing modes, the “sun” icon or the inscription “HEAT” is not displayed, then your device does not have a heating function. If you have completed all the above operations, an indication is displayed on the indoor unit confirming the mode change, and the air conditioner will turn on after 30 minutes. heating does not turn on, this indicates a malfunction of the device and the need to contact a service center. The most common malfunction is a lack of refrigerant necessary for the system to function. In addition, failure of the device to operate for heating may occur for the following reasons:

• Contamination of filter elements. Filters need to be cleaned and replaced.
• There is a problem with the power supply to the remote control. The batteries need to be replaced.
• Power failure. Disconnect the device from power for 60 minutes to reset the settings, then reconnect and carry out the parameter settings procedure.

In some cases, when the air conditioner is operating “heat,” the fan in the indoor unit stops. This is not a breakdown or malfunction. When operating in this mode, condensation forms on the surface of the condensation heat exchanger, which can turn into ice at sub-zero temperatures outside.

Healthy! The fan regulates the freon condensation temperature in the circuit. While it is not working, the temperature of the refrigerant and, consequently, the heat exchanger increases. This process prevents icing of the radiator.

Does the air conditioner wear out during cold periods?

Non-inverter models experience heavy loads in cold weather. Any system contains a lubricant that comes into contact with freon. As the temperature drops, it thickens, and in severe frosts it begins to delaminate, which can lead to breakage.

Also, thick oil does not have time to lubricate the compressor. The latter has to work with increased load, which reduces the service life.

Inverter air conditioners are less susceptible to wear and tear, as they operate constantly, periodically reducing speed. As a result, the oil circulates without stopping, thickening slightly. This results in less wear on the compressor.

If the air conditioner is designed for mild frosts, a winter kit will help minimize the risk of breakdown. It will heat the outdoor unit's pan and drain pipe, and also regulate the fan speed.

We told you how the air conditioner works in heating mode. If you have any questions about choosing a split system for all-season use, we will help you choose the right model for your home. Call us by phone or leave a request for a consultation.

The feasibility of heating with an inverter air conditioner

From the previous section it is relatively clear why, with the efficiency stated in the passport, an air conditioner saves only 15-20% of electricity compared to classic heaters. The point is both in the drop in parameters and in the increase in the duration of thawing and defrosting cycles in a strong minus overboard. In addition, the oil pan and compressor unit need to be heated.

Therefore, the answer to the question of whether or not to buy an inverter air conditioner as a heater depends on many factors. You should definitely not purchase a household model that is forced to operate at the edge of its permissible temperature range. It is worth considering the pros and cons of an inverter in regions with low electricity prices.

Affordable Inverter Air Conditioner with Heating Mode Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SRK20ZSPR-S / SRC20ZSPR-S

But if the average annual low temperatures last for a long time, it is wise to pay attention to expensive air conditioners. These are devices with COP of 4 and higher. In this case, it is highly desirable that the average annual frost be in the middle or closer to the upper limit of their permissible operating temperature limit.

Winter set

There are two myths about effective heating with air conditioning in the winter cold.

The first myth: when installing a winter kit on an air conditioner with a heating function, it can be used at low temperatures. There is some truth in this - in this case it is allowed to turn on the device, but not for heat, but for cold.

A standard winter kit consists of three elements:

• fan rotation slowdown device;
• compressor crankcase heating;
• drainage heating - self-regulating heating element.

When the air conditioner operates for heating in winter, there is no need to slow down the fan; on the contrary, it should rotate even faster. Therefore, such a configuration of the split will only help when cooling the room, when it is necessary to slow down the rotation of the fan to maintain the condensation temperature.

In most cases, the installation of a winter kit for inverters is carried out not completely, but partially, since many devices have a fan retarder already built into a complex electronics system.

The second myth: purchasing a modern air conditioner with a built-in winter kit and an anti-icing program will allow it to function for heating up to the specified temperature parameters, which very often reach serious values. This is not entirely true. Only a few models belonging to the semi-industrial series will be able to heat the room. In addition to the built-in drain pan heater, they have a larger heat exchanger. Such models provide decent heating efficiency in winter with air conditioning even at -25°C. The rest will be able to work efficiently at such external parameters only for cooling.

The main manufacturers and series of devices with the programmed ability to heat the room in cold weather:

In modern conditions of climate control equipment production, it is possible to use an air conditioner for heating, but purchasing an all-season split will cost much more.