Electric heating is one of the most comfortable and efficient methods, and in Serbia, it’s currently quite affordable, especially with some economical heating systems in place. Inverter air conditioners can be a very efficient solution in certain situations.
What Are Inverter Air Conditioners?
In recent years, there has been much talk about inverter air conditioners. Most people understand that they are more efficient but also more expensive than traditional solutions. Additionally, there’s a common belief that inverter air conditioners are more efficient for heating during winter months. So, what exactly are inverter air conditioners?
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These are advanced devices where the motor driving the compressor has variable speed capability, meaning the compressor can operate at different capacities. In traditional air conditioners, the compressor is either on or off, which is less efficient. Even if only minimal temperature maintenance is required in a room, a traditional air conditioner’s compressor runs at full capacity until it reaches the desired temperature, then shuts off completely. In contrast, with an inverter unit, the compressor operates at a lower capacity in such situations, gradually adjusting the room temperature.
On the other hand, if immediate heating or cooling is required, the inverter unit’s compressor will operate at full capacity. This adaptive operation results in the main advantage of inverter units: up to 30% lower energy consumption for the same performance. Another significant advantage is that controlling the compressor’s operation leads to less external unit cooling during winter months, reducing the risk of freezing.
Thanks to this feature, inverters are efficient for heating during winter, even when the temperature drops to 15 degrees below zero Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit). Traditional air conditioners typically struggle when the temperature falls to about five degrees below zero (17°F).
Can Inverter Air Conditioners Effectively Heat a Space?
Yes and no. It’s true that air conditioners produce three kilowatts of heat energy for every kilowatt of electrical energy consumed, utilizing a heat pump system to extract heat energy from the air. However, even inverter units aren’t as economical when temperatures drop very low. Moreover, forced air circulation heating (blowing warm air) can never create as comfortable an environment as radiant heat, as with stoves or radiators.
Conclusion:
Inverter air conditioners, whether for heating or cooling, are best suited for transitional periods, such as the onset of cold days, allowing postponement of starting more complex wood or coal heating, or for supplemental heating alongside solid fuel heating systems.
For small apartments or studios, heating with a storage heater (convection heating) with occasional use of air conditioning is a much better solution. While a storage heater produces only one kilowatt of heat energy for every kilowatt of electrical energy consumed, it can be supplemented during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper. As mentioned, the comfort level in a room heated by a stove is much higher than with air conditioning or heaters.
Using inverter air conditioners for heating can be ideal for intermittently used spaces, such as parts of offices used for occasional meetings. Therefore, there’s no universal answer to whether you should use an inverter air conditioner for heating or not, or whether investing in an inverter unit instead of a standard one is worthwhile.
It’s a matter for individual assessment. Inverters are a good solution for heating offices and private properties where they are the primary heating system. However, if there’s another primary heating system in the house, and the air conditioner is not intended for supplemental heating, and only used during the summer for two or three weeks when temperatures are highest, investing in an inverter air conditioner, which is 30% more efficient than traditional ones, may not be cost-effective. A well-chosen standard air conditioner will efficiently and economically perform its function.
Foto: LG