Short Description

A reverse cycle air conditioner pumps heat from inside the home to the outside to cool it and to lower humidity levels, and can also pump heat from the outside air into the home to warm it in winter. Its efficiency depends upon its capacity and airflow rate. The air conditioner should be selected with the correct cooling and heating capacity for the room in which it is installed.

Factors To Consider

. Type of system - portable, in built, split system, ducted.
. Ease of use - controls - type and location.
- filter - access to filter and cleaning it.
. Quietness
. Energy efficiency for heating and cooling.
. Annual running cost

Factors which influence the selection of a reverse cycle air conditioning include:
. The main use of the area - bedrooms generally need less capacity than a living area of similar capacity.
Bathroom, laundries, halls are not usually air conditioned however it may be required in the bathroom of some people with a disability.
. Dimensions of the area to be air conditioned.
. Type of construction of building and the size and areas of windows and doors.
. Insulation used in roof and walls.
. Orientation of the room (s) to the sun.
. Number of people occupying the space.

More Details

For further information refer to Sydney Electricity Air Conditioning Advice and Sales, `Choice' magazine
Air conditioning suppliers in Yellow Pages of telephone directory.

Features

. All models have a filter which cleans the air. The filter requires
removing every two weeks for cleaning.
. Push button controls
. Remote control (most models have)
. Oscillating and adjustable louvres to distribute air evenly.
. Thermostat for preferred summer/winter temperatures.
. A timer so unit can be switched on and /or off automatically at certain times.
. Sleep mode adjusts the temperature in several steps (up when cooling, down when heating) so the unit works less hard and less noisily when people are sleeping
. One model (LG) has remote access control by phone. This requires a phone line to be run up to the air conditioner. Alternatively, an air conditioner can be programmed to turn on at the required time but some cannot be programmed for longer than just a day.

OPERATING MODES
Auto: automatically chooses the mode required to keep the room at a chosen temperature
Cool: Pumps heat from the inside to the outside
Heat: Pumps heat from the outside to the inside
Dry: dehumidifies the air (while cooling only slightly)
Fan Only: blows air without heating, cooling or drying (not all models have this feature).