30/05/2025
Winter Heating Made Easy with Ford & Doonan
When winter hits, staying warm goes from being a preference to becoming a necessity. But for many Perth households, the struggle to find a heating solution that’s both effective and energy-efficient can turn into a season-long frustration.
From uneven room temperatures to rising electricity bills, outdated heating systems can make the chilly mornings and cold nights of winter downright unbearable.
Thankfully, there is a solution—reverse cycle air conditioning.
Reverse cycle air conditioning offers homeowners a smarter and competent all-in-one solution to their heating problems during the winter season and beyond.
In this article, we’ll explain how reverse cycle systems work, why they outperform traditional heaters, and how Ford & Doonan Air Conditioning can help make winter heating not just easy but surprisingly efficient.
What is Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning?
Imagine waking up on a frosty morning and walking into a living room that’s already warm, without the need for noisy and bulky space heaters? This is what a reverse cycle system can do for you.
Reverse cycle air conditioning refers to an indoor climate control system that provides both heating and cooling from one single system. Unlike several other options, a reverse cycle air conditioner’s dual functionality makes it one of the most energy-efficient and cost-effective options available for year-round comfort.
Regardless as to whether you live in a coastal home with big windows or a compact inner-city apartment, reverse cycle systems come in various sizes to suit your specific home layout.
How Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning Works for Heating
The science behind reverse-cycle air conditioning is pretty interesting. And the best part? It doesn’t run on gas like more traditional gas ducted systems, wall radiators or flued gas floor heaters.
Here’s how it works.
At the heart of a reverse cycle air conditioner is a reversing valve, which allows the unit to switch between cooling and heating modes.
In heating mode, it works by using a combination of the refrigerant circuit and changes in pressure to create temperature differences. The refrigerant absorbs the heat energy available at the outdoor unit location, transfers this to the indoor unit so that warm air is distributed.
While the reverse cycle system is a very energy-efficient way to heat your home during the colder months, it does have some considerations.
For instance, because it relies on extracting warmth from the typically colder temperatures outside, the colder it is outdoors, the more work the system has to do. This means that you have a slightly longer heating period on particularly frosty mornings, or those mornings where the outside temperature is below 5°C.
That said, as long as you equip your home with an adequate reverse cycle air conditioning system, you should be able to enjoy efficient heating even in low outdoor temperatures.
Why It is More Efficient Than Gas Heating
Reverse cycle air conditioning is fast proving to be a more generally efficient way to heat your home, especially when compared to gas or plug-in electric heaters. Here are three reasons why.
Lower energy consumption
Reverse cycle air conditioning doesn’t generate heat the way gas or electric heaters do. Rather than burning fuel to create warmth, these systems work on the principle of heat transfer. Using a clever heat pump and valve system, it extracts warmth from outside air and moves it indoors. This results in a far more efficient process, delivering about 4 units of heat for every unit of electricity used. On the other hand, most gas and plug-in electric heaters offer a 1-to-1 energy-to-heat ratio at best.
Multi-room coverage vs. room-based heat
While the average gas heater is typically most effective when warming a single room, the reverse cycle ducted air conditioner is designed to heat multiple rooms. With ducted or split system air conditioners, more than one room in your home can maintain a comfortable temperature without you needing to shuffle heaters around or rely on limited heat sources in separate areas.
Safer and cleaner than gas
Another key aspect where reverse cycle air conditioning wins out against gas heating is safety. Unlike gas heating that typically comes with several potential risks—from carbon monoxide leaks to open flames, and the need for proper ventilation—reverse cycle air conditioners eliminate those concerns entirely.
With reverse cycle heating, you can enjoy flameless and fume-free warmth that’s significantly safer for you and your loved ones. In addition, both ducted and split system air conditioners feature in-built air filters to trap dust and debris in the air.
Keep reading as we explore how to get the best performance from your reverse cycle air conditioning system.
Tips to Maximise Heating Efficiency with Your Air Conditioning
While reverse cycle air conditioning already offers you efficient heating, you may be able to get more out of your system with a few small adjustments and habits. Below are simple but powerful tips to help you enjoy effective heating while prolong the lifespan of your unit.
1. Set an optimal temperature range
This is easily one of the most important tips for getting the best out of reverse cycle air conditioners during the winter months. For maximum heating efficiency, we recommend setting your system between 22 and 24°C. Small adjustments to the temperature and fan speed are recommended instead of constantly switching the air conditioner off and on.
2. Use medium or high fan speed
In addition to the temperature you set on your thermostat, your unit’s fan speed also plays a role in determining how efficient the heating process is. Selecting a medium or high fan speed helps distribute warm air more evenly throughout your space. This not only heats rooms faster but prevents cold pockets from forming near windows and doors, which means a better all-around temperature.
3. Clean or replace air filters regularly
A clogged filter restricts airflow and forces your system to work overtime, which means inefficient heating. Therefore, it is important that you keep up with ensuring the air filters on your reverse cycle system stay clean and debris-free. As a general rule of thumb, Ford & Doonan recommend inspecting, cleaning and/or replacing the filters every 6 – 12 months. However, this can be as frequently as monthly depending on usage and allergies.
If your air conditioner is still struggling to heat after following the tutorial videos, you can book a service to get a professional service completed. Remember, proper maintenance catches small fixes before they become big problems and keeps your running costs down.
4. Seal gaps and close doors
Another tip to help you get the best out of your reverse cycle air conditioning system is to prevent energy loss through gaps in windows, doors, and air vents. Closing all external doors and windows when the air conditioner is in heating mode is a must. For those with reverse cycle ducted air conditioning, close the internal doors to rooms that are turned on at the wall controllers to concentrate the heat.
The simple fix to this is sealing gaps around doors, windows, and vents to prevent heat loss. Also, closing doors to unused rooms can help your system maintain a consistent temperature in necessary areas.
5. Use timers and scheduling
The best way to wake up to warmth is to set your air conditioner to turn onto heating approximately 30 minutes before you wake up in the morning. That way, the air conditioner will have a chance to de-ice (if needed) and start producing warm air before you’ve left your toasty bed.
By the same token, timers can also be used to set the air conditioner to turn on before you arrive home if the evenings are particularly cold. If you’re unsure how to set the timer on your air conditioner, take a look at your support videos.
6. Keep curtains closed at night
They might not look it, but windows can still result in heat loss even when they’re shut. This is because glass is a poor insulator, and unlike solid walls, it allows heat to transfer more easily from inside to outside, especially in winter. In other words, heat loss through windows can undo all your system’s hard work.
A simple solution to this problem is closing blinds and curtains at dusk to trap heat inside and reduce the load on your air conditioner overnight.
7. Book a pre-winter service
Our final tip for getting the best out of your reverse cycle air conditioning system during the winter is ensuring that the unit is in fact ready for the colder months. Even the best systems need a tune-up. So, we recommend investing in a professional check-up before winter ensures your heating unit runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently all season long.
Schedule a service with Ford & Doonan to stay ahead of any surprises.
Running Costs: What You Can Expect This Winter
Now that you know reverse cycle air conditioning can help you and your loved ones stay warm at home during winter, let’s discuss how much it will cost you.
The good news is that reverse cycle air conditioning is a far more cost-effective and energy-efficient heating solution than gas heaters or plug-in electric options.
We’ll break it down.
Say, you run two plug-in electric floor heaters and two electric blankets for six hours every evening. This combination will produce a combined heat output of 5.1 kW, while consuming about 5.1 kW of energy per hour. This translates to about $10.41 for the evening.
Now let’s compare that to a 7.1 kW reverse cycle ducted air conditioner.
The reverse cycle unit delivers a heat output of 7.1 kW while using only 2.25 kW per hour (effectively more heat at only a fraction of the energy consumption of its electric heater counterpart). This implies that the total cost is about $4.59 over the same 6-hour duration.
With a reverse cycle air conditioner, you save about $5.80 every evening. And when you also factor in nighttime usage over a full winter, your cost savings become much more significant.
Why Now’s the Time to Upgrade Your Old System
If you’re still shivering through winter and are worried about running the heating for fear of how much it costs, the true cost of holding on could be higher than you think. With energy prices rising and older systems guzzling power just to stay functional, upgrading isn’t just a smart move—it’s a money-saving one.
But the benefits go far beyond your utility bill. Modern reverse cycle air conditioning systems are designed for efficiency, comfort, and convenience. Here are some benefits of investing in an upgrade.
- Lower energy usage: Newer reverse cycle air conditioning models use advanced inverter technology to generate more heat with less electricity. That means a noticeable drop in your power bill, especially over winter.
- Whisper-quiet operation: Old systems can rattle and hum, especially at night. Upgraded units run quietly in the background, keeping your home warm without disrupting your peace and quiet.
- App control & smart scheduling: Modern reverse cycle ducted air conditioners are Wi-Fi enabled, giving you full control from your smartphone. You can adjust temperatures, set timers, and monitor usage, even when you’re away from home, just like on the AirTouch smart controller
- Better airflow and climate control: Reverse cycle systems distribute heat more evenly throughout the home. In other words, you can say goodbye to more cold corners or relying on multiple portable heaters to stay warm.
- Cleaner, healthier air: The improved filtration system of newer reverse cycle models allows you to enjoy considerably lower levels of dust, allergens, and airborne particles in your home. This is a particularly big win if some of your loved ones struggle with allergies or asthma.
Taking the Next Step
When it comes to keeping your home cozy through the colder months, reverse cycle air conditioning stands out as a clear winner. You get consistent warmth, cleaner air, and better control at the push of a button, while enjoying improved cost and energy efficiency. Even better, you don’t have to worry about the potential safety risks associated with gas heaters.
If you’re tired of erratic heating and high power bills caused by outdated systems, now’s the time to invest in a solution that works. At Ford & Doonan Air Conditioner, we make it easy to upgrade to the industry-leading brands such as Daikin, Panasonic and Samsung with obligation-free in home proposals.
For those looking to purchase a new air conditioner, finance options are also available from Handy Pay and Zip.
FAQs
1. What is the best temperature for heating?
A good temperature range for your air conditioner is around 22–24°C during winter to ensure optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
2. Why doesn’t my air conditioner heat instantly?
Reverse cycle systems take time to extract heat from the outside air, especially when it’s very cold, so they may take a few minutes to warm up.
3. Why doesn’t my air conditioner feel as warm as a gas ducted heater?
Reverse cycle air conditioners provide consistent, gentle heat rather than bursts of hot air, which may feel less intense but actually warms the room more evenly.
4. Why does my air conditioner blow cold air even when it is in heating mode?
This usually happens during the defrost cycle. During this time, the unit temporarily blows cool air to prevent ice buildup on the outdoor coil. It’s normal and only lasts a few minutes.
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