Additional option in choice of heaters to beat the cold - CHOICE #387

With temperature plunging, if you are contemplating buying a heater, you now have a choice between a traditional space heater and a reverse cycle air conditioner.

The Consumer Council has conducted a market survey of 52 models of reverse cycle air conditioners marketed under 11 brands with 39 split-types and 13 the window-types.

Reverse cycle air conditioners (also called heat pumps) are no different in appearance - and installation - as the traditional cooling-only air conditioners.

But they could be operated not only for cooling in the summer but also heating in the winter.

So consumers now have an additional option of choice when buying heaters to fend off the cold.

In general, reverse cycle air conditioners are more expensive than cooling-only air conditioners of the same brand and similar cooling capacity. The difference can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on whether it is a window-type or split-type.

Amongst the 52 models surveyed, the claimed cooling capacities and heating capacities ranged from 2.50 kW to 7.10 kW, and 2.55 kW to 8.60 kW respectively, commonly referred to as "1 horsepower" to "2.5 horsepower" with prices varying from $3,700 to $20,300.

On the other hand, compared to the traditional space heaters or fan heaters, reverse cycle air conditioners could distribute the heat more evenly over a large area.

Secondly, they are space-saving as they do not take up any more additional space reserved for the cooling-only air conditioners.

Thirdly, they have higher energy efficiency. To deliver the same amount of heat, reverse cycle air conditioners consume less energy than traditional heaters.

But since reverse cycle air conditioners heat up a larger area, they need to deliver more heat thus the power consumption is not small.

According to the survey, the split-type models have higher energy efficiency than the window-type whether in cooling or heating operation.