Winter hits Gold Coast and you can feel the cold creeping in even when you’re indoors. If you’re freezing and not sure how to turn on the heating mode on your AC, here’s a step-by-step guide to warm up your home.
What is the heating mode on an air conditioner?
The heating mode, often labeled as HEAT, is a function that’s only available on reverse-cycle (two-way) air conditioners. When it’s turned on, your AC doesn’t cool the room but warms it up. People usually turn on the heating mode especially during cold nights. Depending on the brand and model, you can usually set the heating mode to anywhere from 10°C to 30°C, some models might range from 16°C to 30°C or even 20°C to 24°C.
You can recognize your AC is in heating mode by checking the remote:
- A sun icon (common with brands like Daikin, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Sharp, Samsung, Hitachi, Beko,…)
- Or simply the word HEAT (as seen on Panasonic, Fujitsu and a few others).
How does the heating mode work?
Wonder how heat can be generated? Here’s how it works:
- When you switch on the heating mode during winter, your air conditioner works the opposite way it does in summer. The indoor unit, which normally blows out cool air, now acts like a heater, warming up the room instead.
- The outdoor unit pulls heat from the outside air and transfers it in. Instead of using a flame or coil, the system uses refrigerant gas to turn that energy into warm air and spreads it evenly through the room.
How to turn on the heating mode on your air conditioner?
If your air conditioner is off
If your AC hasn’t been turned on yet, just follow these 3 simple steps on the remote to activate the heating mode:
- Step 1: Press the ON/OFF (or START/STOP) button to power on the AC.
- Step 2: Press the MODE button. Each press will cycle through different modes like AUTO, COOL, DRY… Keep pressing until you see HEAT or the sun icon on the screen.
- Step 3: Use the TEMP arrows, press the up arrow to increase the temperature or the down arrow to lower it, depending on how warm you want the room to be.
Your air conditioner is already on
When your AC is already running in a different mode, you can easily switch to heating mode using the remote:
- Step 1: Press the MODE button until you see HEAT or the sun icon appear on the remote screen.
- Step 2: If you want to adjust the temperature, use the TEMP arrows, press the up arrow to make it warmer or the down arrow to cool it slightly.
Turning off the heating mode is just as simple as turning it on
- Press the ON/OFF button on your remote to switch the AC off completely.
Or - If you want to switch to another mode (like COOL or FAN), press the MODE button until you reach your desired setting.
6 tips tips to run the heating mode efficiently
Read the manufacturer’s manual carefully
This helps you set the right temperature range and avoid issues that could affect your health or damage the unit.
Be careful if there are elderly people or young children in the room
For households with older adults or small kids, make sure the warm air doesn’t blow directly onto where they’re sitting or sleeping. Set the airflow direction as low as possible, this helps prevent dry skin and other health concerns.
Watch the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors
Try to keep the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures within 5–10°C. Avoid setting the heating too high, as it can cause discomfort when stepping outside and also waste a lot of energy by overworking the AC.
Avoid frequent door opening
Frequent opening lets the warm air escape and forces the AC to use more power. Sometimes, it’s good to open your window or door a little to let in fresh air.
Don’t use it for too long
- Avoid running the heating mode non-stop, especially not 24/7.
- Try to limit use to around 3 hours at a time and don’t turn it on and off repeatedly. This helps protect your health and extends the lifespan of your AC.
Use a humidifier or place a bowl of water nearby
Heating mode can dry out the air. To keep it comfortable, use a humidifier or place a bowl of water in the room to prevent dry skin and sore throat.
Already know how to turn on the heating mode properly? Now make sure your AC is set up right from the start. DEEPCHILL, your trusted air conditioning Gold Coast company offers expert installation services to fit your comfort needs. Call us now to enjoy every chilly day!
