On Tue, 08 May 2018 01:29:48 +0100, Clare Snyder wrote:

On Mon, 07 May 2018 13:54:21 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 07 May 2018 18:15:37 +0100, "Jimmy Wilkinson Knife"
wrote:

On Mon, 07 May 2018 15:36:47 +0100, Unquestionably Confused wrote:

On 5/7/2018 9:08 AM, Jimmy Wilkinson Knife wrote:
On Mon, 07 May 2018 15:05:56 +0100,
wrote:

On Monday, May 7, 2018 at 9:44:59 AM UTC-4, Jimmy Wilkinson Knife
wrote:
On Mon, 07 May 2018 14:36:24 +0100, KenK
wrote:


[snip]

Why on earth could an AC unit not run backwards? You just reverse
the pump. Every one I've seen in the UK (commercial and home) has
been able to do this. The controller usually has settings for
heating, cooling, or automatic. On automatic you can simply set a
range (say 18 - 22C) and if it goes over, it cools, if it goes under,
it heats.

What you're describing is what is referred to a split unit system or
inverter. After screwing around with a through the wall A/C unit which
was noisier than all get out in the size needed to cool the addition, I
finally got smart and picked up a split system (air handler inside,
compressor/inverter outside). What a difference. Very quiet (hard to
tell it's running, actually), and much cheaper than our old A/C unit.
And, as you say, when heat is needed, the system reverses itself and
heats the interior drawing heat from outside even when it's in the 20F
degree range outside.

I wasn't aware they still made the one way systems. I know of several commercial and domestic places around here in the UK who have had AC units fitted (and they only wanted to cool the room down), and they're all reversible.

Heat pumps are not used much here in South Florida either. I have a
Mini split heat pump and I don't think the heat function has ever been
used. There are heat strips in the air handler for the central air
system and I doubt they have ever been on either.
My wife has a little 1.4 KW heat strip in the electric fireplace in
the living room and that is all she ever uses. That is still very
seldom. Nobody has a furnace.


Lucky you
But the AC runs almost full time half the year - and that;s just when
the power isn't out due to a Hurricane --BG

We had hurricane force winds here over the weekend - a once every 50
year or so occurence - the highest winds recorded here since records
started being kept - even higher than Hurricane Hazel back in '54.

You Floridians can have em!!!!!

Over the last number of years we've used the AC for a few weeks each
summer (we're cheap - we put up with more heatr and humidity thasn
many of out neighbot=rs) and the furnace is turned on from about
thanksgiving (Columbus day to you 'mericans) till May 24 (Memorial day
for you 'mericans)

The furnace has run 700 hours this season with just over 3 weeks lest
to go ( and the furnace shut off for several days aleady with windows
and doors open)

If you walk around your house naked in summer, you need less AC.

--
If only women came with pull-down menus and on-line help.