Is reverse cycle the same as a heat pump?

Yes. A reverse cycle air conditioner is a heat pump that moves heat in either direction. The name "heat pump" gets used more for hot water systems in Australia, but the principle is the same.

Are all split systems reverse cycle?

Nearly all split systems sold in Australia now are, along with most ducted systems. Cooling-only models still exist, mostly at the cheap end of the market and in older homes. The compliance plate or the remote tells you: a sun symbol or a heat mode means it heats.

Why does my reverse cycle system stop heating and blow steam in winter?

That is the defrost cycle. On cold mornings ice forms on the outdoor coil, so the system briefly reverses to melt it. The indoor fan pauses and you may see steam rising from the outdoor unit. It is normal and lasts a few minutes.

Air conditioning

What is reverse cycle air conditioning?

Reverse cycle air conditioning is an air conditioner that can run backwards. In summer it pulls heat out of the house and dumps it outside. In winter it reverses the flow, pulls heat out of the outside air and brings it in.

17 October 20265 min read

The short answer

A reverse cycle system is one air conditioner that both cools and heats. A valve in the outdoor unit switches the direction the refrigerant flows, so the same coils that cool the room in January warm it in July. Almost every modern split system and ducted system sold in Australia works this way.

How reverse cycle works

Every air conditioner moves heat rather than making cold. Refrigerant soaks up heat from the air at the indoor coil, carries it through the pipes and lets it go at the outdoor coil. That is why the outdoor unit blows warm air in summer.

A reverse cycle system adds a reversing valve. Flip it and the outdoor coil becomes the one soaking up heat, while the indoor coil releases it into the room. Even on a cold winter morning the outside air holds plenty of heat for the system to collect.

Why it is the cheapest way to heat with electricity

A plug-in heater turns one unit of electricity into one unit of heat. A reverse cycle system uses its electricity to move heat that already exists, so a modern one delivers several units of heat for each unit of power it draws. For heating a room, that puts it well ahead of any heater that makes its own heat from electricity.

How much that saves on your bill depends on the system, the rooms and how you use it. Our guide to what it costs to run an air conditioner shows how to work it out from the energy label and your own electricity rate.

Reverse cycle against the alternatives

Option	Cools	Heats	Worth knowing
Reverse cycle split or ducted	Yes	Yes	One system all year. The type the NSW Government discount applies to
Cooling-only air conditioner	Yes	No	Leaves you buying a separate heater for winter
Portable electric heater	No	Yes	Cheap to buy, costly to run for more than an hour or two
Gas heater	No	Yes	Needs a gas connection and does nothing in summer

Does reverse cycle suit the Illawarra?

For most homes, yes. Winters on the coast are mild enough that a reverse cycle system heats comfortably through the coldest mornings. Summers are humid enough that cooling earns its place. One system covers both.

Replacing an old heater or cooling-only unit with an efficient reverse cycle system is also the upgrade the NSW Government discount is built around. What it is worth and who qualifies is on our NSW air conditioning rebate page.

The bigger question is usually whether you want one system for the whole house or separate units in the rooms you use most. Our guide to choosing ducted or split system works through that.

Common questions

Is reverse cycle the same as a heat pump?: Yes. A reverse cycle air conditioner is a heat pump that moves heat in either direction. The name "heat pump" gets used more for hot water systems in Australia, but the principle is the same.
Are all split systems reverse cycle?: Nearly all split systems sold in Australia now are, along with most ducted systems. Cooling-only models still exist, mostly at the cheap end of the market and in older homes. The compliance plate or the remote tells you: a sun symbol or a heat mode means it heats.
Why does my reverse cycle system stop heating and blow steam in winter?: That is the defrost cycle. On cold mornings ice forms on the outdoor coil, so the system briefly reverses to melt it. The indoor fan pauses and you may see steam rising from the outdoor unit. It is normal and lasts a few minutes.