Air condition unit operating in Winter

Almost every home has an air conditioner these days, running at full
tilt during the summer months. And why not? We all want to remain
cool and comfortable. But with winter now just around the corner,
it’s probably time to forget about these appliances and wait for next
summer. Or not? In this article, we cover how you can run your AC in
winter and answer all your concerns!

While most of us believe that an air conditioner only works to cool a

room down, that’s not entirely the case. Modern air conditioners can
regulate the temperature according to your liking, both in summers
and winters. The air conditioner simply reverses its function,
allowing the AC to run efficiently during winters, thus throwing warm
air in the room. On a side note – speaking of efficiency you may be
interested in making your air conditioner smart for energy savings
and comfort – whether summer or winter.

Even though air conditioners work in winters, there still are some
safeguards that we need to keep in mind for effective heating. If
you’re planning to use your ductless air conditioner during winter,
you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions
regarding running air conditioners in winter to help you out.

Can an AC unit run in the Winter?

The answer is a most definitive yes. In the case of a reversible air

conditioner or ductless heat pump, it makes sense to use the air
conditioner all year round and enjoy the heating function. In
fact, ductless heating systems come with a lot of advantages.

Even if your air conditioner is not a reversible one, you may still find
some use of it during winters. If your room is getting too stuffy and
suffocating due to heating, you could turn on your air conditioner in
fan mode and make the room a bit more comfortable to be present
in.

Keep in mind, however, that even if you can use your air conditioner
during winters, the efficiency of the air conditioner will be different
as compared to summertime. This is because even though an air
conditioner is operable during winters, it is designed for use when
the outside temperature is higher than the indoor temperature.

Just like humans, and other home appliances, air conditioners also
have a minimum threshold for their operation, below which they
would not be able to work as intended. Whatever the air conditioner
brand or model or type, there would be a minimum limit for the
operating temperatures.

Generally, the minimum outdoor temperature is around 60 degrees

Fahrenheit for an AC to work. Below this temperature, the refrigerant
starts behaving differently, and the AC does not work as intended.
Running the air conditioner below this temperature can result in
damage to the appliance, such as:

 Freezing of refrigerant coils

 Thickening of lubricant
 Damage to moving parts and bearings

How to Run AC in Winter?

With furnaces and ducted systems leaving a dent on your utility bills,
you would want an alternative that is just as effective in heating, but
not as hard on your pockets. Instead of having a separate appliance
for heating, what if you can do both heating and cooling with one
appliance?
That is exactly what a reversible mini-split heat pump does. You can
use the same appliance, with the same energy-saving features
throughout the year, to keep you cool in the summers and warm in
the winters. Other than a mini-split, there are many other types of
heat pumps available on the market too.

How an air conditioner works is by transferring heat from a hot

environment (indoors) to a cooler one (outdoors). This is all well and
good in the summers. But in the winter months, you want to get the
heat from outdoor and transfer it to the indoor. The air conditioner
has to work in reverse.

To get your air conditioner to do that, a little device known as a

reversing valve is used in heat pumps, and heating functionality is
achieved.

Freeze Protection Mode during Winter

Freeze protection is a mode that some air conditioners provide. This

is also known as min. heat, low heat or 8o C depending on your air
conditioner. It is extremely useful for places that experience
extreme cold. The AC runs at a low power setting where warm air is
continuously introduced into the room. This feature prevents the
room temperature from falling below freezing or reach near freezing
point. This is helpful in preventing damage to sensitive electronic
equipment, water pipes, or paintings at a very low operational cost.

Will Running AC in Cold Weather Damage It?

The answer is not as simple as yes or no. There are many factors at
play, and running AC in winter is not without risks. With moderately
cold temperatures, an air conditioner is perfectly acceptable to run
in any mode whatsoever. But with temperatures below 60 degrees
Fahrenheit, there is a risk with putting the air conditioner to use. Let
us go over some of the problems one by one:
Loss of Lubrication

Compressors are an integral part of the air conditioner and need to

be in perfect shape to keep on running as desired. To aid in their
smooth operation, lubricants help the compressor to function
without any fault. In the winters, though, this lubricant can thicken
and not function as desired. Without proper lubrication, the
compressor is prone to damage and seizure.

Low Ambient Temperature Sensor

Most modern air conditioners come with a low ambient temperature

sensor. This is done to prevent air conditioner operation during
extreme cold and prevent damage. If you try to circumvent this
sensor and turn the air conditioner on in-spite of the low
temperature, there can be very costly repairs that would need to be
done.

Overheating Compressor

As with any mechanical device, a compressor heats up the more it is

put into use. During extreme cold, a compressor would need to work
overtime to keep the interior warm. This can lead to it getting
overheated. Using the air conditioner below the minimum specified
temperature can irreversibly damage it, or at best, become a cause
for significant repairs.

Freezing of Cooling Coils

While an air conditioner is in use, you may observe water dripping

from the outdoor unit. This is condensation from the outdoor copper
coils. In the winter months, this condensed water can freeze over
the coils, and accumulate on them. With ice frozen over the coils, air
does not heat up to be thrown into the room. All you will feel is cold
air coming out of the louvers.
Moreover, freezing in the outdoor unit can damage it. Running the
air conditioner while it is frozen can puncture the cooling coils and
then require a replacement.  To prevent this, keep the unit off and
allow it the ice to thaw for a couple of hours. You can make the
process faster by pointing a hairdryer or hot air blower at the
outdoor unit fans and vents.

Measuring Heating Efficiency

Much like how you measure your car’s efficiency in miles per gallon,
you measure the heating efficiency of your air conditioner using the
Heating Season Performance Factor, or HSPF for short. A higher
HSPF translates to a more efficient heating system, resulting in
lower energy bills.

HSPF calculations compare the total heat provided by an air

conditioner during the heating season with the total amount of
electricity used. By using the values of heating output and electricity
consumed throughout the season, it is ensured that outdoor
temperature variations across the whole season are accounted for.

According to the United States Department of Energy, the minimum

HSPF for residential air-source systems is established at 8.2 HSPF.
High efficiency systems can run up to 13 HSPF, but somewhere
around 10 HSPF is considered adequate.
Final conclusion

To wrap it up, running AC in winter is the sensible choice with

modern air conditioners. With a reversible air conditioner, the benefit
is obvious, you can get hot air into the room. But even with a non-
reversible air conditioner, you can get a whiff of fresh air in a stuffy
or hot room.

But be careful when running the air conditioner in extreme cold, as

the outdoor unit can freeze over.

With these checks and considerations in mind, you now know how
to run AC winter, and are all set to use your air conditioner in winter