As temperatures begin to drop in Brisbane, ensuring your home stays warm and comfortable is crucial.
Preparing and using your reverse cycle air conditioner effectively during the winter months keeps you cosy. With a few simple steps, you can:
- Ensure your air conditioner is clean
- Keep your family healthy
- Reduce your energy bills
- Have a comfortable home all season long
Here’s what you need to know.
Jump to:
Preparing Your Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner for Winter
The Danger of Mould in Your Air Conditioner
How to Use Your Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner Efficiently in Winter
Other Ways to Keep Your Home Warm
Types of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners Available in Brisbane
Daikin Air Conditioning Offers
Preparing for Winter with Hewitt Trade Services
Preparing Your Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner for Winter
Reverse cycle air conditioners are built to both cool in summer and heat in winter. These systems can be either split system or ducted, with most modern units offering heating and cooling options.
A little preparation ensures they run efficiently, last longer, and keep your home warm when you need it most.
1. Clean or Replace the Filters
Dirty filters restrict airflow, reduce efficiency and can circulate dust and allergens. To prepare for winter, remove and clean the filters in your indoor unit.
Most filters can be vacuumed or washed with warm, soapy water. Always ensure they’re entirely dry before replacing them.
Are your filters old or damaged? Now may be a good time to replace them.
2. Check the Outdoor Unit
Leaves, dirt and debris often build up around the outdoor unit. Clear the area around it to ensure there’s good airflow. If the unit is covered in dust or grime, give it a gentle clean — but avoid using high-pressure water.
Also, make sure the drainage pipes aren’t blocked so moisture can escape properly.
3. Run a Test Cycle
Before winter really bites, run your system in heating mode to check it works properly. Set it to your desired temperature and let it run for a while. Listen for any unusual noises, and check that warm air is coming through the vents.
4. Check Your Remote Settings
Make sure your remote or wall controller is set to ‘heat’ mode, not ‘cool’ or ‘auto’. Set your desired temperature — between 18 and 20°C is usually comfortable and energy-efficient for winter. If your unit has a timer or energy-saving mode, now is a good time to set it up to match your routine.
5. Schedule a Professional Service
Getting a licensed technician to service your reverse cycle system at least once a year is a smart move. A professional will check refrigerant levels, electrical connections and fan motors. They’ll also clean the internal components and make sure everything runs efficiently.
Regular servicing helps prevent breakdowns, improves performance and can even lower your power bills. A professional service also prevents the build up of dangerous mould.
Here’s some more information on how to maintain your split system air conditioner or ducted air conditioner.
The Danger of Mould in Your Air Conditioner
In the warm and humid climate, reverse cycle air conditioners in Brisbane can become breeding grounds for mould if they aren’t cleaned and serviced regularly. What may seem like a minor issue can quickly lead to health risks, reduced system performance, and damage to your home.
Health Risks from Airborne Mould Spores
One of the biggest dangers of mould is its effect on your health. When mould grows inside your air conditioner, spores are circulated throughout your home every time the system runs.
For people with asthma, allergies, or respiratory conditions, breathing in mould spores can trigger symptoms such as:
- Coughing or wheezing
- Sneezing and nasal congestion
- Irritated eyes or throat
- Skin rashes
Even for otherwise healthy individuals, long-term mould exposure can cause discomfort and lead to ongoing respiratory issues — especially in children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
Musty Odours and Poor Indoor Air Quality
Mould buildup inside your system often causes a musty smell when the unit is running. This unpleasant odour can spread through your entire home, making the space feel stale and unhealthy.
Poor indoor air quality also affects your comfort, making it harder to relax or sleep.
Reduced Efficiency and Performance
When mould grows on the internal components of your reverse cycle system — such as the evaporator coils, drain tray or filters — it can block airflow and reduce efficiency.
This makes your system work harder to heat or cool your home, which leads to:
- Higher electricity bills
- Longer run times
- Uneven temperatures in rooms
- Shortened system lifespan
How to Prevent Mould Growth in Your Air Conditioner
To keep your system mould-free:
- Clean or replace filters every 1–2 months
- Run the “dry” or dehumidify mode occasionally to reduce moisture buildup
- Have your system professionally serviced at least once a year
- Check the drain line to ensure water is flowing out properly
- Keep the area around the indoor and outdoor units clean and free from dust and debris
How to Use Your Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner Efficiently in Winter
Reverse cycle air conditioners are one of the most efficient ways to heat your home in winter — especially in Brisbane’s milder climate. But to get the most out of your system and keep your electricity bills down, it’s vital to use it correctly.
Here’s how you can run your reverse cycle air conditioner efficiently during the winter months.
1. Set the Temperature Around 20°C
Setting your unit too high won’t heat your home faster — it just makes your air conditioner work harder and use more energy. The ideal temperature range for winter in Brisbane is around 20°C.
This is warm enough to stay comfortable while keeping running costs low.
2. Use the Timer Function
Take advantage of your air conditioner’s timer settings. Program the system to turn on just before you wake up or get home from work and switch off when you go to bed. This avoids unnecessary use and ensures your house is warm when you need it to be.
3. Keep Doors and Windows Closed
Prevent warm air from escaping by closing doors, windows, and any unused rooms. This helps the system heat a smaller area more effectively, so it doesn’t have to run longer than necessary.
4. Use Ceiling Fans on Winter Mode
If you have ceiling fans, switch them to winter mode (clockwise rotation). This pushes warm air down from the ceiling, helping the room feel warmer without adjusting your air con’s temperature setting.
5. Regularly Clean the Filters
Blocked filters force your system to work harder, using more power and reducing airflow. Cleaning the filters around every two months (or as recommended by the manufacturer) improves efficiency and air quality. If your filters are damaged or very old, consider replacing them.
6. Seal Drafts Around the Home
Check for gaps around doors, windows and vents. Sealing up drafts can make a big difference in how well your system heats your home. The less heat that escapes, the less energy your air conditioner has to use.
7. Switch Off When Not Needed
It can be tempting to leave your air conditioner running all day, especially on cold mornings. But turning your air conditioning off when not needed helps you save on energy costs. Consider using a programmable thermostat or smart controls to automate the process.
8. Schedule an Annual Service
Having your reverse cycle system professionally serviced at least annually keeps it running efficiently. A technician checks for any faults, cleans internal components and ensures your system is performing at its best before peak winter use.
Other Ways to Keep Your Home Warm
When using your reverse cycle air conditioning in Brisbane during winter, it’s essential to keep the warm air inside your home.
There are several other things you can do around the home that work in conjunction with your reverse cycle air conditioning and trap the heat more effectively. This will ensure your air con doesn’t need to work harder, your energy bills remain affordable, and you stay cosy all winter long.
- Let nature warm up your house by letting the sunshine in when possible. Open up curtains during the warmer part of the day.
- Use heavy curtains to then stop the heat from escaping through your windows once it gets colder. Pelmets can also be installed at the top of curtains to improve insulation and reduce heat loss through your window.
- Seal gaps in walls and doors to prevent cold drafts from coming through your home and ensure heat doesn’t escape.
- Install insulation if your home doesn’t already have it. The cost is well worth the investment in the long run as it can save energy costs from heat loss by up to 45%.
- Close the doors to any room that is not being used in your home.
Types of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners Available in Brisbane
Almost all air conditioners, both ducted and split systems, are reverse cycle these days. This means they provide both cooling and heating options.
Most systems are flexible in how you use them, are energy efficient and keep your air pure and clean. Here’s a breakdown of popular reverse cycle systems available in Brisbane.
Wall-Mounted Split Systems
Split systems are one of the most common types of reverse cycle air conditioners in Brisbane. They consist of an indoor unit mounted on the wall and an outdoor unit that houses the compressor.
Best for: Single rooms or open-plan areas such as living rooms, bedrooms, or home offices.
Benefits:
- Affordable to buy and install
- Ideal for apartments and smaller homes
- Energy-efficient, especially with inverter technology
- Quiet operation
- Simple to control with remotes or smart apps
Multi-Split Systems
Multi-split systems connect one outdoor unit to two or more indoor units, allowing you to independently control the temperature in different rooms.
Best for: Homes with multiple rooms that need individual climate control but have limited outdoor space.
Benefits:
- Flexible zoning — different temperatures for different rooms
- Saves space with fewer outdoor units
- More energy-efficient than running multiple separate split systems
- Ideal for families with varied comfort needs
Ducted Reverse Cycle Systems
Ducted systems provide whole-home climate control through a central unit connected to ducts hidden in the ceiling or under the floor. Air is delivered through vents in each room.
Best for: Larger homes or households that want a clean, streamlined look with even temperature control throughout.
Benefits:
- Can heat or cool the entire home
- Zoning options help reduce running costs by only using selected areas
- Visually discreet – only ceiling vents visible
- Controlled via wall panel or smart thermostat
Overall Benefits of Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
- Adaptability: Most systems can automatically detect the temperature and adjust their settings as required.
- Efficiency: Modern inverter systems use less power and save money over time.
- Zoning: Ducted reverse cycle systems let you set up your zones to separately heat specific rooms.
- Improved indoor air quality: Built-in filters remove dust, allergens, and bacteria.
- Environmentally friendly: Many units use R32 refrigerant, which has a lower global warming impact.
- Fast temperature control: Reaches set temperature quickly and maintains comfort with ease.
Daikin Air Conditioning Offers
Don’t miss out on the latest air conditioning offers at Hewitt!
Preparing for Winter with Hewitt Trade Services
Hewitt Trade Services is the best in the air conditioning installation business in the Brisbane area. We have installed, repaired and serviced thousands of units during 21+ years of business.
Our years of experience give us a laser focus on the most common air conditioning challenges in the Brisbane community. We are highly trained, reliable, professional, efficient and fast.
Our 4.8-star rating from over 330 reviews on Google proves it.
We can help you assess your needs, get a quote and make informed decisions about installing, repairing or servicing your air conditioner. Using a reputable company like Hewitt Trade Services ensures a smooth and satisfactory experience. You can enjoy the benefits of a reliable and efficient air conditioner for years to come.
Are you ready to make an informed decision about your air conditioning, ensuring comfort and efficiency in your home or business for the years to come?
Contact us today for further advice or to book an appointment.
We service the following areas in Brisbane:
Air Conditioning Albion – Air Conditioning Amberly – Air Conditioning Annerley – Air Conditioning Anstead – Air Conditioning Ascot – Air Conditioning Ashgrove – Air Conditioning Aspley – Air Conditioning Augustine Heights – Air Conditioning Bellbowrie – Air Conditioning Boondall – Air Conditioning Booval – Air Conditioning Bowen Hills – Air Conditioning Bracken Ridge – Air Conditioning Bridgeman Downs –Air Conditioning Brisbane – Air Conditioning Brookfield – Air Conditioning Brookside Centre – Air Conditioning Brookwater – Air Conditioning Carole Park – Air Conditioning Carseldine – Air Conditioning Chapel Hill – Air Conditioning Chermside – Air Conditioning Clayfield – Air Conditioning Collingwood Park – Air Conditioning Enoggera – Air Conditioning Everton Park, Air Conditioning Fig Tree Pocket – Air Conditioning Forest Lake – Air Conditioning Gaythorne – Air Conditioning Geebung – Air Conditioning Gordon Park – Air Conditioning Hamilton – Air Conditioning Hendra – Air Conditioning Indooroopilly
