Reverse cycle air conditioners, as the name implies, provide both cooling and heating solutions for the home or office. There are several options available for reverse cycle air conditioners, but the more common ones are split system and ducted split system air conditioners.

A split system ducted reverse air conditioning is one that has the operating unit (the noisy part) outside. While this reduces the noise levels to some extent, they can often still be heard, especially if the home is not made of brick. A split system usually works on only one room in the house. But why be confined to one comfortable room all summer?

A ducted split system is one that takes cool air to every room via pipes or ducts. A discreetly attractive vent in the wall or ceiling is all that is visible in each room. Your décor can then consist of artwork, rather than that intrusive box on the wall. Ducted systems are also quieter than most other models.

The main difference between refrigerative air conditioners is whether they only cool or can also heat your house in the winter. Lots of people prefer this option, as it seems to make the initial expense more worthwhile. While a reverse cycle air conditioner does provide heating in the winter, unless you live in a mild climate, you might find that in is not enough to provide warmth on those freezing days.

If your winters are somewhat harsher, then you could still use the heating function of your air conditioner, but it would need to be supplemented by some other form of heating. And since you still have the extra expense of installing and running your heater, it may be that you would prefer to cut the costs of your air conditioning by using one with a cooling only feature.

On the other hand, if you do get some days that are cold but mild, you could save the running costs of your other heating by simply using the reverse cycle heating feature of your air-conditioner. One other thing to be aware of is that if your climate is humid, then an evaporative cooler would not by your best choice, since they cool the air by adding moisture to it.