Heat pumps/AC systems

[Condi]

Has anyone got a heat pump they use to heat as well as cool down rooms? Are they any good?

My house is wooden frame with vertical tiling, and has little to no insulation. As a result the rooms get very hot in summer when the sun warms the tiles, especially for 2 south facing bedrooms. In winter the house takes a little while to warm up, so having seen adverts for air con which can then pump heat back in during winter I wondered if anyone had any experience? Would want it mainly for the aircon and dehumidification, but it it warms as well maybe save some heating.

Something like this

https://www.cooleasy.co.uk/categories/wall-mounted...

[Pheo]

Most ac units can heat as well as cool. Quite efficient and fast.

[schmunk]

Pheo said:

Most ac units can heat as well as cool. Quite efficient and fast.

...except they use electricity, which in the UK is generally about 3x the price of gas, so for most people will not be cheaper than using gas central heating.

[Trif]

schmunk said:

...except they use electricity, which in the UK is generally about 3x the price of gas, so for most people will not be cheaper than using gas central heating.

Fortunately air conditioning is also about 3 times more efficient for heating/cooling.

[Pheo]

I think it's fair to say they are 3x efficient - you get back 3x energy for what you put in so better than other forms of electric heating. But as you say gas is cheaper. However if you need cooling then it's a good backup. And it spot heat a room very fast so say you get back late you could quickly just heat the bedroom rather than whole house.

[Condi]

Ok thanks all. It would be used 99% of the time for cooling and dehumidifying.