Reverse Cycle Air Conditioner: Buy Online Australia [2026]

Updated 2 October 2026 · By the Alpha & Omega Air Store team, Authorised Daikin Specialist Dealer since 1989

Yes, you can buy a reverse cycle air conditioner online in Australia and have it shipped to your door. Every split system in our range is reverse cycle, so it heats in winter and cools in summer from one unit.

The things worth checking before you order are the warranty length, who backs it in Australia, the heating rating for your climate, and whether shipping covers your postcode.

That last list matters more than the price tag. Search "reverse cycle air conditioner" and you get pages of marketplace listings, many from budget brands carrying a 3-year warranty. Some will be fine.

Some won't have a local parts network when the fan motor goes in year four. This guide shows you how to tell the difference, then walks through the reverse cycle models we sell online with full Australian manufacturer warranty.

In this article

• What is a reverse cycle air conditioner?
• Is reverse cycle cheaper to run than an electric heater?
• What should you check before buying online?
• How do you read the heating rating on the label?
• Which reverse cycle models can you buy online here?
• Can you get a rebate if you buy online?
• Frequently asked questions

What is a reverse cycle air conditioner?

A reverse cycle air conditioner is a split system that both heats and cools by moving heat rather than making it. In summer it pulls heat out of the room and dumps it outside.

In winter it runs the refrigerant the other way, pulling heat from the outdoor air and releasing it inside. One unit, one remote, year-round comfort.

Because it moves heat instead of burning fuel or heating an element, the efficiency numbers look almost too good.

According to the federal government's energy.gov.au, reverse cycle units on the Australian market range from 300% to 600% efficient: one unit of electricity in, three to six units of heating or cooling out.

A bar heater, by comparison, turns one unit of electricity into roughly one unit of heat.

In Australia, "split system" and "reverse cycle" now mean nearly the same thing. Cooling-only splits still exist, but they are rare, and for most homes there is no good reason to buy one.

Is reverse cycle cheaper to run than an electric heater?

Yes, by a wide margin. Sustainability Victoria cites CHOICE calculations showing a reverse cycle air conditioner costs about a third as much to run as an electric heater in the same space.

The government's Your Home guide goes further: even a 2 to 3 star reverse cycle unit is cheaper to run than other heating and cooling appliances.

The figures come from Sustainability Victoria and Energy Rating. As a rough illustration: if a fan heater in the bedroom is costing you $90 over a winter quarter, a correctly sized reverse cycle split doing the same job is closer to $30.

The catch is sizing. An undersized unit runs flat out on a 2°C July morning and loses much of that advantage. Before you compare models, confirm the capacity with our split system size calculator or our guide to what size split system you need.

What should you check before buying a reverse cycle air conditioner online?

Check six things: warranty length, who honours it in Australia, the heating rating for your climate zone, refrigerant type, whether the price is supply-only, and whether shipping reaches your postcode.

Price is the seventh check, not the first. A unit that saves $150 at checkout can cost far more if a warranty claim stalls.

Check	What to look for	Why it matters
Warranty length	5 years parts and labour or longer	Many budget brands offer 3 years. A longer warranty covers more of the unit's working life.
Who backs it	Manufacturer warranty through an Australian subsidiary	A store warranty disappears if the store closes. A manufacturer warranty doesn't.
Heating rating	Red heating stars for your climate zone on the energy label	In cold zones, heating performance can differ a lot between models with similar cooling ratings.
Refrigerant	R-32	The current standard. Lower global warming potential than older R-410A units.
Supply or installed	Online prices are almost always supply-only	Budget $600 to $1,200 for licensed installation in metro areas.
Shipping	Confirm your postcode before ordering	Split systems ship as freight. Free shipping offers usually apply to selected areas only.

For a full breakdown of supply versus installed pricing, see how much a split system costs in Australia.

How do you read the heating rating on the energy label?

Look at the red stars, not the blue ones. Australia's Zoned Energy Rating Label shows cooling efficiency in blue and heating efficiency in red, with separate ratings for hot, average and cold climate zones.

Find your zone on the map printed on the label and compare models on that rating.

This is the single most useful thing to check if you live in Canberra, regional Victoria, Tasmania or the NSW tablelands. Two units with identical cooling stars can perform very differently on heating in a cold zone.

Air conditioners are also the only heating and cooling products covered by mandatory energy efficiency requirements in Australia, per Energy Rating, so the label is a reliable comparison tool across brands.

More stars means lower running costs for the same output. Over a 10 to 15 year lifespan, an extra star or two on the heating side can pay back the price difference in a cold climate.

Which reverse cycle air conditioners can you buy online here?

All ten split systems in our range are reverse cycle, with full Australian manufacturer warranty included.

Five cover most buyers: the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ciara for value with built-in Wi-Fi, the Midea Athena for the lowest supply price, the Daikin Cora as the all-rounder, the Daikin Alira X for air quality, and the Fujitsu Comfort for coastal homes.

Model	Sizes	Standout feature	From
Mitsubishi Ciara (MHI)	1.5 to 7.1kW	Built-in Wi-Fi, voice control	$887.00
Midea Athena	2 to 7kW	10-year Australian warranty	$764.99
Daikin Cora	2 to 7.1kW	Intelligent Eye sensor, enzyme filter	$1,262.33
Daikin Alira X	2 to 7.1kW	Streamer air purification, built-in Wi-Fi	$1,179.05
Fujitsu Comfort	2.6 to 7.1kW	Blue Fin corrosion protection	$1,599.00

The Ciara is made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the brand CHOICE named its top-rated air conditioning brand for 2026. It is a different company from Mitsubishi Electric. We explain the difference in our best air conditioner brand guide.

Can you get a rebate if you buy a reverse cycle air conditioner online?

Possibly, but not automatically. In NSW, the Energy Savings Scheme discount is applied upfront by an accredited provider when they install a qualifying high-efficiency system.

That means the discount usually flows through the installer, not the online store. Victoria and South Australia run similar schemes.

If a rebate matters to your budget, sort it out before you order. Ask your installer two questions: are you an accredited provider under the state scheme, and will a unit I supply qualify?

Some providers only apply the discount to units they supply themselves. Check current eligibility on energy.nsw.gov.au or your state's energy website, because discount amounts change as certificate prices move.

We would rather you know this now than discover it after the box arrives. In Sydney and the Sutherland Shire, call us on 1300 156 466 and we can talk through supply and installation together.

Frequently asked questions

Are all split systems reverse cycle?

Nearly all split systems sold in Australia today are reverse cycle, and every split system in our range is. Cooling-only models still exist but are uncommon. If a listing doesn't show a heating capacity figure, assume it may be cooling-only and check before buying.

How efficient is a reverse cycle air conditioner?

Reverse cycle air conditioners on the Australian market are 300% to 600% efficient, according to energy.gov.au.

They turn one unit of electricity into three to six units of heating or cooling by moving heat rather than generating it. A standard electric heater is about 100% efficient.

Do reverse cycle air conditioners work in cold weather?

Yes. They keep heating well below freezing, though output and efficiency drop as the outdoor temperature falls.

In cold climates, compare models on the red heating stars for the cold zone on the Zoned Energy Rating Label and size up slightly for heating.

Is it safe to buy a reverse cycle air conditioner online?

Yes, if the unit carries the manufacturer's Australian warranty and you use a licensed installer. Every unit we sell ships with its manufacturer warranty.

Installation by a technician holding an ARC refrigerant handling licence is a legal requirement and keeps that warranty valid.

What size reverse cycle air conditioner do I need?

Multiply the room's floor area in square metres by 0.15 for a starting figure in kilowatts, then adjust for ceiling height, insulation and window direction.

 A 20 square metre bedroom usually needs 2.5kW to 3.5kW. Our online size calculator gives a room-specific answer.