The answer in two lines
Yes, a cool & heat AC warms you well in Cairo and Giza winters, and it usually uses less electricity than a regular electric heater for the same room, because it moves heat from the outdoor air to the inside (a heat pump) instead of generating it from a heating element. Run it on Heat mode (the sun icon ☀) at 20 to 22 °C, louvers pointing down, with a clean filter. Just make sure the model is cool & heat, not cooling only.
With the first cold nights the same questions come back: "Should I run the AC on heat or buy a heater?" and "How much electricity does the AC use on heat?". In this guide from Tawredaat (توريدات), an electrical, finishing and air-conditioning supplier in Cairo and Giza, we explain how an AC heats, how to set it up properly, and when it is cheaper to run than a heater, without made-up electricity bill numbers.
How does an AC heat? And why can it be cheaper than a heater?
A regular electric heater (oil-filled, fan or ceramic) turns electricity into heat through a resistance element that gets hot. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), electric resistance heating is 100% efficient, meaning every 1 kW of electricity gives about 1 kW of heat (a coefficient of performance, COP, of 1).
A cool & heat AC works as a heat pump: it reverses the cycle it uses for cooling in summer, pulling heat from the outdoor air and moving it inside. The same source says air-source heat pumps can deliver up to 3 times more heat energy than the electricity they consume, and that they can cut heating electricity use by about 50% compared with resistance heating. In other words, their COP is greater than 1, and the actual figure varies with the model and the outdoor temperature.
Work it out from the appliance nameplate
- Heater: its power in watts is printed on the nameplate. Consumption = power in kW × hours of use.
- AC: in the catalogue or on the nameplate you will find the Heating capacity and the Heating power input. Divide the first by the second to get the approximate efficiency (COP) of that model.
- Worked example only: if a model's COP is 3, it gives the same heat for about a third of the electricity a resistance heater would use for that heat. The real figures come from your own appliance's nameplate.
How do you know if your AC is cool & heat?
- ✔ The model name or the box says Cool & Heat (بارد ساخن).
- ✔ The remote has a Heat mode or a sun icon ☀. If you cycle through the modes and only find Cool, Dry and Fan, the model is most likely cooling only.
- ✔ For the Carrier and Midea models listed on Tawredaat: a Carrier code containing QH is cool & heat and KH is cooling only, and a Midea code containing HR is cool & heat and CR is cooling only. Always check the specs of the model itself.
AC on heat or an electric heater? (comparison table)
| Comparison | Cool & heat AC | Electric heater (resistance) |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Moves heat from outside to inside (heat pump) | Turns electricity into heat in a resistance element |
| Efficiency | COP above 1, up to about 3 depending on model and weather (DOE) | COP = 1 (100% efficient) |
| Consumption for the same heat | Usually lower (DOE: about half or less) | Higher, depending on its wattage |
| Heat distribution | Warms the whole room if its capacity suits the room size | Warms the area next to it more |
| Safety with children | Mounted high on the wall, out of reach, with no hot surface nearby | Its surface gets hot, and it must be kept 1 metre from anything that can burn |
| Upfront cost | Higher (if you don't already have an AC) | Lower |
| Portability | Fixed in one room | Easy to move from room to room |
Bottom line: if you have a cool & heat AC correctly sized for the room, it is usually the cheaper option for long running hours. A heater can still be useful for quick heating for a short time or for a small space with no AC.
- ⚠ If you use a heater: according to the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), keep it at least 1 metre away from anything that can burn (curtains, mattresses, clothes), switch it off and unplug it when you leave the room or go to sleep, and plug it directly into the wall socket, not into a power strip or extension lead.
How do you set the AC to heat mode properly?
- Mode: choose Heat ☀ with the Mode button, not Auto or Fan.
- Temperature: Carrier recommends starting at 20 °C while you are awake at home, and if you need more warmth, raise it one or two degrees gradually. So 20 to 22 °C suits most homes. The higher you set it, the more the AC runs and the more it consumes.
- Fan: leave it on Auto so the AC adjusts its speed by itself.
- Louvers down: warm air is light and rises, so if the louvers point forward or up, the warmth collects at the ceiling. Point them down so it reaches the floor and rises again to warm the whole room.
- Don't keep changing the temperature: let it reach the set point and hold it, instead of turning it up and down.
Why does the AC blow cold air at first on heat?
This is normal and not a fault. When you first switch on Heat mode, the indoor unit's coil is still cold, so many ACs delay the indoor fan for a few minutes until the coil warms up, so they don't blow cold air (pre-heating). Give it a few minutes and don't change modes while you wait.
Also, in cold and humid weather a light layer of frost can form on the outdoor unit, so the AC pauses heating briefly to defrost and then resumes heating by itself. This is also normal and happens from time to time.
- ⚠ If the air stays cold and doesn't warm up after waiting a while, make sure the mode really is Heat and the model is cool & heat, and clean the filter. If the problem continues, call a certified AC technician.
Does the AC heat well in very cold weather?
A heat pump's efficiency drops as the outdoor air gets colder, and the U.S. Department of Energy notes that older types were limited in places with long periods below freezing. That is very rare in Cairo: according to WeatherSpark climate data for Cairo, January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of roughly 10 to 19 °C. Our winter is mild, so a cool & heat AC works in suitable conditions.
Tips to save AC electricity in winter
- ✔ Clean the filter regularly: according to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing or cleaning a clogged filter can lower the AC's energy use by 5 to 15%. Clean it as the manual says, and put it back completely dry.
- ✔ Close windows and doors, and check for air leaks under the door or around the window.
- ✔ Inverter makes a difference over long running hours: it varies the compressor speed to match demand instead of switching off and on repeatedly.
- ✔ Keep the outdoor unit uncovered, with nothing blocking the airflow around it.
- ✔ Have it serviced regularly before the season by a certified AC technician.
When won't the AC be enough to heat the room?
- ⚠ Its capacity is too small for the room: the same rule as in summer. See our guide to how many HP your room's AC needs and choose the right capacity from the start.
- ⚠ A room with a lot of air leakage or large windows that don't close tightly.
- ⚠ The model is cooling only: it has no heat mode at all, and Fan or Auto mode won't warm the room.
Thinking of buying an AC now?
If you are buying a new AC, choose a cool & heat model from the start so the same unit serves you in summer and winter. Before buying, work out the right capacity for the room size, and make sure the apartment's wiring is ready for the AC (its own circuit and its own breaker).
Cool & heat ACs available on Tawredaat
- Carrier Optimax Pro 1.5 HP cool & heat (53QHCT12N)
- Carrier Optimax Pro 2.25 HP cool & heat (53QHCT18N)
- Carrier Optimax Pro 3 HP cool & heat (53QHCT24N)
- Carrier XCool 1.5 HP cool & heat (53QHEFT12N8)
- Carrier XCool 2.25 HP cool & heat (53QHEFT18N8)
- Carrier XCool Inverter 1.5 HP cool & heat (53QHEFT12DN8)
- Midea Xtreme Pro 1.5 HP cool & heat (M1SEFT-12HRN8F)
- Midea Xtreme Pro 3 HP cool & heat (M1SEFT-24HRN8F)
- Midea Mission Pro 3 HP cool & heat (MSCIT-24HR-N)
You can browse every model in our split ACs collection, inverter ACs collection and all air conditioners.
Frequently asked questions
Is an AC or an electric heater cheaper to run?
Usually the cool & heat AC, because it moves heat instead of generating it. The U.S. Department of Energy says heat pumps cut heating electricity by about 50% compared with resistance heating. The actual difference depends on the model and the heater's wattage printed on its nameplate.
What temperature should I set the AC to on heat?
Start at 20 °C and raise it one or two degrees gradually if needed, so 20 to 22 °C suits most homes.
Why does the AC blow cold air on heat mode?
In the first few minutes the indoor coil is still cold, so the fan is delayed a little, and sometimes the AC pauses briefly to defrost the outdoor unit. This is normal.
What does Heat mode look like on the remote?
The word Heat or a sun icon ☀ on the Mode button. If it isn't there, the AC is most likely cooling only.
Does the AC dry the air in winter?
Any heating lowers the relative humidity in the room. If the air feels dry, air the room for a while or use a humidifier.
Should the louvers point up or down for heating?
Down, because warm air rises by itself.
Want an AC that warms you in winter and cools you in summer?
Carrier and Midea cool & heat ACs, with delivery in Cairo and Giza.
About Tawredaat: Tawredaat (توريدات) is an Egyptian supplier of electrical and finishing materials and air conditioners, serving homeowners, companies and contractors in Cairo and Giza. Questions? See our FAQ.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Saver: Heat Pump Systems, Air-Source Heat Pumps, Electric Resistance Heating, Maintaining Your Air Conditioner), Carrier guidance on winter thermostat settings, Cairo climate data from WeatherSpark, and NFPA space heater safety guidance. Figures are a guide; the final reference is the model's nameplate and manual.
