Hot and Cold Air Conditioner Explained: How the Goodman MBVK Handles H

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If you’ve ever told someone, “Yeah, my AC also does heat,” and then immediately had to explain yourself—you’re not alone.

Every heating and cooling season, I hear homeowners use phrases like:

heat and cold air conditioner
hot and cold air conditioner
hot and cold ac
2 in 1 air conditioner and heater
heaters and ac
ac to heat
a c heater
ac warmer

And while all of those phrases are understandable, they’re also a perfect snapshot of how confusing modern HVAC systems have become—especially when you’re dealing with an electric system built around a Goodman MBVK air handler.

So today, I want to slow this all the way down.

This is Jake Lawson, and we’re going to talk about what people mean when they say “hot and cold AC,” how a Goodman MBVK electric furnace setup fits into a 2-in-1 heating and cooling system, and why understanding the roles of heaters and air conditioners together will save you a lot of confusion—and usually money.

First, let’s clear up the biggest myth right away

An air conditioner does not make heat.

I know—that sounds like I’m splitting hairs, especially when people swear their system “switches from AC to heat.” But this one distinction matters more than almost anything else in this article.

When people say heat and cold air conditioner or hot and cold air conditioner, what they usually have is one of the following:

a heat pump system, or
an air conditioner paired with an electric furnace or air handler

The air conditioner itself only moves heat—it doesn’t create it.

So when you hear terms like ac to heat or a c heater, that’s shorthand for a system doing two jobs, not one piece of equipment magically changing its nature.

What people actually mean by “2 in 1 air conditioner and heater”

Let’s translate the language homeowners use into HVAC reality.

When someone says they have a 2 in 1 air conditioner and heater, they almost always mean:

“I have one system that cools my house in summer and heats it in winter.”

That system can be built in a few different ways, but the most common electric configuration looks like this:

an outdoor AC or heat pump
an indoor air handler (like the Goodman MBVK)
electric heat strips for heating

The Goodman MBVK sits at the center of this setup. It’s the indoor unit that handles airflow for both heating and cooling.

Goodman positions the MBVK as a modular air handler designed to pair with cooling equipment and optional electric heat kits, allowing it to function as the “heater” portion of an all-electric system. You can see that clearly on Goodman’s official product overview. (Goodman MBVK Series overview)

Heaters and AC: same ducts, very different jobs

One reason phrases like heaters and ac get mashed together is because, from a homeowner’s point of view, they feel inseparable.

They both:

use the same ductwork
use the same blower
are controlled by the same thermostat
push air through the same vents

But they do completely different things.

Air conditioning

removes heat from inside the home
sends that heat outdoors
cools air by passing it over a cold coil

Heating (electric, MBVK-based)

creates heat using electric resistance
warms air directly
pushes heated air into the home

The MBVK air handler is the common denominator—it’s the traffic hub that moves air regardless of season.

So what is a “hot and cold AC,” really?

When someone says hot and cold ac, they’re usually describing one of two scenarios:

Scenario 1: Heat pump system

A heat pump can:

cool the house like an air conditioner
reverse operation to heat the house

In that case, the outdoor unit changes direction, and the indoor air handler (like the MBVK) distributes warm or cool air depending on the mode.

Scenario 2: AC + electric furnace combo

This is extremely common with Goodman MBVK setups.

In cooling mode:

the outdoor AC runs
the MBVK moves air across a cold coil

In heating mode:

the outdoor AC does nothing
electric heat strips inside the MBVK create heat

From the thermostat’s point of view, it feels like the AC turned into a heater—even though that’s not technically what happened.

Why “AC warmer” is a misleading (but understandable) phrase

I see ac warmer pop up in searches more than you’d expect, and it usually comes from one of two experiences:

The system is blowing air, but it doesn’t feel hot enough
The homeowner thinks the AC should produce warmer air during heat mode

Here’s the truth:

Air conditioners never “warm up.”

If warm air is coming out of the vents, one of two things is happening:

a heat pump is running in heating mode, or
electric heat strips are energized inside the air handler

The MBVK doesn’t magically make the AC warmer—it switches which components are active.

How the Goodman MBVK enables heating and cooling in one system

Let’s talk mechanics for a minute—without getting technical.

The MBVK’s job is airflow.

Inside the cabinet, you have:

a powerful blower
an evaporator coil (for cooling)
optional electric heat strips (for heating)
control electronics

When the thermostat calls for cooling:

the blower runs
air passes over a cold coil
heat is removed from the air

When the thermostat calls for heating:

the blower runs
electric heat strips energize
air is heated directly

Same box. Same ducts. Totally different physics.

That’s why people reasonably call it a 2 in 1 air conditioner and heater—even though it’s technically a system, not a single appliance.

Why electric heat feels different than gas heat

This is where confusion around hot and cold air conditioner really ramps up.

Homeowners switching from gas to electric often say:

“It doesn’t feel like my old furnace.”

That’s because electric heat behaves differently.

Electric heating:

comes on fast
delivers steadier air temperatures
often feels “less hot” at the vent
runs longer cycles

Gas furnaces:

create very hot heat exchangers
blast hotter air
cycle more aggressively

Neither is wrong—they’re just different.

The U.S. Department of Energy explains that electric resistance heating converts electricity directly into heat, resulting in nearly 100% efficiency at the point of use, but with a different comfort profile than combustion systems. (DOE electric resistance heating overview)

The role of heat pumps in hot-and-cold systems

Many MBVK systems are paired with heat pumps, which adds another layer to the heat and cold air conditioner conversation.

In a heat pump setup:

mild heating is handled by the heat pump
electric heat strips provide backup or auxiliary heat
the MBVK manages airflow for both

That’s why homeowners sometimes feel:

lukewarm air first
hotter air later

The system is staging heat based on demand and efficiency—not malfunctioning.

Why people think their AC “turned into” a heater

This is a psychological thing, not a technical one.

From the user’s perspective:

one thermostat
one system
one set of vents

So when winter comes and warm air comes out, it feels like the AC changed roles.

In reality:

different components are active
the MBVK is doing the heavy lifting indoors
the system is behaving exactly as designed

Goodman’s installation documentation reinforces this dual-role setup by outlining how the MBVK integrates with both cooling coils and electric heat kits in one cabinet. (Goodman MBVK installation manual)

Common misunderstandings about heaters and AC working together

Let’s clear up a few.

“If my AC works, my heat should too”

Not necessarily. They share airflow, but heating and cooling components are separate.

“My hot and cold AC isn’t switching right”

Often a thermostat setting or staging issue—not a mechanical failure.

“Electric heat means weak heat”

Electric heat is steady, not weak. Comfort depends on airflow, insulation, and system sizing.

When a hot-and-cold system doesn’t behave as expected

If you feel like your 2 in 1 air conditioner and heater isn’t doing its job, start here:

Check thermostat mode (heat vs cool)
Check fan setting (AUTO vs ON)
Replace the air filter
Make sure breakers for electric heat are on
Understand whether you have a heat pump

Most issues blamed on “the AC not heating” are actually control or airflow problems.

Why the MBVK is a popular choice for all-electric homes

The Goodman MBVK is popular in electric setups because it:

simplifies indoor equipment
supports both heating and cooling
works with straight AC or heat pumps
integrates electric heat cleanly
fits modern electrification trends

It’s not flashy—but it’s versatile.

The Jake Lawson bottom line

Let’s answer the big questions in plain language.

Heat and cold air conditioner?
That’s a system, not a single machine.
Hot and cold AC?
You’re feeling different components doing different jobs.
2 in 1 air conditioner and heater?
That’s exactly what a Goodman MBVK-based system delivers.
AC warmer?
The AC isn’t warming—the electric heater is.