WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.480 Now that we (hopefully) agree that  it’s time for more pumping more now,   00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:10.476 I’d like to finish off this arc of heat pumps with  a discussion on some of the many varieties there are out there, 00:00:10.476 --> 00:00:14.623 what the parts that make up those machines are and where they go, 00:00:14.623 --> 00:00:18.724 and what’s involved in getting a building  from no pumping to yes pumping. 00:00:18.724 --> 00:00:24.800 That includes not only the physical infrastructure, equipment  and the challenges certain buildings will face, 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:29.054 but also a discussion on some of the  barriers there are to heat pump adoption. 00:00:29.054 --> 00:00:33.685 Some real, and some, let’s just say... inflated. 00:00:33.685 --> 00:00:38.605 That particular wrinkle varies a LOT depending on where you are on the planet. 00:00:38.605 --> 00:00:42.320 New technologies leave lots of room for misunderstandings - 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:48.043 and this one is particularly fun because heat pumps  are not new tech at all! 00:00:48.043 --> 00:00:53.528 They’re a refinement of long-established tech used a little differently. 00:00:53.528 --> 00:00:56.752 *whispers* Your refrigerator is a heat pump. 00:00:56.752 --> 00:01:00.639 In case you’re here without seeing the video this  is following, well first 00:01:00.639 --> 00:01:01.546 - ding - 00:01:01.546 --> 00:01:04.485 that’ll take you there, but the cliffsnotes version is this; 00:01:04.485 --> 00:01:07.743 Heat pumps move heat rather than create it. 00:01:07.743 --> 00:01:14.950 Although it may be colder outside than inside, unless we’re  at absolute zero there is heat energy to be collected out there. 00:01:14.950 --> 00:01:17.569 And except in really cold ambient conditions, 00:01:17.569 --> 00:01:21.376 as in below -13° Celsius or 5° Fahrenheit, 00:01:21.376 --> 00:01:27.761 modern heat pumps are able to move at least 2.5 times as much energy as they consume in the process, 00:01:27.761 --> 00:01:33.465 making them the most efficient  way to use any source of energy for the purpose of heating a building 00:01:33.465 --> 00:01:35.584 in the vast majority of cases. 00:01:35.584 --> 00:01:41.588 That means they lessen the need for fossil fuels in the short term, which is good for many reasons, 00:01:41.588 --> 00:01:47.030 and in the long-term they make electrification and decarbonization easier because… 00:01:47.030 --> 00:01:50.316 well we can do more with less. Pretty straightforward. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:52.479 A small note before we continue: 00:01:52.479 --> 00:01:56.191 I’m focusing today on residential and light commercial stuff. 00:01:56.191 --> 00:02:01.786 When you get into really big commercial systems, well, things are pretty different. 00:02:01.786 --> 00:02:05.045 Also, this is by no means a complete picture. 00:02:05.045 --> 00:02:10.171 My goal with this video is to give you a  basic overview of common system designs, 00:02:10.171 --> 00:02:15.521 talk about some pros and cons of each particularly  when it comes to retrofitting existing buildings, 00:02:15.521 --> 00:02:18.811 and then I’ll talk about whatever other stuff comes up as we go along. 00:02:18.811 --> 00:02:20.000 Strap in! 00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:25.600 The first thing we need to talk about actually  has nothing to do with heat pumps whatsoever.   00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:29.471 And fair warning, this section might get some folks a little…   00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:31.088 heated. 00:02:31.088 --> 00:02:36.639 The wisest thing we can do in the short  term can be expressed in these three simple words: 00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:39.971 insulate, insulate, and insulate. 00:02:39.971 --> 00:02:43.583 No matter what technology is used to heat a building, 00:02:43.583 --> 00:02:47.169 the faster heat makes it out of the building through walls  and windows, 00:02:47.169 --> 00:02:50.595 the more heat you need to produce to keep the building warm. 00:02:50.595 --> 00:02:56.452 If you live in a home that was built in the last 20 or 30 years, odds are you’re probably in a decent place already, 00:02:56.452 --> 00:02:58.320 depending on where you are of course. 00:02:58.880 --> 00:03:00.793 But in older buildings? 00:03:00.793 --> 00:03:03.884 Well, heat loss is often a major problem. 00:03:03.884 --> 00:03:11.050 Adding insulation to existing buildings (which also, by the way, includes things like new windows and general weatherizing) 00:03:11.050 --> 00:03:14.514 is a complicated and often spicy topic. 00:03:14.514 --> 00:03:19.389 Some of this is because buildings are different and techniques suitable for one type of construction 00:03:19.389 --> 00:03:21.718 aren’t necessarily suitable for others. 00:03:21.718 --> 00:03:28.475 And sometimes it makes more sense to demolish energy-intensive buildings and simply start over - 00:03:28.475 --> 00:03:33.722 but that course of action has lots of baggage attached to it so for now let’s just… 00:03:33.722 --> 00:03:36.925 ignore it and talk about improving existing buildings. 00:03:36.925 --> 00:03:39.224 In general, it’s not easy. 00:03:39.224 --> 00:03:41.558 But it’s definitely worth doing. 00:03:41.558 --> 00:03:43.130 Indisputably. 00:03:43.130 --> 00:03:44.898 A problem, though. 00:03:44.898 --> 00:03:49.604 It generally takes a long time to see a return on insulation investments. 00:03:49.604 --> 00:03:55.542 And when you’re an individual simply being asked nicely to do it, well that puts you off. 00:03:55.542 --> 00:04:02.047 After all, if you won’t see savings for 5 or 10 years and you aren’t even sure you’ll stay living where you do by that time, 00:04:02.047 --> 00:04:03.717 it’s a hard sell. 00:04:03.717 --> 00:04:07.972 Worse, if you’re a landlord who is putting the cost of  energy on your tenants, 00:04:07.972 --> 00:04:09.575 you just don’t care! 00:04:09.575 --> 00:04:12.696 Which I, for the record, think is real bad. 00:04:12.696 --> 00:04:17.403 Shoutout to countries that do energy audits on rental units and publish efficiency scores 00:04:17.403 --> 00:04:20.853 so that potential tenants can see what they’re getting into before signing a lease 00:04:20.853 --> 00:04:24.780 and so that the landlords have a reason to do actually better. 00:04:25.061 --> 00:04:26.201 I like that a lot. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.720 Uh, anyway, incentives to insulate  - or as I like to call them,   00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:37.756 insulentives - are probably something we  should be doing, like, a lot more and faster.   00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:42.719 In fact, I’ll go beyond just insulentives - we should, 00:04:43.456 --> 00:04:45.057 dare I say it? 00:04:45.760 --> 00:04:49.730 Just start paying folks to insulate older buildings. 00:04:49.730 --> 00:04:53.516 Maybe create some sort of energy-de-intensification agency? 00:04:53.516 --> 00:04:56.769 I know. What is this, Energy Policy Connections? 00:04:56.769 --> 00:04:58.978 Well, right now it is. 00:04:58.978 --> 00:05:03.777 The only way to equitably solve this problem is with public policy, 00:05:03.777 --> 00:05:06.622 and while I’m not here to tell you what exactly that should look  like, 00:05:06.622 --> 00:05:09.237 I’m certain something needs to happen. 00:05:09.237 --> 00:05:14.181 And, if I were in charge, I would make sure this  isn’t some financialized scheme 00:05:14.181 --> 00:05:18.093 where people get, like, loans tacked onto property tax bills. 00:05:18.304 --> 00:05:20.851 But you can have fun arguing about that down below. 00:05:21.440 --> 00:05:27.588 The key problem is that right now, many of the  buildings which are most in need of insulation upgrades 00:05:27.588 --> 00:05:33.267 house families who would greatly  benefit from them but who cannot afford the investment - 00:05:33.267 --> 00:05:35.502 or may simply have no say in it at all. 00:05:36.310 --> 00:05:38.058 We should fix this. 00:05:38.058 --> 00:05:41.244 The fact is, unless something’s gone horribly wrong, 00:05:41.244 --> 00:05:45.280 every insulation upgrade will pay for itself in time. 00:05:45.280 --> 00:05:47.265 And I’m just talking about the money part, 00:05:47.265 --> 00:05:51.695 include the externalities like energy supply stability and reduced carbon emissions 00:05:51.695 --> 00:05:54.369 and you’re getting even more bang for that buck. 00:05:54.615 --> 00:05:55.115 Plus! 00:05:55.440 --> 00:05:59.440 If you can save someone $50 or $100 a month on their energy bills,   00:05:59.440 --> 00:06:02.350 you’ve greatly enhanced their financial security. 00:06:02.350 --> 00:06:04.777 Which is also good for society! 00:06:04.777 --> 00:06:11.057 The trouble has always been it’s a big upfront cost which many  simply cannot afford. 00:06:11.057 --> 00:06:15.693 Rather than engage in the national pastime of “well, sucks to be you!” 00:06:15.693 --> 00:06:18.343 I would rather we help those folks. 00:06:18.343 --> 00:06:20.165 Radical, I know. 00:06:20.165 --> 00:06:24.562 And by the way, this problem goes beyond just those who cannot afford it. 00:06:24.562 --> 00:06:32.615 Sometimes, sorely-needed upgrades get deferred  because incentives to do them just don’t line up in any sensible way. 00:06:32.615 --> 00:06:39.145 For instance, I used to live in an older apartment building where all occupants shared a single gas bill 00:06:39.145 --> 00:06:42.851 and paid for it collectively in a fixed, budgeted monthly cost. 00:06:43.280 --> 00:06:48.891 The building was new enough to be pretty-well  insulated, but the windows were awful! 00:06:48.891 --> 00:06:51.089 They badly needed replacing. 00:06:51.089 --> 00:06:59.358 But our energy cost-sharing scheme meant that there wasn’t a reason for me to bother replacing my four windows. 00:06:59.358 --> 00:07:03.147 My gas use represented maybe 2% of the bill, 00:07:03.147 --> 00:07:09.360 so even if I somehow never needed heat  again, 98% of my heating costs would remain. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:14.800 However, if we had gone in together as a  building to replace all of the windows,   00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.860 we would almost certainly have seen our gas bill  drop dramatically 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:24.055 and suddenly the windows would actually pay for themselves, and pretty quickly I’d imagine. 00:07:24.055 --> 00:07:28.812 Getting everyone to agree to it is, of course, the hard part. 00:07:28.812 --> 00:07:34.816 It’s really frustrating when stuff like this incentivizes us to remain in less-sustainable scenarios. 00:07:34.816 --> 00:07:39.638 And the less fortunate among us often have no choice but to take the worse 00:07:39.638 --> 00:07:41.701 - or even worst - option. 00:07:42.080 --> 00:07:44.336 Anyway, I’ll get off my soap box. 00:07:44.336 --> 00:07:48.789 Regardless of how we get there, the better a building can retain heat 00:07:48.789 --> 00:07:51.195 the less heating capacity is needed, 00:07:51.195 --> 00:07:56.246 and this also means the performance challenges  heat pumps currently encounter at very cold temperatures 00:07:56.880 --> 00:08:00.479 just become less of an issue - which of course means  well-insulated homes 00:08:00.479 --> 00:08:02.905 are better prepared for a heat pump. 00:08:02.905 --> 00:08:06.065 So, insulate, insulate, insulate. 00:08:06.065 --> 00:08:11.869 Heat pumps are great, but nothing’s better than helping a building hold in heat in the winter 00:08:11.869 --> 00:08:13.360 and keep it out in the summer. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:15.779 OK, so let’s move on. 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:16.730 Finally. 00:08:16.730 --> 00:08:22.053 You’ve got a nicely insulated home and are looking at replacing your whatever with a heat pump. 00:08:22.053 --> 00:08:23.886 What does that look like? 00:08:23.886 --> 00:08:27.921 The equipment in a heat pump consists broadly of three parts: 00:08:27.921 --> 00:08:31.200 the outside unit which absorbs heat from the outside air, 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:35.654 the inside unit or units which then put that  heat where we want it, 00:08:35.654 --> 00:08:42.997 and the refrigerant lineset or sets that connect them together and actually carry the refrigerant and thus its heat energy 00:08:42.997 --> 00:08:44.580 from place to place. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:49.916 Sometimes this is all packaged into a single device, and we’ll look at some of those later on, 00:08:49.916 --> 00:08:52.741 but more often than not they’re split systems. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:57.745 Part of why I’m so excited about heat pumps  is that they’re incredibly flexible 00:08:57.745 --> 00:09:02.080 and also quite straightforward - which a lot  of people don’t seem to be aware of.   00:09:02.640 --> 00:09:05.632 I showed you this heat pump in the original videos. 00:09:05.632 --> 00:09:11.830 This is a single-head ductless mini-split heat pump, and is the simplest possible split system, 00:09:12.076 --> 00:09:14.086 despite that mouthful of a name. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:20.361 Now, I’m doing a fairly deep dive on this style  of system first because, well for one thing 00:09:20.361 --> 00:09:26.562 I have experience with it, but also because in my  opinion it has a lot of advantages. 00:09:26.562 --> 00:09:31.449 I don’t expect it to become that popular here in the US outside  of certain cases 00:09:31.449 --> 00:09:36.131 since so many homes are already set up for ducted heat distribution. 00:09:36.131 --> 00:09:39.360 As you’ll see later, that’s a fantastic opportunity for us. 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.240 But in places which aren’t, this option presents a lot of opportunities. 00:09:45.040 --> 00:09:50.160 This style of system employs simple versions  of those three basic heat pump components;   00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:51.373 the outside unit, 00:09:51.373 --> 00:09:55.309 the inside unit - here it’s called the head and is mounted on the wall - 00:09:55.309 --> 00:09:57.339 and the refrigerant lineset. 00:09:57.339 --> 00:10:02.220 In this case that includes not only the insulated copper tubing which carries the refrigerant, 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:04.681 but also a power and communications cable. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:08.880 Now, the reason I think this style  of heat pump has a lot of potential   00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.736 is that it’s frankly ridiculously easy to deploy! 00:10:12.736 --> 00:10:16.076 And I don’t think that’s hyperbole. Let me explain why; 00:10:16.640 --> 00:10:21.840 All it took to get this unit functional was  determining where to mount the components,   00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:25.712 running a new electrical circuit to the outside  unit through a disconnect switch 00:10:25.712 --> 00:10:27.779 (which I recognize isn’t nothing), 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:31.461 drilling a hole in the wall to run the lineset and com wire through, 00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:34.676 actually mounting the indoor and outdoor units, 00:10:34.676 --> 00:10:38.526 and then connecting them together with flare fittings on the refrigerant lines 00:10:38.526 --> 00:10:41.141 and terminated wiring on the electrical side. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:46.221 This was so simple I did it myself over a day - 00:10:46.221 --> 00:10:51.693 the most complicated part was evacuating the lineset using a vacuum pump and manifold gauges. 00:10:51.693 --> 00:10:52.880 Otherwise, 00:10:52.880 --> 00:10:55.247 no special tools were required. 00:10:55.247 --> 00:10:57.200 Just a drill and some wrenches, basically. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.876 Real quick, I’m not suggesting that you follow my  example and go all DIY here. 00:11:03.876 --> 00:11:08.183 In many places it’s not even legal to work on refrigeration equipment yourself 00:11:08.183 --> 00:11:14.097 because if you mess up you can let the refrigerant out and we generally don’t want that. 00:11:14.097 --> 00:11:16.456 That’s why people get licensed for this. 00:11:16.456 --> 00:11:22.640 I’m telling you that I did this myself to point out  this ain’t complicated or particularly difficult. 00:11:23.280 --> 00:11:28.560 One concern many people have especially in  locations where air conditioning is rare   00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:33.116 is that there aren’t enough technicians qualified  to install this equipment. 00:11:33.116 --> 00:11:37.520 That is a problem, yes, but I hope you can see through this example   00:11:37.520 --> 00:11:41.153 that it’s not actually that difficult to get  folks up to speed. 00:11:41.153 --> 00:11:45.176 I barely know what I’m doing but simply by following the instructions 00:11:45.176 --> 00:11:49.643 I managed to get this up and running, and after three winter seasons it’s still working just fine 00:11:49.643 --> 00:11:51.420 so I think I can say I didn’t screw it up! 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:54.546 Aside from who installs it and how hard it is, 00:11:54.546 --> 00:11:56.210 let’s look at other options. 00:11:56.210 --> 00:12:01.325 If you want or need the indoor unit somewhere other than literally on the other side of the wall, 00:12:01.325 --> 00:12:02.836 that’s definitely doable. 00:12:02.836 --> 00:12:07.504 Generally you can run up to 30 meters or  100 feet of line between the units, 00:12:07.504 --> 00:12:11.490 though you may need to adjust the refrigerant charge in that case. 00:12:11.490 --> 00:12:14.695 Which again is what actual professionals are for. 00:12:14.695 --> 00:12:19.281 And what if you need more than one indoor unit (which you probably do)? 00:12:19.281 --> 00:12:23.404 Well, here’s where mini-split heat pumps get really interesting. 00:12:23.404 --> 00:12:29.935 The Asian manufacturers have for quite a while now been building these sorta like Lego sets. 00:12:29.935 --> 00:12:37.920 They are very modular - outdoor units are available in many different capacities and with connections to multiple indoor units, 00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:42.994 and thanks to clever stuff like electronic expansion valves and on-the-fly load calculation, 00:12:42.994 --> 00:12:50.901 one of these bad boys might have 5 or more linesets connected to it, all going to different heat exchangers in different rooms. 00:12:51.280 --> 00:12:55.280 That not only gives you individual  room control which is pretty neat,   00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:58.616 but greatly simplifies the installation process. 00:12:58.616 --> 00:13:02.483 You only need electrical power run to one outdoor unit, 00:13:02.483 --> 00:13:07.040 and it will send power to all the indoor  units through cables run with the linesets. 00:13:07.680 --> 00:13:10.460 That’s actually something I want to focus on for a beat. 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:15.777 I was unaware of this and was expecting that the indoor head would need its own power source. 00:13:15.777 --> 00:13:20.761 As a matter of fact I didn’t even consider a unit like this because of that false assumption. 00:13:20.761 --> 00:13:23.496 It seemed like far too much of a pain. 00:13:23.496 --> 00:13:27.091 But once I knew that the outside unit is in control  of everything, 00:13:27.091 --> 00:13:30.515 shoutout to Aging Wheels for his video on how he installed these, 00:13:30.515 --> 00:13:33.578 I realized this was way more flexible than I assumed. 00:13:33.578 --> 00:13:39.680 And as a matter of fact, it became far and away  the easiest option in my specific scenario. 00:13:40.400 --> 00:13:45.440 Now, when you have a more complicated system  with multiple heads in multiple rooms,   00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:50.880 this does add the difficulty of dealing with the  spaghetti that is a ton of refrigerant lines.   00:13:50.880 --> 00:13:53.481 But they can be run in various ways. 00:13:53.481 --> 00:13:55.989 They can go through attics or wall cavities, 00:13:55.989 --> 00:14:00.651 they can be run alongside or up exterior walls in  concealing chases, 00:14:00.651 --> 00:14:02.186 it’s really up to you! 00:14:02.186 --> 00:14:07.325 And, it should be noted, the indoor units don’t have to be  these wall-mounted things. 00:14:07.325 --> 00:14:09.940 There are options which get concealed in ceilings, 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:13.309 they can be floor-mounted devices akin to radiators, 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:20.671 and there are more options, too like air handlers or surface-mounted ceiling thingies which look like something out of a starship. 00:14:20.671 --> 00:14:24.142 The really cool😎thing about refrigeration technology 00:14:24.142 --> 00:14:27.426 is that it’s quite flexible so the sky’s the limit. 00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:30.932 And perhaps the biggest advantage of systems like this 00:14:30.932 --> 00:14:34.331 is that they are cooling-capable out of the box. 00:14:34.331 --> 00:14:39.182 One thing you always have to deal  with when cooling the air is water. 00:14:39.182 --> 00:14:42.577 Water vapor in the air condenses on cold surfaces, 00:14:42.577 --> 00:14:47.838 and so when cooling the air this condensate collects and needs to be dealt with. 00:14:47.838 --> 00:14:52.100 A standard ductless head like  this has a water pan at the bottom 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:55.903 and a little drain hose directs water that collects in it… 00:14:55.903 --> 00:14:57.137 elsewhere. 00:14:57.137 --> 00:15:02.800 The simplest setup is to mount the head on an exterior wall and drill a small hole for the drain hose, 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:06.747 or just run it out with the refrigerant lines if they came in from outside, 00:15:06.747 --> 00:15:10.398 thus letting it just sorta pee out as it collects. 00:15:10.398 --> 00:15:14.720 But if that’s not an option there are other solutions, too, like condensate pumps. 00:15:15.280 --> 00:15:19.600 But what if you currently heat your home  with a boiler that circulates hot water   00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:23.166 through some pipes and releases heat in radiators? 00:15:23.166 --> 00:15:29.600 Well, there is a heat pump for you - and it can often also produce domestic hot water if you use such a combined system.   00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:37.031 Before I get into it, though, I do just want to say that unless you’re firmly committed to the idea of hydronic heating 00:15:37.031 --> 00:15:39.722 - which in fairness I know many people are - 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.942 I really really think you ought to consider a ductless system. 00:15:43.942 --> 00:15:53.042 I know it takes some adjustment getting used to warm air being pushed around, but these heads are very very quiet and it’s really not that bad. 00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:58.359 I recognize that in many cases ductless systems  are not a perfect fit. 00:15:58.359 --> 00:16:00.701 Like, for instance, in bathrooms. 00:16:00.701 --> 00:16:04.165 There's no sense running a lineset to a head in such a small space, 00:16:04.165 --> 00:16:10.629 but if it’s on an outside wall there’s probably already a radiator in there  because it needs heat. 00:16:10.629 --> 00:16:12.441 Also, let’s face it, 00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:14.641 these aren’t the prettiest things. 00:16:14.641 --> 00:16:18.244 So I get it, I’m just saying - don’t rule these out right away, 00:16:18.244 --> 00:16:23.520 particularly since they offer cooling which  might be increasingly necessary as time goes on. 00:16:24.400 --> 00:16:26.297 If you’re on team radiator, though, 00:16:26.297 --> 00:16:29.359 (and/or on team in-floor heating I suppose) 00:16:29.359 --> 00:16:32.281 air-to-water heat pumps are pretty common. 00:16:32.281 --> 00:16:39.143 These will effectively replace a boiler by running a refrigerant lineset from an outside heat-collecting unit much like this one 00:16:39.143 --> 00:16:43.973 into a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger which replaces your boiler. 00:16:43.973 --> 00:16:46.891 This can be a more turn-key solution, 00:16:46.891 --> 00:16:52.480 however these units generally don’t produce  water as hot as a conventional boiler does. 00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:57.347 Depending on the radiators you currently have,  this could be an issue. 00:16:57.347 --> 00:17:02.486 The solution is pretty simple in that case - just replacing radiators as necessary - 00:17:02.486 --> 00:17:07.064 but if it comes up, well then that’s more work and more cost. 00:17:07.064 --> 00:17:12.492 Also an option are high-temperature air-to-water heat pumps that eliminate that potential hiccup, 00:17:12.492 --> 00:17:19.114 but those tend to be less efficient particularly in cold climates so there is definitely a trade-off. 00:17:19.114 --> 00:17:21.616 As is the case with pretty much everything… 00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:26.311 But anyway, one thing that I want to stress is  that all a heat pump does 00:17:26.311 --> 00:17:31.995 is collect heat from outside and move it, one might say "pump" it, indoors. 00:17:31.995 --> 00:17:36.592 The equipment which accomplishes this might seem a little strange if you’re not used to it, 00:17:36.592 --> 00:17:41.603 and it definitely feels weird to be getting heat from colder air. 00:17:41.603 --> 00:17:44.712 But the end goal is the same as it always has been - 00:17:44.712 --> 00:17:48.715 release heat where we want it so our homes stay warm. 00:17:48.715 --> 00:17:55.647 Air-to-water heat pumps allow you to use pretty much the same heat-distribution system you already have which has value, 00:17:55.647 --> 00:18:02.388 especially since there’s typically only one lineset to run in that case so the installation is less intensive. 00:18:02.388 --> 00:18:06.358 Plus of course there is value in familiarity, too. 00:18:06.358 --> 00:18:11.135 I would suggest, however, that you make a deep assessment before committing to one or the other, 00:18:11.521 --> 00:18:13.106 assuming you have the choice. 00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:17.351 Now I’d like to focus on the challenges to heat  pump adoption, 00:18:17.351 --> 00:18:21.553 with a particular emphasis on the situation here in United States. 00:18:21.553 --> 00:18:29.510 As I said in an earlier video, the immensely frustrating thing about the way heat pumps have been deployed here 00:18:29.510 --> 00:18:37.836 is that the vast majority of single-family homes already have excellent infrastructure in place for a heat pump. 00:18:37.836 --> 00:18:40.346 Many other housing types are well-prepared, too, 00:18:40.346 --> 00:18:44.416 but homes with central air conditioning are basically already set. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:49.600 There is already an outside unit with  a decent electrical supply run to it. 00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:54.002 There is already an inside unit in the form of  an evaporator coil. 00:18:54.002 --> 00:19:00.233 Someone has already planned a path for a lineset to go - and even went so  far as to put it there! 00:19:00.233 --> 00:19:05.518 And there is already an air handler and ductwork to work with it all. 00:19:05.518 --> 00:19:13.200 And of course that means a lot of boxes - in fact, pretty much all of them! - are already checked for many people over here. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:19.118 Because, once again, air conditioners ARE heat pumps! 00:19:19.118 --> 00:19:25.735 We just tend to not bother with the reversing valves because “but sometimes!” thinking is rampant. 00:19:25.735 --> 00:19:30.994 The good news of widespread use of air conditioning is that we already have trained technicians 00:19:30.994 --> 00:19:34.038 who know how to install and service heat pumps. 00:19:34.038 --> 00:19:37.334 They’re doing it all the time even if we haven’t realized it. 00:19:37.334 --> 00:19:40.563 And that is an advantage compared to other parts of the world. 00:19:41.370 --> 00:19:45.314 The less good news for us is that, so far anyway, 00:19:45.314 --> 00:19:49.977 systems which could best take advantage of all that  existing infrastructure... 00:19:49.977 --> 00:19:52.289 just aren’t very good. 00:19:52.289 --> 00:19:55.607 I’m not just saying that, by the way, I can back this up with data. 00:19:55.607 --> 00:20:02.668 A fantastic resource I was pointed to by Ian on Twitter is the list of air source heat pumps maintained by NEEP, 00:20:02.668 --> 00:20:05.171 the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. 00:20:05.171 --> 00:20:09.139 They track, among other things, the COP at 5 degrees, 00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:13.040 and we can simply sort by that figure and see who’s making the best stuff. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:18.140 Right now, I want you to look at the ducting configuration column. 00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:23.760 The best performers are overwhelmingly non-ducted configurations. 00:20:23.760 --> 00:20:25.942 These are mini-split systems. 00:20:25.942 --> 00:20:29.599 When you see multizone mix of non-ducted and ducted, 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:32.705 those are the lego-like systems I was talking about earlier. 00:20:32.705 --> 00:20:38.111 Those can connect to both a ductless head  and a ducted air handler at the same time. 00:20:38.111 --> 00:20:39.215 Which is pretty neat. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:42.782 Hello! Voiceover me is here to tell you that, 00:20:42.782 --> 00:20:48.129 well, this section of the video has become a bit of a disaster. 00:20:48.129 --> 00:20:54.011 I’ll explain, but first, these excellent systems at the very top of the list aren’t just mini-splits, 00:20:54.011 --> 00:20:59.573 some are what are known as VRF systems, and that stands for variable refrigerant flow. 00:20:59.573 --> 00:21:05.522 This tech is really neat because, when some rooms are too warm but others are too cold, 00:21:05.522 --> 00:21:09.321 it allows the system to move heat within the building. 00:21:09.321 --> 00:21:14.954 It does this by pumping the refrigerant between rooms, taking energy out of one room to cool it, 00:21:14.954 --> 00:21:17.825 and dumping it in another to warm it up. 00:21:17.825 --> 00:21:21.088 That tech is pretty unlikely to see use in the home, 00:21:21.088 --> 00:21:24.128 although apartment buildings are likely to deploy it. 00:21:24.128 --> 00:21:29.807 This excellent Fujitsu machine, for example, can actually have 15 heads connected to it, 00:21:29.807 --> 00:21:33.961 and since any head can heat while the others are cooling or vice versa, 00:21:33.961 --> 00:21:36.330 it’s ideal for multifamily setups. 00:21:36.330 --> 00:21:39.273 Best of all its performance is amazing. 00:21:39.273 --> 00:21:45.688 Its COP is a stellar 3.54 even at 5 Fahrenheit / -13 celsius, 00:21:45.688 --> 00:21:49.040 and it retains nearly all of its capacity at that temperature. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:53.747 The performance of this machine is so good that  even here in Chicago, 00:21:53.747 --> 00:22:00.626 so long as you had decent insulation there would almost never be a need for an alternate heat source which is fantastic. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:05.840 Anyway, I was about to say “to see the machines  that American homes can best take advantage of,   00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:09.454 we need to filter for single-zone, centrally  ducted systems” 00:22:09.454 --> 00:22:14.590 and then I would have shown you how there’s basically only one decent product line from Carrier, 00:22:14.590 --> 00:22:16.275 and nothing else. 00:22:16.275 --> 00:22:18.615 This is still kinda close to the case, 00:22:18.615 --> 00:22:26.320 and the American giants of the industry should absolutely be ashamed of themselves for continuing to pump out the same mediocre equipment - 00:22:26.320 --> 00:22:28.964 ancient 13 SEER air conditioners, 00:22:28.964 --> 00:22:31.557 which is a horrible efficiency in 2022, 00:22:31.557 --> 00:22:34.039 are still getting made unfortunately - 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:38.211 while various companies in Asia are actually innovating. 00:22:38.211 --> 00:22:43.774 However, I can happily report that the situation is at least a bit better than that. 00:22:43.774 --> 00:22:48.745 For whatever reason, when I first wrote this section I couldn’t see any of these units; 00:22:48.745 --> 00:22:53.776 those with the brands Allied, Ducane, Comfort-Aire, Concord and Century. 00:22:53.776 --> 00:22:58.256 Maybe these just got added to the list, maybe something was wonky when I looked it up, I don’t know, 00:22:58.256 --> 00:23:01.882 but these have a very good COP at 5 Fahrenheit, 00:23:01.882 --> 00:23:05.635 and retain a decent chunk of their capacity in that cold. 00:23:05.635 --> 00:23:09.848 It could be better, yes, but roughly ⅔ is still pretty good. 00:23:09.848 --> 00:23:14.468 That’ll keep your backup system from kicking on unless it gets frightfully cold. 00:23:14.468 --> 00:23:20.654 And these are your typical, what I call “barrel-style” American outdoor units and evaporator coils. 00:23:20.654 --> 00:23:24.560 This is the exact sort of equipment that gets installed here all the time. 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:30.560 The fact is there’s really nothing fundamentally  different between one of these and a mini split.   00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:36.156 They’re the same parts, in fact the same machines, just in different form factors.   00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:41.292 It seems that the tech which gets put into commodity mini-splits as a matter of course - 00:23:41.292 --> 00:23:45.479 basically variable-speed compressors and more intelligent  control logic - 00:23:45.479 --> 00:23:50.486 is finally making its way into at least a few American-style machines. 00:23:50.486 --> 00:23:56.596 Now, the other thing I want to talk about here is the HSPF, or heating seasonal performance factor. 00:23:56.596 --> 00:24:02.562 This is a metric which attempts to give an overall average efficiency throughout a heating season. 00:24:02.562 --> 00:24:06.716 These units all have pretty mediocre HSPF ratings. 00:24:06.716 --> 00:24:14.389 Which is very weird because an HSPF of 9  should indicate an average COP of only 2.63, 00:24:14.389 --> 00:24:18.560 but here on the NEEP list it bests  that even at 5 degrees Fahrenheit. 00:24:19.120 --> 00:24:23.887 I do not know the reason for this discrepancy,  and if you do by all means please share. 00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:27.120 Now, although the situation is improving for us,   00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:31.849 it’s still pretty bad and there are some other  complications which I’ll get to in a bit. 00:24:31.849 --> 00:24:34.296 But now, to set the stage for the next section, 00:24:34.296 --> 00:24:37.127 pretend that you didn’t know about the units we just saw 00:24:37.127 --> 00:24:40.856 and that there was only one decent product line available in the US. 00:24:40.856 --> 00:24:42.271 You’d probably want to ask; 00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:44.049 Why is this? 00:24:44.049 --> 00:24:46.455 Well, I’d be happy to speculate. 00:24:46.455 --> 00:24:52.097 I think a number of factors have combined to make the American manufacturers largely... 00:24:52.097 --> 00:24:54.135 just not really care. 00:24:54.135 --> 00:25:00.949 First, the historically cheap cost of natural gas means that there’s been little reason from the consumer’s point of view 00:25:00.949 --> 00:25:04.653 to go with a heat pump if they have access to the gas grid. 00:25:04.653 --> 00:25:08.336 And since most really cold places have gas grids, 00:25:08.336 --> 00:25:13.680 at least where there’s the density to make it  work, it’s rational from a consumer’s perspective 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.901 to not bother with a heat pump. 00:25:15.901 --> 00:25:22.059 Because energy is energy, you can convert the units your natural gas is billed in (here that’s the therm) 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:26.208 to the kilowatt hour and and make an apples-to-apples cost comparison. 00:25:26.208 --> 00:25:34.572 Here in Chicagoland, at least until recently gas has cost about a quarter what electricity does for the same amount of delivered energy. 00:25:34.800 --> 00:25:39.306 That has meant that heat pumps basically never  made any sense here. 00:25:39.306 --> 00:25:49.680 Locally we need a consistent COP of 4 just to break even with the cost of gas, and attaining that is, frankly, hard.   00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.829 Even now. 00:25:50.829 --> 00:25:53.575 But especially 20+ years ago. 00:25:53.575 --> 00:26:00.187 Around here, people just wanted air conditioning in the summer and already had some sort of cheap heat 00:26:00.187 --> 00:26:02.406 which a heat pump couldn’t touch on cost. 00:26:02.800 --> 00:26:08.684 And so the typical air conditioning system in my climate is super basic. 00:26:08.684 --> 00:26:14.320 In most cases it’s a single-capacity, single-speed  system that is either on or off.   00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:20.000 And, of course, it’s tacked on to the gas-fired  heating system made by the same manufacturer.   00:26:20.560 --> 00:26:23.920 Makes you wonder if they don’t want to  cannibalize their furnace sales, doesn't it? 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:28.820 Now, most all of these manufacturers do make reversible air conditioners 00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:30.895 and have for many years. 00:26:30.895 --> 00:26:37.807 But in general, they’re the same basic, one-speed, one-capacity condensing units that we install here, 00:26:37.807 --> 00:26:41.917 but equipped with a reversing valve and some sort of defrost timers. 00:26:41.917 --> 00:26:46.960 As a matter of fact, if you’ve ever wondered why a  thermostat terminal board has so many connections, 00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:52.503 well the O terminal tells the condenser to reverse flow for heating. 00:26:52.503 --> 00:26:55.681 Now, those heat pumps, although they’re mediocre, 00:26:55.681 --> 00:26:59.722 work well-enough in the regions  of the US with milder climates, 00:26:59.722 --> 00:27:06.837 and those regions typically don’t have widespread gas infrastructure  so many homes are all-electric from the start. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:12.597 These factors have combined to create little  reason for American HVAC manufacturers 00:27:12.597 --> 00:27:17.280 to develop their air conditioners into competent, cold-climate heat pumps. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:22.531 And the lasting effect of all this is that we are  currently in a place 00:27:22.531 --> 00:27:27.714 where getting a cold-climate heat pump is just… not easy here. 00:27:27.714 --> 00:27:30.800 Even though we are pumping out heat pumps right and left. 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:33.767 We make loads of air conditioners, 00:27:33.767 --> 00:27:39.723 but relatively few are made reversible and fewer still are equipped with the tech to make them heat 00:27:39.723 --> 00:27:42.216 when it gets Chicago-levels of cold. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.998 This limited supply, combined with the sudden interest in heat pumps, 00:27:46.998 --> 00:27:52.995 has led to many suppliers and installers charging rather absurd premiums for these systems - 00:27:52.995 --> 00:27:56.333 if you can even get them to give you a quote. 00:27:56.333 --> 00:27:57.793 Let me tell you a story. 00:27:57.793 --> 00:28:00.560 A friend of mine had their AC unit die last summer. 00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:07.375 Their heat source is propane which, while cheaper than electricity, isn’t that much cheaper. 00:28:07.375 --> 00:28:11.212 I suggested that they should look into  getting a Mitsubishi hyper heat unit, 00:28:11.212 --> 00:28:16.720 and I helped arrange quotes from the local HVAC company who is one of Mitsubishi’s authorized contractors. 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:19.666 A basic replacement of the air conditioner, 00:28:19.666 --> 00:28:22.655 including a new evaporator coil and lineset, 00:28:22.655 --> 00:28:24.942 was quoted at $3,000. 00:28:24.942 --> 00:28:30.875 This option would continue to use the existing furnace as the air handler - and thus propane for heat. 00:28:30.875 --> 00:28:33.647 A three-head ductless system from Mitsubishi— 00:28:33.647 --> 00:28:37.557 a perfect solution for their small home in a number of ways! 00:28:37.557 --> 00:28:38.834 —would cost… 00:28:38.834 --> 00:28:41.811 more than $12,000. 00:28:41.811 --> 00:28:44.616 That’s a gigantic price difference! 00:28:44.616 --> 00:28:49.581 And if we dig a little into it, we find what can only be described as greed. 00:28:49.581 --> 00:28:56.192 Yes, the equipment from Mitsubishi is expensive compared to  the commodity grade Carrier equipment in the other quote. 00:28:56.192 --> 00:28:59.647 But it’s not $9000 more expensive. 00:28:59.647 --> 00:29:05.231 This online wholesaler would sell me similar equipment for about $5,500 shipped. 00:29:05.231 --> 00:29:11.323 Let’s say that with the linesets and a few other ancillary things the equipment cost is $6500. 00:29:11.323 --> 00:29:19.407 Now I know that mounting wall units and drilling holes for them is more and different work than what is required to replace a condenser and lineset, 00:29:19.407 --> 00:29:23.067 but I can’t see it being $6000 worth of work. 00:29:23.067 --> 00:29:27.311 Especially when I did it myself that one time in a day, learning as I went. 00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:32.080 Actually, when you consider that the technician  who ended up replacing the air conditioner 00:29:32.080 --> 00:29:34.082 needed torches for brazing, 00:29:34.082 --> 00:29:41.209 had to run copper lines through utility spaces rather than the exterior of the building as they would have for the ductless install, 00:29:41.209 --> 00:29:50.200 and needed to fit a new evaporator coil into a cramped space above the furnace which ended up taking pretty much an entire work day to complete, 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:57.814 I can honestly say that I feel like installing the three head system would have been easier for an experienced technician. 00:29:57.814 --> 00:30:04.865 And, by the way, there was already sufficient electrical power at the location for the outside unit. 00:30:04.865 --> 00:30:08.182 I will admit I’m not in the HVAC business, 00:30:08.182 --> 00:30:14.859 but my gut tells me the company could have made  more money on that job in the end if they quoted it at $9000 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:19.146 - a much easier-to-swallow price that  made the payback period reasonable - 00:30:19.146 --> 00:30:23.691 but trying to get another $3000 out of it lost them the sale. 00:30:23.691 --> 00:30:29.667 If I were to guess, that company puts a fixed percentage markup on all the equipment they sell 00:30:29.667 --> 00:30:33.116 which I would not call savvy, but that’s just me. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.032 Now if you think that’s bad, here’s a real head scratcher. 00:30:37.032 --> 00:30:39.319 My brother lives in San Diego. 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:43.645 If you don’t know, San Diego… really doesn’t get cold. 00:30:43.645 --> 00:30:51.206 And for some silly reason, his home has central AC with a gas furnace - pretty much the same system you’d find here in Illinois. 00:30:51.760 --> 00:30:57.726 Electricity is very expensive there, yes, but  there’s just hardly a need for heating. 00:30:57.726 --> 00:31:02.051 He tells me he and his partner used the furnace for just  four days this winter. 00:31:02.051 --> 00:31:08.756 He wanted to get quotes to replace his aging AC with a heat pump, and the first company that came out? 00:31:08.756 --> 00:31:15.440 First, they said he’d probably want an expensive hybrid fuel system  so he could keep using gas for backup which…   00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.186 no. 00:31:16.818 --> 00:31:17.739 No. 00:31:17.739 --> 00:31:22.101 And second, the quote they gave him for a Lennox heat pump and air handler? 00:31:22.101 --> 00:31:25.693 It came in at over $16,000. 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:28.240 And that was the cheap option from this company. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:33.990 I know that’s California, maybe there are some  weird permitting costs, but c’mon. 00:31:33.990 --> 00:31:39.871 My brother would be perfectly served with a reversible 2-ton  system, maybe three at most. 00:31:39.871 --> 00:31:45.388 He does not need a hybrid system, and he certainly doesn’t need a true cold-climate heat pump. 00:31:45.388 --> 00:31:51.132 And thanks to the Internet, we know that the equipment cost for a 16 SEER 2.5 ton system 00:31:51.132 --> 00:31:56.138 is probably less than $3000 - I mean, these people are making their money, too. 00:31:56.138 --> 00:31:59.016 Plus the lineset and whatever other miscellaneous stuff. 00:31:59.520 --> 00:32:04.025 I cannot see the quote he got as anything  but a dishonest company 00:32:04.025 --> 00:32:11.231 taking advantage of someone looking to install a “trendy” heat pump,  and just hoping they don’t know what that is. 00:32:11.760 --> 00:32:18.106 This is probably happening all across the country, and indeed the world, and it sucks. 00:32:18.106 --> 00:32:22.800 Heat pumps are not miracle machines, they’re not even new tech! 00:32:22.800 --> 00:32:28.790 And installing one is either much the same  process as the air conditioners we’ve been installing for many decades 00:32:28.790 --> 00:32:32.066 or potentially easier as is the case for mini-splits. 00:32:32.066 --> 00:32:38.800 I mean, I would not go out and buy a torch, some gas bottles,  and learn how to braze copper piping on my own, 00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:42.407 but I was pretty confident I could tackle  a few pre-formed flare fittings. 00:32:42.653 --> 00:32:43.364 And I did! 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:45.170 Hi, it’s me again. 00:32:45.170 --> 00:32:48.162 I gotta cover a few more things in voiceover before the end. 00:32:48.162 --> 00:32:51.398 First, to make the last few minutes more explicit, 00:32:51.398 --> 00:32:58.279 the obfuscation of equipment pricing by installers is a serious problem and one that, well, 00:32:58.279 --> 00:33:00.542 I couldn’t tell you how to solve. 00:33:00.542 --> 00:33:05.932 Businesses are gonna business, but a real danger here that’s worth a hard look into 00:33:05.932 --> 00:33:12.858 is that many of the incentives we currently use to push people towards better equipment such as rebates for installing it 00:33:12.858 --> 00:33:16.122 are ripe for abuse by these installers. 00:33:16.122 --> 00:33:22.025 Whatever savings the rebate might bring can simply evaporate if the installer builds it into the quote, 00:33:22.025 --> 00:33:26.650 and when they’re inventing their own markups on equipment cost, anything goes. 00:33:26.650 --> 00:33:31.092 It would be great if everyone  could simply purchase their own equipment directly 00:33:31.092 --> 00:33:33.983 and then hire installers for their labor only, 00:33:33.983 --> 00:33:41.360 but a lot of rebate programs make this impossible and of course few people have the expertise to determine the equipment they need. 00:33:41.360 --> 00:33:49.358 The best thing I can do is remind everybody that  heat pumps are just air conditioners and are not actually special. 00:33:49.358 --> 00:33:53.256 Hopefully the more people  that know this, the less gouging will occur. 00:33:53.600 --> 00:33:58.792 Alright, and the other thing I need to talk about  is the wrinkle that is subpar ductwork. 00:33:58.792 --> 00:34:04.397 Thanks to the operational limits of heat pumps, airflow may  become a challenge in existing homes 00:34:04.397 --> 00:34:06.445 thanks to ductwork restrictions. 00:34:06.445 --> 00:34:13.055 As amazing as refrigeration is, the refrigerant can only get so hot - it’s a function of the system pressure. 00:34:13.055 --> 00:34:19.301 And that means you need a greater volume of air moving over the heat exchanger to get all that heat out. 00:34:19.301 --> 00:34:25.119 Ductless systems don’t pose a challenge here because the heads are designed to attain a certain heat output 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:29.413 and the heat exchanger is huge compared to the air it needs to move. 00:34:29.413 --> 00:34:36.801 But when you’re dealing with a relatively small coil shoved into some ductwork, you need as much airflow as you can get - 00:34:36.801 --> 00:34:40.857 and regrettably often, the ductwork wasn’t designed with that in mind. 00:34:40.857 --> 00:34:45.895 A furnace which heats with fire can make the air leaving it extremely hot, 00:34:45.895 --> 00:34:51.235 so the ducts didn’t need to be designed for the  same volume of air as is ideal with a heat pump. 00:34:51.235 --> 00:34:56.162 It's the same problem with undersized radiators in countries that don't use ducting. 00:34:56.320 --> 00:35:00.045 But, to be clear, this is a situational problem. 00:35:00.045 --> 00:35:04.857 Your ductwork could be just fine for a heat pump without any reconfiguration. 00:35:04.857 --> 00:35:09.228 One possibility is to simply force more air through them with a stronger blower, 00:35:09.228 --> 00:35:12.523 but that has limitations and can get noisy. 00:35:12.523 --> 00:35:15.045 But even if it is a problem in your case, 00:35:15.045 --> 00:35:20.020 the good news is that a situational problem can be dealt with situationally. 00:35:20.020 --> 00:35:28.376 It might be that to match the output of your current heating system, you’d need to have a much larger heat pump than your existing air conditioner. 00:35:28.376 --> 00:35:33.232 I saw someone on Twitter bring up that they were told they’d need a 5 ton heat pump 00:35:33.232 --> 00:35:38.143 (which is 60,000 BTU/hr or 17.5 kW by the way) 00:35:38.143 --> 00:35:42.629 but their ducts were sized only for a 3 ton air conditioner. 00:35:42.629 --> 00:35:47.600 So, they were told the only path  to a heat pump was expensive ducting upgrades. 00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:52.919 But I say - don’t let “but sometimes” thinking stop you! 00:35:52.919 --> 00:35:57.375 The fact is you rarely need the full output of a heating system anyway. 00:35:57.375 --> 00:36:01.889 Around here they all seem to be oversized by a factor of about 2. 00:36:01.889 --> 00:36:06.270 So it could be that even if you’ll only be able to have a 3 ton heat pump, 00:36:06.270 --> 00:36:09.683 that's gonna be all you need for the majority of the winter anyway. 00:36:09.683 --> 00:36:12.955 I can tell you that this is exactly the boat that I’m. 00:36:12.955 --> 00:36:21.521 My 70 thousand BTU furnace only runs about half the time even when it’s well below zero outside, so, a three ton heat pump 00:36:21.521 --> 00:36:27.503 - which is 36,000 BTU - would actually be more than enough almost all the time. 00:36:27.503 --> 00:36:30.880 And by the way, this problem might very well be temporary. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:35.106 With new refrigerants and technologies  on the horizon, who knows what’s possible. 00:36:35.520 --> 00:36:41.144 From what I can tell, there’s regrettably a lot of  old-school thinking permeating the trade. 00:36:41.144 --> 00:36:46.000 Some of it is understandable - it’s hard to explain  to customers all the nuances involved here,   00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.649 and they just want an HVAC system that works. 00:36:49.649 --> 00:36:52.988 But some of it is also... just weird! 00:36:52.988 --> 00:36:57.382 My friend’s quote for a three-head mini split  seems absolutely bonkers to me, 00:36:57.382 --> 00:37:04.400 but it’s become clear from conversations I’ve  had that lots of HVAC companies are charging similar amounts. 00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:07.760 They’re seemingly allergic to mini-splits for some reason,   00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:12.911 which is a real shame since they’re a great option  when you have limitations like poor ductwork.   00:37:13.360 --> 00:37:20.480 We’re entering a strange new phase of indoor  comfort - much of it is the same, but refined.   00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:24.820 And yet there are also entirely new opportunities to be found. 00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:28.830 We just need equipment to get a little bit better, easier to obtain, 00:37:28.830 --> 00:37:33.040 and for companies to sell it to you and to do the work for a fair price. 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:36.700 OK, I’m starting to run out of hot air. 00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:40.437 So I want to talk about a couple more things before the jazz hits. 00:37:40.437 --> 00:37:43.087 First, ambient noise. 00:37:43.087 --> 00:37:47.840 Heat pumps, unfortunately, make noise and this has some people worried. 00:37:48.560 --> 00:37:51.920 Now, for the record, and I know this  doesn’t make it right or anything,   00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:57.153 we’re surrounded by pretty loud heat pumps in the summer and we’re… 00:37:57.153 --> 00:37:58.576 mostly alright. 00:37:58.576 --> 00:38:04.257 However, modern heat pumps are so much quieter  than the air conditioners we’re used to now. 00:38:04.257 --> 00:38:06.946 Some of that is simply because they don’t do the whole 00:38:06.946 --> 00:38:09.451 [imitates A/C starting] 00:38:09.451 --> 00:38:12.931 thing old-fashioned AC units do when they startup. 00:38:12.931 --> 00:38:18.549 That’s when you notice an air conditioner the most - once it’s running, you tend to just filter it out. 00:38:18.549 --> 00:38:22.366 Inverter-driven compressors have a slow ramp-up in speed, 00:38:22.366 --> 00:38:24.813 and you basically don’t even notice it. 00:38:24.813 --> 00:38:27.375 Plus, aside from the whole hard start thing, 00:38:27.375 --> 00:38:29.790 they’re just much quieter in general. 00:38:29.790 --> 00:38:34.421 Mostly because unless it’s so cold or so hot that it needs to give it all it’s got, 00:38:34.421 --> 00:38:37.694 it’s running at a slow, barely-audible speed. 00:38:37.694 --> 00:38:43.895 Like this. This is me talking to you in my normal speaking voice right next to a heat pump. 00:38:43.895 --> 00:38:46.720 And this one is actually working pretty hard right now. 00:38:47.280 --> 00:38:50.713 Let’s wait ‘til it gets to temperature and see  how much quieter it gets. 00:38:50.713 --> 00:38:58.236 OK, so now the indoor temperature is at the set point and the heat pump has slowed down to basically an idle speed.   00:38:58.560 --> 00:39:02.223 The great thing about the inverter compressor  technology that you find 00:39:02.223 --> 00:39:07.757 even in pretty cheap heat pumps like this is that they will  operate at whatever capacity 00:39:07.757 --> 00:39:10.193 they need to for the given load. 00:39:10.193 --> 00:39:13.670 Rather than run for 10 minutes and stay off for 30, 00:39:13.670 --> 00:39:16.788 this can actually run at 25% output. 00:39:16.788 --> 00:39:20.617 That means it’s less disruptive because  you don’t hear it starting and stopping. 00:39:20.617 --> 00:39:23.937 But it also just means it’s quieter from the start. 00:39:23.937 --> 00:39:29.472 This is the ambient noise level that this heat pump operates at for the vast majority of the time. 00:39:29.472 --> 00:39:35.517 The only thing you notice in the winter is when it defrosts you hear it stop, start, stop, and start again. 00:39:35.517 --> 00:39:38.072 So, while I [clunk as compressor stops]... 00:39:38.072 --> 00:39:40.078 Oh it just stopped [laughs]. 00:39:40.078 --> 00:39:47.089 So while I understand that people are concerned about the outdoor ambient environment and the additional noise, 00:39:47.089 --> 00:39:49.621 it’s honestly not as bad as you might think. 00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:53.611 I saw a Tweet about someone looking to install a  heat pump in Seattle 00:39:53.611 --> 00:39:58.644 but they were told it would be illegal thanks to strict noise ordinances. 00:39:58.644 --> 00:40:01.586 Uh, guys, ya gotta update those. 00:40:01.586 --> 00:40:07.767 I mean, for one, I kinda doubt a good mini-split  would actually violate that ordinance, but if it does - 00:40:07.767 --> 00:40:10.520 well, looks like there’s an ordinance we gotta toss out! 00:40:10.520 --> 00:40:15.709 Not only are they just not that loud anymore, but if slightly louder outdoor environments 00:40:15.709 --> 00:40:20.604 are the price we have to pay to help reduce carbon emissions and increase energy independence, 00:40:20.604 --> 00:40:23.505 I think it’s worth it, don’t you? 00:40:23.505 --> 00:40:28.946 If NIMBYs get in the way of installing  heat pumps, may god have mercy on our souls… 00:40:29.600 --> 00:40:32.694 Lastly, let’s talk about packaged heat pumps. 00:40:32.694 --> 00:40:39.343 They exist, but right now seem to have some performance challenges which, well I’m not surprised by. 00:40:39.343 --> 00:40:46.343 One very common packaged heating and cooling thingy is the PTAC, which stands for packaged terminal air conditioner. 00:40:46.343 --> 00:40:51.106 If you’ve ever stayed in a low-to-medium tier hotel in the US, 00:40:51.106 --> 00:40:57.349 you’re probably familiar with the beige lump of cooling sitting below the window - that’s a PTAC. 00:40:57.349 --> 00:41:00.772 They’re also kinda common in certain residential settings, too. 00:41:00.772 --> 00:41:06.261 Luckily, the PTAC has been developed into the PTHP, or packaged terminal heat pump. 00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:13.481 Right now, NEEP barely has any data on these and  what they do have isn’t… great… 00:41:13.481 --> 00:41:21.440 the PTAC is a design optimized more for ease-of-installation by way of standardization than objective performance. 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:24.863 Hotels love them because they can be swapped  out in minutes 00:41:24.863 --> 00:41:31.267 and just by keeping a few spares on-hand, out-of-order rooms due to heating and cooling issues can be largely avoided. 00:41:31.267 --> 00:41:35.146 Until recently these provided heat via resistive heating elements, 00:41:35.146 --> 00:41:38.748 but lately the refrigeration circuits are becoming reversible. 00:41:38.748 --> 00:41:42.386 I suspect these are going to have some upper performance boundaries because, 00:41:42.720 --> 00:41:45.581 well, their design is quite a compromise. 00:41:45.581 --> 00:41:48.712 If you actually were to remove the PTAC from its sleeve, 00:41:48.712 --> 00:41:55.032 you’d discover that the PTAC is the only thing separating the inside from the outside - 00:41:55.032 --> 00:41:59.280 that vent you see from the outside of a building that utilizes PTACs 00:41:59.280 --> 00:42:02.325 is literally a large hole in the wall. 00:42:02.325 --> 00:42:03.840 PTACs are really more like… 00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:10.240 the guts of a window unit made to slide into  a standard sleeve, with strip heaters, too. 00:42:11.040 --> 00:42:17.760 It's likely the case that buildings which currently  use PTACs would be better off to de-PTAC.   00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:23.440 Hotels might consider replacing banks of 10 or  15 rooms with a large roof-mounted VRF system,   00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.280 and apartments might want to convert to ductless mini-splits.   00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:35.260 Actually, my old apartment building would be much better served by ductless heat pumps. 00:42:35.260 --> 00:42:39.289 With the bathrooms on interior walls,  I would only have needed a three-head system for my two-bedroom apartment. 00:42:39.289 --> 00:42:41.106 Two small heads for the bedrooms, 00:42:41.106 --> 00:42:44.642 and a large one for the living room, kitchen, and dining area. 00:42:44.642 --> 00:42:46.000 Speaking of my old apartment… 00:42:46.720 --> 00:42:50.644 Another less-common packaged system is the… 00:42:50.644 --> 00:42:54.973 well actually I don’t know what its non-trade-name is but the MagicPack. 00:42:54.973 --> 00:42:58.998 This thing is a packaged furnace and AC system. 00:42:58.998 --> 00:43:04.864 Kind of a clever idea, but anyone who has to replace one of these - you have my sympathies. 00:43:04.864 --> 00:43:10.298 They’re not made by many manufacturers and you’re pretty much stuck with a single option. 00:43:10.298 --> 00:43:14.453 But apartment buildings in my area are still getting built to use them - 00:43:14.453 --> 00:43:18.993 it’s obvious from the outside because they have a very particular vent arrangement. 00:43:18.993 --> 00:43:23.029 I imagine these will have the same airflow issues as PTHPs, 00:43:23.029 --> 00:43:28.000 so again, buildings which use these  might be best served by mini-splits. 00:43:28.640 --> 00:43:32.061 And then of course, there’s the venerable window  unit. 00:43:32.061 --> 00:43:36.879 These… actually could probably be turned into pretty decent heat pumps. 00:43:36.879 --> 00:43:40.972 The bigger issue there is that window units, as a rule, 00:43:41.200 --> 00:43:45.185 aren’t making a good seal between inside and outside. 00:43:45.185 --> 00:43:50.323 So while a window unit-esque cold-climate heat pump can certainly be built, 00:43:50.323 --> 00:43:56.366 it would probably be better if it were put through a wall and sealed up with expanding foam. 00:43:56.366 --> 00:44:02.895 And I suppose at that point you’re just re-inventing the PTAC, but with perhaps better outside airflow. 00:44:02.895 --> 00:44:05.030 This is why mini-splits are pretty cool. 00:44:05.030 --> 00:44:09.261 Oh, and yes I’ve seen that neat-looking low-profile heat pump thingy. 00:44:09.261 --> 00:44:15.704 I’ll be interested in its performance numbers, because assuming they’re good and you can seal it and the window up well-enough, 00:44:15.704 --> 00:44:18.160 that could be a very powerful idea for certain places. 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:21.818 But for now, I think we can leave it here. 00:44:21.818 --> 00:44:26.578 Remember, heat pumps aren’t some miracle tech we’ve never played with before. 00:44:26.578 --> 00:44:32.860 We’ve been using the technology for ages, and there are many directions we can take it from here. 00:44:32.860 --> 00:44:40.057 One fun one that so far hasn’t been seen much outside of Japan is the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as  a refrigerant. 00:44:40.057 --> 00:44:42.240 Over there it’s called EcoCute, 00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:44.487 and I’m not kidding. 00:44:44.487 --> 00:44:52.944 Even now, though, we’ve got incredibly powerful and relatively easy-to-deploy options sitting at our feet. 00:44:52.944 --> 00:44:55.941 We may disagree on how best to move forward. 00:44:55.941 --> 00:45:02.065 And however we do it, it will take time and a lot of effort to get us where we need to go. 00:45:02.065 --> 00:45:04.065 But when has that ever stopped us? 00:45:04.451 --> 00:45:05.780 Thanks for watching. 00:45:06.587 --> 00:45:09.246 ♫ egregiously smooth jazz ♫ 00:45:10.861 --> 00:45:12.484 I’m certain something needs to… 00:45:12.484 --> 00:45:14.000 why’d I emphasize “should” like that? 00:45:15.600 --> 00:45:21.323 Well, we went a while without needing retakes and  now we’re at this line which is taking forEVER.  00:45:21.680 --> 00:45:25.874 Working on refrigeration equipment  yourself… ooooowhat? 00:45:26.857 --> 00:45:29.748 You can’t change the wording on the fly, you know that. 00:45:29.748 --> 00:45:32.033 But you can argue about…. Ugh. 00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:35.859 Yeah. 00:45:35.859 --> 00:45:38.347 That was a decent take. But I still wanna do another one. 00:45:38.347 --> 00:45:39.978 Finally. 00:45:39.978 --> 00:45:42.313 Ugghhhhh 00:45:42.313 --> 00:45:44.656 don’t do that. Don’t do that. 00:45:45.253 --> 00:45:48.103 [a series of really strange noises] 00:45:48.454 --> 00:45:50.435 [whoop… whoop …. whoop] 00:45:50.435 --> 00:45:51.220 [snorts] 00:45:51.536 --> 00:45:54.080 As a matter of fact, I didn’t even consider a uni… 00:45:56.960 --> 00:46:00.718 They can go through attics or wall cavities, they can be rung al.... 00:46:01.350 --> 00:46:03.842 I just… did it a gain. Run! Not rung. 00:46:04.720 --> 00:46:07.169 Rung…. is on a ladder! 00:46:07.169 --> 00:46:10.394 A couple of caveats. First, I have… 00:46:11.412 --> 00:46:12.618 FURST! 00:46:12.640 --> 00:46:15.105 Is that, was that weird?  Probably would’ve been OK. 00:46:17.527 --> 00:46:21.194 Did you like how I put stock footage of ducks over the part where I was talking about ductwork? 00:46:21.194 --> 00:46:23.884 If you didn't think that was deliberate you were sorely mistaken. 00:46:23.884 --> 00:46:28.367 In fact, I almost decided to try and make every piece of stock footage some kinda pun on whatever I was talking about, but I couldn't be bothered. 00:46:28.367 --> 00:46:31.430 This video really was a slog at times. 00:46:31.430 --> 00:46:33.475 Next, something that isn't heat pumps!