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Comment by saenns | Hacker News Reader

I'm looking at this 36,000 BTU/h unit for $3,750. Pre-charged line sets make it accessible to homeowners

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FGLMZB8?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=e...

I installed a MrCool mini split a few years ago and it's still running great in both summer and winter.

Installing one of these is a pretty advanced project for a typical home owner though. You have one chance to get those pre-charged linesets connected perfectly, and if you screw it up, good luck finding an HVAC contractor that will come and help you recover your botched installation of an off-brand heat pump.

That said, there are certainly homeowners who are experienced enough to pull it off, and I'm glad these DIY products exist. I could see potential for further innovation from ElectricAir to make this sort of thing accessible to more people (at a higher cost, obviously, to pay for that sweet sweet design)

The size ratings are confusing. This is really a ~19kbtu unit at 5F. Most homeowners do not want a DIY solution, they want it professionally installed. And this system lacks air quality features (HEPA, fresh air intake, humidifier) and the thermostat.

That really isn't the same product, as I understand this is an HRV combined with heat pump system where they are software integrated to PID controls that optimize the level of fresh air and weather aware energy utilization, with a system like this and a startup I'm sure optimizations like this https://youtu.be/0f9GpMWdvWI?t=432 should be possible - this is like Dropbox, can't expect people to roll their own - and you need a fully integrated system to really make this work well without comfort, even simpler if cooling/heating is more efficient via bringing in fresh air this system could choose to do that vs running the heat pump at all!

Looking at these US prices with envy. Heat pumps are just becoming a thing in Europe and currently installers are looking to earn a quick buck. I've not seen an install under 20k in the UK lately, bolting on to existing radiators. Also Europe seems to be heavily into air-to-water systems.

My wife paid 4000 euros for a heatpump in Finland, last year. Mostly to be used for cooling during the summer, rather than for heating in the winters (since there is "district heating" available for that).

Seemed pretty cheap, and the installation only took a day.

Air-to-air is much cheaper than connecting to water flow radiator system. Radiators aren't that great for cooling anyway.

US (attempted) buyers of air-to-water look with envy to the Nordics, Northern EU, and the UK. My quote in the US was almost double that figure (for an installed system). The parts prices you’re looking at are indeed cheap. The labor is moderate. The profit margins are high.

>are just becoming a thing

where do you life? in germany they are available for years already. friends built new homes with them 5-6 years ago and back then it was already established

in all differen varities. air or with geothermal pipes in your yard (either surface or drilled)

Often you can get EPA certification and all the tools for less. But that system does get good reviews.

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