Adding efficient climate control to a garage, sunroom, tiny home, or home office may be simpler with a new heat pump design. The new system from MrCool avoids both a bulky outdoor unit and a special high-voltage connection.
Here's what to know
As Electrek reports, the Kentucky-based company built the Monoblock MTHP as a single wall-mounted package, with the refrigeration components contained inside and power coming from a regular 115-volt outlet.
With 10,000 BTU per hour of cooling and 9,000 BTU per hour of heating, the MrCool Monoblock is aimed at smaller areas that can be tough to heat or cool with traditional systems, not at conditioning an entire house.
The design skips the separate outdoor condenser and refrigerant-line hookup used by a standard mini-split, but installation is still involved. It calls for two openings in an exterior wall for intake and exhaust, plus a third for the condensate line to drain. At roughly 93 pounds, it is also not exactly a simple one-person install.
Per Electrek, the system offers cooling, dehumidification, and fan-only modes. Authorized retailers are already taking preorders for about $1,370 to $1,550, and claimed noise levels run from 32 dBA on low to 46 dBA on high.
More background
Part of the appeal is that the refrigerant loop comes sealed at the factory, so buyers skip the step of handling refrigerant or paying a technician to charge the system. A standard household plug could also save some homeowners the expense of running new 240-volt wiring or upgrading a breaker panel.
Still, plugging it into an outlet is only part of the job. Any exterior wall cuts still need to satisfy the codes that apply where you live, and anyone opening up a wall needs to steer clear of plumbing, wiring, and framing.
Electrek reports that the Monoblock is rated at 15 SEER2 for cooling and 7.5 HSPF2 for heating. Those are respectable figures for a self-contained unit this size, though some full ductless mini-splits run more efficiently. It is also listed as operating in outdoor temperatures from 5 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
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What else can be done?
As Christian Rea, director of MrCool sales, put it, "The Monoblock MTHP Series instantly adds climate control to spaces that are traditionally difficult to condition." Some may prefer the whole-home setup, though, or a more traditional unit.
Palmetto is also worth a look if upfront cost is the biggest barrier toward upgrading to a heat pump system. Through the Comfort Plan, homeowners can access $0-down options that can lower heating and cooling costs by up to 50%, and the plan includes 12 years of free maintenance.
You can also push those savings further by pairing electric appliances with solar panels. If you want to explore that route, Palmetto can help there too with a particular specialty in leasing and subscription solar plans. And if you prefer to buy, EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, with potential savings of up to $10,000 on installations.
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