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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Heat Pumps2021-08-09T09:22:19-05:00

FAQs for Distributors:

I already have a heat pump line. Why should I switch?2021-07-23T12:18:31-05:00

The Kinghome heat pump does a few things that the others don’t do:

  • Compete head to head with gas furnaces
  • Beat other heat pump competitors on first cost
  • Operate down to very low ambient temperatures
  • Produce a great deal of heat at low temperatures
  • Provide great efficiency throughout the range
I don’t have a heat pump line. Why should I take this on?2021-07-23T12:19:11-05:00

The world is moving to heat pumps. In 20 years, your home will likely not have a furnace any longer. Someone has to replace all those units. Wouldn’t you want to be part of it?

Can I make profit with this product?2021-07-23T12:19:33-05:00

The Kinghome heat pumps are priced to sell.

Is the product any good?2021-07-23T12:19:59-05:00

Don’t let the lack of brand recognition scare you off. Many manufacturers you are familiar with have brand named Gree products for years. Now, Gree wants to bring its brand to market directly.

Are there local installations?2021-07-23T12:20:29-05:00

Yes and no. Gree rebranded installations are all over the place, but we don’t have access to those specific installs. As far as the Ultranixx flagship product, there are just a handful locally that will be documented with video.

Is this product commercial or residential?2021-07-23T12:21:10-05:00

Both. All the Kinghome products offered have solid casings, microprocessor controls, and variable speed compressors. Some other brands distinguish between their offerings by limiting features. All the features are the same.

There is some implication that Kinghome is for homes, based on the names. That’s just branding.

How does training take place?2021-07-23T12:21:33-05:00

Most residential contractors have put in a one-to-one mini split. There is nothing here that should baffle a contractor. There are some more sophisticated products (single and three phase VRF) that will require training, and that will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

You say it’s competitive with furnaces – how do you figure?2021-07-23T12:22:04-05:00

First cost, the heat pump and air handler has a higher first cost. But the cost and labor of running gas, vent, soffits, wall penetrations, etc bring the cost much closer together.  Sometimes furnace installations are less expensive.  Sometimes the heat pumps are less. That is based on comparisons to basic units. A furnace with an 18 SEER AC will cost more than the heat pump system, based on our research.

Low ambient heat pumps – the one I sell has low ambient. Isn’t it the same?2021-07-23T14:18:52-05:00

This is where the details are so important.  A comparable heat pump may indeed run to a low ambient temperature, say -13F. Just because its running doesn’t mean its producing any heat. At -13F, the Kinghome Ultraheat Heat Pumps 2-4 tons can produce 60-90% of its rated capacity. Some other low ambient models may only produce 25% of rated capacity or less.

Those heat pumps with lower capacity require HUGE backup heat sources when the temperature drops. That’s not going to work well with the limited power available at a home or multi-family electrical box.

What is the warranty?2021-07-23T12:22:56-05:00

Kinghome products have a 3 year warranty, and an additional 5 years on the compressor.

Who provides warranty administration?2021-07-23T12:23:18-05:00

Air Flow Inc.

How many different products are there?2021-07-23T12:23:42-05:00

There is a big offering, not as many as some competitors. For the most part, the market is made up of:

  • One-to-ones or Mini-splits (standard and high heating)
  • Multi-Zones (standard and high heating)
  • U-Match (single outdoor unit, paired with different indoor units)
  • Single phase VRF
  • Ultranixx, which opens up all sorts of doors in single and multi-family dwellings as an alternative to furnaces and standard condensing units.
How does this product line up against competitors?2021-07-23T12:24:01-05:00

Kinghome is very competitive. Period.

What accessories do I need to go with this?2021-07-23T12:24:23-05:00
  • Pads, stands for residential
  • Rails for commercial
  • Line sets for all

FAQs for Builders & Developers:

What can this heat pump do that my current systems can’t?2021-07-23T12:25:52-05:00

Your current systems are likely furnaces with air conditioning or a wall boxed system like Magic-Pak or Comfort Pack. Those systems require natural gas to operate.  Your building can be full electrical without gas service.

The venting is a by-product that goes along with natural gas and piping. The products of combustion need to leave the building through the roof or sidewall. That too is eliminated.

I’ve always heard you can’t use heat pumps in cold climates. What gives?2021-07-23T12:26:27-05:00

Without getting too technical, the Kinghome Ultraheat units have a unique combination:

  • Patented compressor
  • Modified piping configuration
  • Microprocessor control

These pieces, working in concert, produce high heat outputs all the way down to -22F. The units operate down to -31, but -22F is the last temperature that was tested at Intertek, an independent lab. For apartments 1500 square feet and lower, the heat output should be enough that no accessory heat is required. It is important to know the loads.

My buildings use furnaces and air conditioners. How will this change the design?2021-07-23T12:26:52-05:00
  • No gas piping
  • No vent piping
  • No carbon monoxide sensors
  • No wall penetrations or roof flashing for vents
My buildings have lofts. Can heat pumps still be used?2021-07-23T12:27:13-05:00

There are fully ducted systems and zoned systems without ductwork.

My buildings use Magic Packs and Comfort Packs. How do these units compare?2021-07-23T12:27:37-05:00

They are less expensive but extremely loud and an architectural challenge.

My target demographic has changed. Does this product help me with younger clients?2021-07-23T12:28:23-05:00

Your younger clients want to do their part for the environment, and that includes where they live and how environmentally friendly their dwellings are. Right now, there aren’t a lot of choices for that.

The design of these facilities will change because it has to change in concert with the rest of the world.

Just a few things new, starting in 2020

  • You might not go to the office any longer.
  • If you did drive in, you surely passed a few electric vehicles along the way.
  • You’ll hear about Microgrids
  • Many counties across the US have aggressive green initiatives.
  • There is a robot mowing one of the lawns in your neighborhood.
  • Solar installations on commercial buildings are paying for themselves, and your neighbors have or are investigating solar panels for their homes. The ones that have panels talk about them all the time.

Clearly, the desire for change is here. It’s more than theory. We can see it.

The biggest electrification hurdle for the residential and multi-family markets to clear is space heating without natural gas in our cold climates. The water heater, range, oven, washer, and dryer are all manageable using electric. And now, the space heating will be too.

FAQs for Homeowners:

Does a heat pump do air conditioning?2021-08-02T08:58:09-05:00

Yes. It heats and cools. Really, it’s two systems in one.

What is the difference between my air conditioner and a heat pump?2021-07-23T12:56:45-05:00

A heat pump is just like your current air conditioner, but also has the ability to run in reverse. When it runs in reverse, it produces heat for the home instead of air conditioning.

It’s easier to start with an air conditioning system before we get to heat pumps. Use the image below for reference.

An air conditioning system consists of an evaporator coil (inside), an expansion valve (inside), a condenser coil (outside), and a compressor (outside).

To help the narrative below, a coil is simply a pipe with heat transfer fins attached to it. They are designed to make the heat transfer process (from refrigerant to air) as efficient as possible.

Typical indoor coil, uncased

Typical outdoor coil

The compressor is the heart of the system. It has the ability to take low pressure refrigerant gas, compress it, and produce a hot, high pressure refrigerant gas. That hot gas runs through the condenser coil. The coil, condenser fan, and compressor are all in a single box outside called the condensing unit.

That liquid refrigerant travels into the home from outside through a refrigerant pipe. The liquid reaches the metering device (usually above the furnace) called the expansion valve. After the expansion valve, there is a coil mounted inside the ductwork. As the liquid enters the coil, the heat that is in the ductwork causes the refrigerant to boil inside the coil. Since the heat leaves the air in the ductwork and into the refrigerant, the air passing through the coil gets colder. Viola! Air conditioning.

The refrigerant gas goes back to the compressor, and the entire cycle starts again.

A heat pump has all the same components, but there is a reversing valve included. Since the entire system is driven by pressure, the reversing valve can change which way the refrigerant flows, and the cycle can run in the opposite direction. The heat is pulled from the outside air and released into the ductwork. The condenser is now the evaporator and vice versa.

Reversing Valve

Can an air conditioner be replaced with a heat pump?2021-07-23T12:29:55-05:00

Yes it can!  The condensing unit will be replaced with a heat pump outdoor unit. The coil and expansion valve inside the home will be replaced with a similar looking system that is built for heat pump operation.

Can I keep my furnace?2021-07-23T12:30:19-05:00

Yes. When a heat pump is used in conjunction with a furnace, it is called a dual fuel arrangement. This allows the occupant to use controls to determine which fuel source (burning fuel or using electricity) to use at different times.

Can I use a heat pump if I have an oil or LP furnace?2021-07-23T12:30:46-05:00

Yes, and in these applications, it’s best to rely on the heat pump for as much of the heating season as possible, because of the higher fuel costs.

Will I save money using a heat pump?2021-07-23T12:32:08-05:00

The answer to this question ALWAYS depends upon fuel costs.

If the SEER rating for the heat pump is better than the SEER rating of the air conditioner, the answer is yes.

If the home uses electric, LP, or oil as a fuel source, the answer is yes.

In heating mode, if the fuel source is natural gas, it will cost more to run the heat pump. That is an ideal scenario for a dual fuel arrangement.

Answers above based on electricity at $0.13/KWH and Natural gas a $1.00/therm. LP gas and oil are roughly 2x the cost of natural gas. Heating with electric heaters is 4 times the cost of natural gas.

A good reference is here:  https://www.we-energies.com/services/switch/fuel-comparisons

Is there a payback?2021-07-23T12:49:56-05:00

Yes, and it could be substantial if you have air conditioning and use it year round.

If your home is heated by oil, LP, or electric, then absolutely.

If your home is heated by natural gas, there is a payback and more detail is shown below.

The blue line represents a geothermal heat pump system. The operating cost is the least, but the first costs is the highest. The anticipated payback is a long time

The gold line represents a furnace plus standard 13 SEER air conditioner. That example shows the costs to be highest.

The green line represents an 18 SEER heat pump run on electricity all year (no natural gas). The operating cost for this heat pump is still less than the traditional system by about $400/year.

If that same system were dual fuel, the savings would be closer to $600/year.

Of course, paybacks depend on costs. Generally, its free to find out how much a replacement might cost.

It gets cold where I live. Will a heat pump work? I heard there are problems with that.2021-07-23T12:46:55-05:00

Most heat pumps do not fare well in cold climates. The heat pump offered by All Seasons Heat Pump is specially built for cold climates. At -22F, it still produces between 50% and 80% of its rated capacity.

The example below shows a 3-ton heat pump. That unit is rated to deliver 36000 BTUs of heating at various outdoor temperatures.

As the temperature drops, the amount of refrigerant that can be boiled with cold temperatures are reduced. Some heat pumps shut down naturally. The heat pump offered here is configured in such a way that it does not shut off and continues to produce a lot of heat. See below.

What is SEER, and is a low number or a high number better?2021-07-23T12:33:40-05:00

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER rating the more efficient the unit will run, thus leading to lower energy bills. An old system might have a 10 SEER air conditioner. A 20 SEER conditioner, working under identical conditions, would cost half as much to run.

How is this unit more efficient than the one I have?2021-07-23T12:34:37-05:00

COOLING

Most air conditioners installed in the last 15-20 years are ‘code compliant’, meaning it complies only with the minimum SEER rating required by law.

If your new heat pump is 18 SEER and your old is 13 SEER, it will use 28% less energy for cooling.  That of course assumes that your old air conditioner works exactly the same as it did out of the box, which of course it does not.  Coils get dirty, reducing the heat transfer efficiency.  The compressor parts wear so it requires more energy to run the cycle.  Normal wear and tear.

HEATING

Furnaces have an efficiency rating.  Most are very efficient, usually 92-95%.  That means 90+% of the heating capacity of the fuel turns into heat.  Old furnaces were 80%, for example.

A heat pump is more efficient than a furnace in that it produces more heating than resistance electricity would produce.  This is reflected in the COP, or coefficient of performance.  An electric heater, always 100% efficient, produces 3.4 BTUs/watt.

Let’s use the data table at 47F.
Using the example 3270 watts of electric resistance heat would produce 11158 BTU/h of heat
That same 3270 watts run through the heat pump will produce 36000 BTU/h of heat
36000/11158 = COP = 3.23 times the amount of heating energy produced by the heat pump.
Notice, the output changes at different temperatures.

Is it expensive?2021-07-23T12:35:07-05:00

This heat pump is very cost competitive. It may cost a little bit more than a code compliant air conditioner. On the other hand, if this product was compared to an equivalent efficiency air conditioner, it would actually cost less.

Does it require maintenance?2021-07-23T12:35:32-05:00

It does require a little bit of maintenance. The outdoor coil should be hosed off periodically.

Other than that, there are a lot fewer parts than a traditional furnace plus air conditioner. Furnaces have inducer motors, spark ignitors, condensate traps, and venting for intake and exhaust. Any of those have trouble, there goes your heat.

Is there a warranty?2021-07-23T12:35:54-05:00

3 years on the entire assembly
5 additional years on the compressor.

How about sound?2021-07-23T12:36:17-05:00

This particular heat pump has a sound rating of 56 dB (A) (decibels) for the 3 ton unit. A conventional condensing unit is 68 dB (A).

Even better than that, the big ‘WHUMP’ that happens when AC units turn on and off goes away.

What about humidity control?2021-07-23T12:36:44-05:00

This particular heat pump uses a variable speed compressor. A variable-speed compressor allows the unit to run at a lower capacity for longer periods of time. That also keeps the evaporator coil cold for longer periods of time. That cold coil condenses more water out of the air for a longer period of time, thus reducing humidity.

In the winter, there is no change in humidity. A humidifier needs to be added to heating systems if higher humidity is desired in winter.

Can I disconnect the gas to my home?2021-07-23T12:37:06-05:00

You can, but keep in mind you may have gas to your oven, your dryer, your stove, your fireplace, and your water heater.

If the question is ‘can I heat my home without gas’, the answer is YES.

I’m thinking about getting solar for my home. How does this work with a heat pump?2021-07-23T12:37:32-05:00

It’s awesome. The solar panels generate power, and the heat pump is able to use the power.

If the power generated by solar panels covers the use of the heat pump, then the owner can switch to time-of-day metering and expand the benefit of the solar panels.

Are heat pumps good for the environment?2021-07-23T12:38:21-05:00

In a broad view, yes.

If the heat pump is more efficient than another unit (existing or new) in cooling, it is better for the environment.  Fewer kilowatts of energy to produce the same result.

There is a lot of demand from government, groups, and individuals to clean up the environment. Part of that effort demands the addition of more renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) to the power grid. Another part of that effort asks homeowners and businesses to reduce or eliminate the burning of distributed fuel and rely on the grid to make the best use of those renewables.

It’s easy to see how electric vehicles have come into the market. The costs are comparable to standard vehicles.  Electric vehicles don’t require the burning of gasoline. Heat pumps are analogous for a residence. The heat pump uses electricity instead of oil, propane, or natural gas.

(To be clear, heating a home with resistance electric is not better for the environment. It takes 2-4 times the power consumption to heat a home with electric baseboard heaters that it does with a heat pump.)

Who can service it?2021-07-23T12:38:37-05:00

There isn’t anything inside these units that a contractor who can read a manual can’t handle.

Are there rebates available?2021-07-23T12:39:00-05:00

Yes. In Wisconsin, Focus on Energy offers rebates for heat pumps above 16 SEER and also for dual fuel installations.

I haven’t heard of Gree. I’ve heard all the big brands – Trane, Carrier, York, Lennox, Bryant. Why should I use an unknown?2021-07-23T12:39:49-05:00

Gree historically produced heat pumps for other companies, and did not have their own brand in the United States. Many of the brands mentioned purchase heat pumps and condensing units from other manufacturers and put their own brand names on it. Gree is the producer for some of these brands already.

Gree is the largest refrigeration manufacturer in the world. The manufacturing process for this product is nearly entirely automated. Hell, they even make their own frigging robots. It’s crazy.

My friends in Virginia have heat pumps and hate them. Why should I use a heat pump?2021-07-23T12:40:19-05:00

Your friends in Virginia probably have a standard heat pump, which works great for a big chunk of the year. That heat pump is probably single stage, so it cycles on and off regularly, which they may find objectionable.

Because it’s single stage and doesn’t necessarily have microprocessor controls, it can’t do much when it gets cold outside. When Virginia gets cold snaps, they are probably wearing winter coats and boots in the living room until the heat pump can come back on.

Defrost cycle – what’s that?2021-07-23T12:40:47-05:00

In heating mode, the heat pump is pulling heat from the cold outside air. Some frost will form on the outdoor unit coil. The microprocessor will detect that frost because the heat transfer will be reduced (due to the presence of frost). When that occurs, the reversing valve in the heat pump will be controlled to, for a very short time, reverse the process and produce enough heat in the outdoor coil to melt the frost off the outdoor unit. When the frost is gone, usually in 2 minutes or less, the reversing valve reverts back to standard heating mode.

Do I need a special thermostat? Can I use my old one? What if I want a fancy electronic stat?2021-07-23T12:41:13-05:00

If you have a newer thermostat, it may have a heat pump mode and would just need to be reprogrammed. Basic thermostats need to be replaced for heat pump operation.

Will this heat pump work with a zone system?2021-07-23T12:41:35-05:00

Yes. The zone system relies on zone stats. If those stats get replaced to heat pump stats, it’s important to review the operation of the zone control system. Most contractors are familiar with multiple zoning systems. This needs to be addressed.

Do I need a stand?2021-07-23T12:41:55-05:00

Yes. A heat pump needs to be above the snow line to work effectively. The air conditioner doesn’t have this concern because it isn’t running in winter.

Can you provide me an installed cost?2021-07-23T12:42:19-05:00

No. All Seasons Heat Pumps and Air Flow Inc are equipment representatives. We can help find an installing contractor though.

Videos:

Introduction to Heat Pumps

What is a Heat Pump?

Do Heat Pumps Work in the Winter?

Are there Risks to Owning a Heat Pump?

Are Heat Pumps Expensive?

What Are the Operating Costs of a Heat Pump?

Have More Questions? We Have Answers.

What Our Customers Have to Say…

“Heat pumps are new, and many distributors don’t like new products. We took a chance and haven’t regretted it one bit. Our clients have been very receptive to installing heat pumps, and their customers are thrilled with the results.”

– David T. • Distributor

“We’ve worked on several installs with All Season. Not only do they supply top-of-the-line heat pumps, but they were also there to help us at every step of the installation. Great products and a great company to work with.”

– Mark B. • Home Builder

“We had a heat pump installed at our home in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we love it. The unit is super quiet and keeps our home at an even temperature. Plus, our heating and cooling bills have gone down!”

– Theresa Z. • Home Owner

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