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The hunt for the most efficient heat pump in the world
(arstechnica.com)
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this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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You can get window unit ac for under $200.
For under $500 one can get a window heat pump. (They are likely as shit as the $200 window A/C.)
I own one. It's mounted in the wall not in a window but it's a unit that can be used either way. We have central heat and A/C but our heat is a gas furnace. We have an addition that wasn't on the central system and that's why we have the wall unit heat pump/AC. It works pretty well as long as it isn't bitter cold outside (-20 C/ -4F isn't too rare). Also that addition has terrible insulation. (edit to add that the addition also has an ancient gas heater built into one of the walls but it hasn't been used in decades. It has been tested though, it still works but it is scary.)
So I'm pretty happy with that heat pump and it is probably much more efficient than a space heater. But if I was really broke and just trying to survive a hot spell or a cold snap I'd more likely buy a $180 AC unit and a $20 space heater unfortunately.
Where? My $300 U shaped window AC is modern quiet, tidy and efficient, but I was reading about window heat pumps being $2-3k.
My wall mounted split systems were <$1000 AUD each, 3.5kw. Found a sparkie and a fridgie to do the install, set us back around $3000 for two systems installed.
Great units, added some wifi dongles and tied them into my home-assistant for remote / out of home control & scheduling.
Probably the best addition to our home currently, don't know how we lived here using pedestal fans and gas heating.
Search Amazon for "window heat pump".
I cannot comment on quality or efficiency.
Well all conventional air conditioners are strictly heat pumps, but when we say heat pump everyone usually means bi-directional heat pumps - ones that can provide heating as well as cooling. My Amazon results are not that and I was recently reading about them coming to market starting at $2k.
This one is $449 and clearly states several times it can heat with a heat pump.
Maybe it is full of shit. I cannot say.