• NightAuthor@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Is there any reason a window unit couldn’t be a heat pump? My understanding is the difference is just about a single valve to reverse the direction of the coolant.

    • Lyrl@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Mini-splits do exist in window-mountable form, although they haven’t really caught on (yet). Technology Connections covers alternatives like that at the end of his portable ac episode https://youtu.be/_-mBeYC2KGc

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I thought it was just that it was too difficult to fit all the parts efficiently in such a small box

      When Tesla first publicized 3d printing the “octovalve” as a piece to complex to manufacture traditionally, the claim was that it made the heat pump much more compact. There was even a rumor going around that they might use it to enter the home heat pump market. Their work in making heat pumps compact enough for cars could really make a difference, however I image home stuff is much more price sensitive