2024 Dealer Design Awards: HVAC High-Efficiency Residential Equipment

This year’s gold winner in the Dealer Design Awards High-Efficiency Residential Equipment category is a revolutionary heat pump water heater that doesn’t require a homeowner looking to lower their carbon footprint or utility bills to also spend a small fortune updating their electrical panel.

The Voltex 120V Heat Pump Water Heater unit plugs into standard outlets, providing contractors with a simple replacement option for gas units.

John Howe, general manager of Sweetwater Plumbing Industries, said this hybrid unit is a breeze to install because it doesn’t require any additional electrical work. Howe said that especially in California, this unit is perfect for older homes.

“A typical California house tends to have a smaller electrical panel, so what the 120V system does is allows a customer to get a heat pump water heater without having to do major electrical upgrades to the home,” Howe said. “You don’t have to upgrade the electrical panel, nor do you need to have a separate 220V line.”

The unit boasts sustainability features like a low-GWP refrigerant and a smart valve to improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint. The integrated smart valve allows the Voltex 120V models to provide similar First Hour Ratings to 30-, 40- and 50-gallon gas water heaters to meet the needs of the most common residential installations. Not only that, but the Voltex 120V HPWH can provide annual savings of up to $118 on utility bills when compared to a gas water heater, while also cutting down on installation costs.

Given that around half of water heaters go through wholesalers or pro channels, with the rest being sold through retailers, Arthur Smith, product manager – specialty residential at A. O. Smith, wanted to make sure they had a product that was suitable for both markets. In terms of the layout and design, Smith said the tank has top water connections, making it an easier drop-in replacement and allowing for smaller installation spaces.

“Our product has all of the connections and controls on either the front of the heater or on the top, so we don’t require any clearances on the side or back of the unit,” Smith said, adding it only needs about 450 cubic feet.

The unit also features quiet operation that eliminates the need for vibration isolation. Additional benefits include a leak sensor, automatic water shut-off valve, and A. O. Smith’s iComm remote monitoring system, which provides proactive monitoring of the unit.

In electrification markets where a traditional heat pump water heater cannot be installed, the Voltex 120V is an ideal fit. Energy Star-certified, the unit is also ideal for residential installations where a homeowner is seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and decarbonize their home.

The EODA19H-2436A is a fully inverter-driven IoT-connected, high-efficiency split system heat pump with Ecoer Automated Charging technology (EAC). Ecoer is the first manufacturer to use a fully automated charging system in the residential HVAC market. The EAC uses AI-driven software that automatically adds refrigerant through a new charging port during the auto-charge mode at any outdoor temperature.

This system’s standard application encompasses any residential setting requiring heating or air conditioning, regardless of the climate. It is a heat pump and central air conditioning system, making it a versatile solution for year-round temperature control.

Designed with techs in mind, this new product feature fully automates the process to ensure accuracy, freeing the technician to focus on other tasks on the job site. This increases efficiency and reliability, ensuring no need to return to job sites to check the refrigerant charge in different seasons.

Billed as “the most advanced Carrier furnace ever made,” the Infinity 98 furnace delivers precision comfort with Greenspeed intelligence, and its unique design innovations achieve unprecedented efficiency and quiet. The unit is Energy Star certified, with up to 98.5% AFUE for premium energy savings with excellent humidity control and premium comfort.

Greenspeed intelligence is created by pairing adaptable-speed technology with the intelligence of Carrier’s Infinity control. The unique, modulating gas valve of this unit, when managed by the Infinity control, allows it to literally adapt its output to the needs of the home. With tiny, 1% adjustments between 40 and 100% capacity, it gives the home only the amount of heating necessary. This allows the furnace to operate longer at steadier, lower capacities, which ensures high energy efficiency and quiet operation with tighter temperature control than standard furnaces.