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Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

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671–680 of 809 posts

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#671

I love startups, but the value proposition is not here. I just had a heat pump installed and it was a much better price and higher efficiency. What is the benefit of direct to consumers is you are going to charge more? What makes your heat pumps better? Hepa filtering? Smart controls? They all have that. Is the market niche esthetics? They do look nice - maybe this company is trying to be the Apple of heat pumps? Cha…

> What is the benefit of direct to consumers is you are going to charge more?

I'm going to guess there's a very specific target market for this, 'lazy' people with a lot of money who don't really do a lot of research before they buy stuff. They are aware of climate change and the need to reduce emissions and have heard of heat pumps as a solution. They've already installed solar panels through a similar service that made the process seamless. They don't want to spend hours calling contractors, getting estimates and selecting someone who is trustworthy. They've bought the same brand car from the same dealership for the last 40 years or so because it's familiar and has worked every time.

There's a massive group of people in the 50-70 age range who are like this. But there are also plenty young people who are like this. Heck, I almost paid quite a lot more for my bathroom than necessary, because of the convenience of the store also installing the bathroom. This meant no need to find a decent contractor (there are many awful ones over here).

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#672

Not to be too big picky, but why are the first few photos showing the heat pump with a perspective that implies a small dimensions, as if it were some portable boombox. Also, why do the photos look indoors? What do you think of thermoacoustic heat pumps?

In the future we'll likely show the condenser more in context, a backyard or something similar.

I don't know that much about thermoacoustic heat pumps. I do suspect they're less efficient than a standard vapor compression heat pumps, otherwise that would be their main selling point in the commercialization project underway: https://www.blueheartenergy.com/ourtechnology.

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#673
post #52

Putting aside fact that homeowners can buy HVACs online and get it shipped, how it differs from mrcool ducted heatpump that, for example can be bought for under 4k for 3ton model and have DIY install (no vacuuming needed), besides nicer of external unit and prettier app ? as opposed to 12k for yours + 8k install ?

Yeah, its a good question. I think 'direct to homeowners' has generated some confusion that this is a DIY product. After a purchase we have one of our contractor partners perform the install, they also bring the unit with them, we don't ship the unit to you and expect you to find your own installer or DIY.

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#675
Here’s my big question: physical size of the pump. I have limited space for condensers outside due to the layout of the home, and the reason I haven’t put in a heat pump is due to none being physically sized small enough to replace our ACs (48k btu and 24k btu).

Any word on dimensions?

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#676
Seems like a lot is being promised here for a 7 month old startup with one employee- SW, multiple different HW components, high end thermal mechanics delivering all of this by EOY 2024. Best of luck, I am legitimately rooting for this to be a winner (I love the concept of design meets efficient heat pumps and believe there is a substantial market here)... but how can outsiders trust to give you their money for a deposit when it's clear there is very high risk that this ever reaches market?

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#677
post #639

I've seen other construction related businesses try to go direct and it is extremely difficult. By going direct to the homeowner you are targeting the venn diagram union of "people who are willing & able to do the work themselves" and "people who will pay more" How are you going to build your service network? You say you will "connect them with a contractor to do the actual install." But contractors make their money…

> By going direct to the homeowner you are targeting the venn diagram union of "people who are willing & able to do the work themselves" This is meant to be installed by a professional contractor, not the homeowner. > How are you going to build your service network? Compensate the contractors fairly and act as lead gen. > Who are the decision makers in your target market exactly? Homeowners. Not targeting multiunit r…

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Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#678
HVAC distro is a racket that was mobbed up along with the financing.

There seems to be no marketing distribution conspiracy to find the 2M of 120M homes per year that need to be replaced.

Massive problem for cos like watsco.

The marketing costs for installers are insane and finding the 2M homes is a needle in a haystack biz.

Heat pumps are only kosher for mild winters.

Demographics shifting stateside might make this a bad business as people are depopulating everything west of San Antonio b/c of aquifer shortages etc... on a 20 year basis.

Re: Launch HN: Electric Air (YC W23) – Heat pump sold directly to homeowners

#679
I think well-controlled fresh air intake is the most uniquely appealing part of this offering. I built a few prototypes to provide CO2 based fresh air intake in our house and it has made our bedrooms much more comfortable (https://www.instagram.com/p/CUYBYm_v0IV/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=). I think it’s hard to appreciate until you sleep with it for a week!

I’m currently working on specifying the HVAC for our next house. I think we’ll go with an air-to-water heat pump feeding in-floor hydronics with a separate fresh air intake and filtration system. I’d be happy to talk about what led us to those choices and the compromises if that’d be helpful.

Good luck with Electric Air—I think there’s real value in what you’re offering if you can convince people of it.

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