From 12 hours to one | EcoSnap’s HVAC connection invention is a big industry disruptor
As traditional HVAC technicians age out of the workforce, new technologies like EcoSnap offer faster, more cost-effective, and safer installation.
Demand for heat pumps is increasing, at a time when an industry-wide bottleneck has caused a stall in timely installations. This means Americans may face higher costs, longer wait times, and delays in accessing more efficient heating and cooling for their homes and businesses.
Sasi Viriyayuthakorn, Systems and Research Engineer for Colorado-based start-up EcoSnap, hopes to help solve that issue. EcoSnap was a recent participant in the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm.
She explained that the Clean Air Act requires every ductless mini split heat pump to be installed with two specialized professionals: a Licensed Electrician for the NEC-compliant wiring to the panel, and an EPA 608 technician to handle the refrigerant. If you touch a drop of refrigerant, you must be certified due to the environmental risks it poses.
Meanwhile, workforce shortages exacerbate the bottleneck. The HVAC trade is seeing a 30 percent labor deficit, according to ACHR news.
The current method
Many HVAC technologies utilize a split-system, which relies on a manual field connection – typically a ‘flare’ or ‘braze’. But, since these processes leave the refrigerant circuit open to the air, the EPA strictly regulates them, hence the two-specialist requirements for installation.
The current process for installing a ductless mini split heat pump, which is a type of energy-efficient HVAC system without traditional air ducts, takes anywhere from three to 12 hours.
The process is costly and can result in installation errors, including refrigerant leaks.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) found that 56 percent of flared fittings leaked either immediately or within a year. All of them leaked after being subjected to a “torture” test involving vibration and other real-world conditions.
The new method
Utilizing patented technology developed at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), Viriyayuthakorn joined EcoSnap co-founders Dr. Diana Fisler and CTO Joe Eriqat, who were working on a commercial prototype of a heat pump installation system that uses no HVAC-specific tools or complex setup methods. The EcoSnap team’s expertise ranges from building science and mechanical engineering to software engineering.
“We are not reinventing the heat pump,” Viriyayuthakorn said, sharing that it is the biggest misperception of their company. “Instead, we have a special connector that is NREL-developed, and it enables any ductless mini split heat pump to be installed reliably in just an hour. We’re confident that this technology can ease the deployment of other split systems too.”
“We are not reinventing the heat pump,” Viriyayuthakorn said, sharing that it is the biggest misperception of their company. “Instead, we have a special connector that is NREL-developed, and it enables any ductless mini split heat pump to be installed reliably in just an hour. We’re confident that this technology can ease the deployment of other split systems too.”
Now, their focus is shifting toward commercialization and distribution.
“We’re disrupters. It’s an industry that’s existed for a long time, and a lot of people are kind of resistant to change. Thankfully, some people are excited for change as well,” she said.
Viriyayuthakorn says that with many of the traditional HVAC technicians aging out of the workforce, it opens a window for new technologies (like EcoSnap) to be integrated.
“If we can make technicians’ jobs easier and more efficient, while also saving energy and costs for home or business owners, then why shouldn’t we do that?” Viriyayuthakorn said.
“We feel like our mission is to bring efficient heating and cooling to as many people as possible, and we’re trying to do that by making this installation easier and faster. When you have a shared mission, you feel more united,” Viriyayuthakorn said.
As a long-time start-up employee in the tech sector, Viriyayuthakorn was motivated to join EcoSnap to do meaningful work for society.
“The tech industry is great and fast-paced. But, I didn’t always feel like my work enhanced society,” she said. “I wanted to make an impact and saw the opportunity to do so in heating and cooling. Comfort is a human need.”
Viriyayuthakorn said her experience with the Spark Cleantech Accelerator has been overwhelmingly positive, from receiving critical feedback, making industry connections, and gaining a better understanding of operational efficiencies.
“It’s like a start-up bootcamp. My biggest takeaway is that you’re going to mess up. You’re going to make decisions along the way… but the goal is to make fewer bad decisions by learning from your experience, as well as learning from what others have learned before you,” she said.
Viriyayuthakorn pitched EcoSnap at the Spark Cleantech Accelerator Demo Day on Wednesday, November 19, at the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) Opportunities in Energy event. EcoSnap is interested in exploring strategic partnerships.
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