Hickory, Kentucky-headquartered MRCOOL has launched an all-in-one heat pump that plugs into a standard 115-volt outlet and doesn’t have a bulky outdoor condenser.

The new MRCOOL Monoblock MTHP heats and cools smaller spaces such as garages, home offices, accessory dwelling units, sunrooms, and tiny homes. It’s designed for homeowners who want zoned heating and cooling but don’t have the space or permission to install a conventional mini-split.

What makes the Monoblock unique is that it contains the entire refrigeration system inside a single wall-mounted unit. A standard mini-split has an indoor air handler connected to an outdoor condenser via refrigerant lines. The Monoblock puts those components together indoors, so there are no refrigerant lines to connect and no equipment pad needed outside.

It does still need access to an exterior wall. Installation requires cutting two openings through the wall for outside air intake and exhaust, plus a smaller hole for condensate drainage. So “plug-and-play” doesn’t mean placing it on the floor and plugging it in.

The unit also weighs around 93 pounds, making installation more likely a two-person job.

The Monoblock delivers 10,000 Btu per hour of cooling and 9,000 Btu per hour of heating – enough for a single room rather than an entire house. It measures about 39 inches wide, 23 inches tall, and 8 inches deep.

Its inverter-driven compressor adjusts its output instead of repeatedly switching on and off. 5 HSPF2 for heating. That’s respectable for a compact, all-in-one unit, although it isn’t as efficient as some conventional ductless mini-splits.

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