Efficiency ratings are significant in the selection, approval, and installation of heating and cooling equipment in the United States. These ratings do not simply estimate energy use. They also establish the lawfulness of a system to be sold, installed, or operated in accordance with federal law. However, some third-party reviewers and industry analysts have expressed concerns about DesignLine Roommate heat pump models MHP10 and MHP11, which are currently available in the USA. They claim that the efficiency data used to run these systems does not meet the requirements of the Department of Energy (DOE). Let's find out how it is illegal to fake numbers. 

How the Units Fail to Meet Minimum Efficiency Requirements

According to federal energy regulations, SEER2 and HSPF2 are used to rate heat pumps in this product category under AHRI 210/240. The DOE has specified a minimum efficiency of 13.4 SEER2 as the legal minimum for a heat pump with a nominal cooling capacity of 10,000 BTU to be sold or installed in the U.S. 

DesignLine HVAC MHP10 and MHP11 do not release any certified SEER2 or HSPF2 values according to third-party analysis. Under certified laboratory test conditions, the equipment apparently failed to achieve the necessary minimum requirement of 13.4 SEER2. Because of this, the MHP10 and MHP11 are illegal to sell or install. 

Illegal Rating

Reviewers say that the unit is based on the wrong rating metrics, which are EER and COP, which are not allowed to be used for this type of heat pump. The specifications published by DesignLine Roommate AC MHP10 and MHP11 have replaced SEER2 and HSPF2 with cooling performance in EER and heating performance in COP. 

Federal law explicitly requires SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings under AHRI 210/240. It is not possible to replace them with EER or COP. Analysts say that bypassing the required measures looks intentional. They believe any proper testing will show the inability to meet basic efficiency standards, which could make it illegal.

The Improper Classification of the Equipment

DesignLine labels the MHP10 and MHP11 units as Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHPs) using EER ratings. However, under federal law, a true PTHP must be built into an exterior wall, include a permanent wall sleeve, and have a separate, removable internal chassis. 

The MHP10 and MHP11 do not have these required features, so they do not legally qualify as PTHPs. Because these units are not true PTHPs, using an EER rating to classify them as PTHPs violates U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rules and constitutes illegal misclassification.

Efficiency Failure Even Under the Wrong Category

Even assuming that the PTHP classification were valid, the units would still not meet minimum efficiency criteria. The federal minimum efficiency of PTHPs in this size is 10.4 EER. Published data for MHP10 and MHP11 show efficiencies below this requirement. This implies that the equipment does not match the DOE specifications, even under the wrong category. 

Questionable Performance Data

Reviewers have also flagged serious inconsistencies in published capacity and heating efficiency numbers. Reported heating output and COP values for DesignLine Roommate MHP10 and MHP11, which are listed as 11,200 with a 3.5 COP, exceed what the original manufacturer, the Nordica model itself, publishes, which is only 9,000 BTU at 3.1 and 3.4 COP. When recalculated using standard methods, the numbers are not mathematically and physically consistent. Therefore, it is described as unrealistic and impossible under standard testing conditions.

DesignLine Roommate Fraud

Based on reported findings and independent reviews, the DesignLine Roommate MHP10 and MHP11 units are considered non-compliant with U.S. federal efficiency requirements. Without certified SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings from an approved laboratory, these units cannot be verified as meeting the mandatory standards. They, therefore, cannot be considered legally eligible for sale or installation in the United States. 

For homeowners, using non-compliant equipment could result in higher energy bills, failed inspections, and issues when selling or refinancing the property. Contractors and engineers may face more serious problems, such as failed inspections, legal liability, and damage to their reputations. Since these federal rules are mandatory, there can be serious legal and financial consequences.