In the United States, HVAC equipment must meet strict federal energy efficiency laws before it can be legally sold or installed. An independent review has raised serious concerns about the Zymbo Dolphin 40 Heat Pump. These rules are set to protect consumers and ensure energy savings. In this article, we will explain why the Zymbo Dolphin 40 does not comply with those federal requirements.

Failure to Meet DOE Minimum Efficiency Requirements

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mandates that any 12,000 BTU heat pump sold in the country must have a minimum efficiency rating of 13.4 SEER2. It is a legal requirement. Zymbo states that the Dolphin 40 has a nominal cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU. However, the company does not publish a SEER2 rating for the unit. For heat pumps in this category, SEER2 is mandatory under Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Standard 210/240. Without a published SEER2 rating, it indicates that the Dolphin 40 may not meet this legal requirement, likely because it cannot achieve the necessary 13.4 SEER2 when tested in a certified lab. If a 12,000 BTU heat pump cannot meet 13.4 SEER2, it cannot legally be sold or installed in the United States.

Use of Incorrect Efficiency Ratings

Instead of publishing SEER2 and HSPF2, Zymbo lists EER for cooling and COP for heating. For this product category, EER and COP are not the required federal metrics. For heat pumps, the law requires SEER2 for cooling and HSPF2 for heating. These values must be tested and certified under AHRI 210/240 procedures. Publishing EER and COP instead of SEER2 and HSPF2 avoids the required efficiency standard. This rating substitution makes the unit appear compliant when it is not rated under the legally required system.

Misclassification as PTHP

Zymbo appears to classify the Dolphin 40 as a PTHP (Packaged Terminal Heat Pump) in order to justify the use of EER. However, a lawful PTHP must meet specific design criteria. A true PTHP requires a wall sleeve, a separate unencased chassis, and through-the-wall installation. The Zymbo Dolphin 40 does not have these characteristics. Misclassifying the unit as a PTHP to avoid SEER2 requirements violates federal product definitions and directly conflicts with DOE rules.

Miscalculated and Inconsistent Performance Numbers

The published performance data also raises serious red flags. For cooling, it claims a capacity of 12,000 BTU and a power use of 1,209 watts, resulting in an EER of approximately 9.93. However, the published EER is 10.5, indicating overstated efficiency. 

For heating, with a capacity of 11,900 BTU and a power input of 947 watts, the calculated COP is about 3.7, while the company lists it as 3.5. These inconsistencies raise concerns about the reliability of the reported data and could violate federal energy labeling laws.

Fraudulent Capacity and Efficiency Claims

The claim of 12,000 BTU capacity with 10.5 EER appears inflated. If tested in a certified laboratory, the unit would not produce the published combination of 12,000 BTU and 10.5 EER. Even if the misclassification issue is ignored, the basic math shows the published numbers are incorrect. That makes the efficiency claim misleading to consumers.

Conclusion  

The Zymbo Dolphin 40 heat pump does not publish required SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings and uses incorrect efficiency metrics. It seems misclassified to bypass federal standards, with published performance numbers that do not align with basic calculations. This non-compliance can lead to legal penalties, failed inspections, and financial loss for homeowners, contractors, and distributors. Consumers need certified ratings for informed decisions, so buyers should be aware of these compliance issues before considering the Zymbo Dolphin 40.