LAS VEGAS — Daikin North America LLC unveiled its new Daikin Fit™ system that represents a radical departure designed to revolutionize the future of condensing units in North America’s current market, dominated by ducted, unitary HVAC systems.
Daikin unveiled its Daikin Fit system Sept. 25, at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hotel to an enthusiastic crowd of Daikin employees, distribution management, Daikin Comfort Pro™ professional contractors, and news media.
A smart HVAC system, Daikin Fit melds the best features and performance of ductless-style condensing units with the ability to connect to traditional ducted systems. This brings homeowners the advantages of Daikin technology, including high-performing inverter compressors with cabinet designs that are smaller, lighter, and quieter than traditional unitary outdoor condensing units.
As lot sizes decrease and building envelopes grow in many urban areas, homeowners can now free up precious backyard space, while enhancing their outdoor experience with a compact, quiet Daikin Fit unit. Smaller, lighter Daikin Fit cabinet designs provide several installation and service benefits for zero lot-line homes, condominiums, and on rooftop terraces in dense urban settings that would typically require a crane. Daikin Fit is easily installed in replacement applications using existing ductwork and existing line sets. Requiring only 4 inches of clearance, the Daikin Fit system is ideal for locations where installation space is limited.
Daikin Fit also allows contractors to fit more equipment on their fleet vehicles — four or five units can fit in a van or truck as compared to one or two traditional systems. Additionally, Daikin Fit is easy to transport from the delivery vehicle to the installation site and install on pad — a single Daikin Fit condenser unit can be transported with a dolly by a single HVAC technician.
With efficiencies up to 18 SEER, Daikin Fit provides a cost-competitive condensing unit in the mid-efficiency category with clear design and performance advantages.
“By introducing Daikin Fit, we provide a differentiated solution to our Daikin Comfort Pros,” said Kelly Hearnsberger, vice president residential product marketing. “In a market saturated with 'same old' equipment, Daikin Fit is a mid-range efficiency, competitively priced system that includes all the benefits of inverter technology combined with ducted furnace and coil combinations, and is a game changer for our Daikin sales network and for consumers.”
The superior performance of Daikin’s inverter compressor requires less condenser coil surface area. That, in turn, allows for much smaller cabinet sizes with a side discharge fan design, eliminating the need for typical large, wrap-around style condenser coils.
The Daikin Fit system shines during non-peak cooling periods. Daikin Fit’s condensing unit is powered by a Daikin-engineered and manufactured proprietary, variable-speed swing inverter compressor that gently ramps up and down, using only the energy needed to cool the space, thereby saving money during non-peak load periods.
Available in 1.5- to 5-ton capacities to meet most needs, the Daikin Fit system is compatible with Daikin’s line of communicating gas furnaces, with furnace efficiencies ranging from 80- to 97-percent AFUE and evaporator coils available in upflow, downflow, horizontal right, and horizontal left configurations, with standard Electronic Expansion Valve (EEV).
With the Daikin Fit system, homeowners can easily compare and choose a more compact and quieter outdoor condensing unit. This provides homeowners, installers, and builders far more flexibility with locating the outdoor equipment, plus the added benefit of reducing noise for backyard enjoyment.
Publication date: 9/28/2018
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