I’ve been passionate about variable-refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump technology for decades, and it all started when my dad and I first learned about ductless heat pump systems around 1989.

At that time, there were only a few ductless heat-pump manufacturers presenting their technology to engineers, architects, HVAC business owners, and mechanical contractors who were responsible for choosing HVAC systems for commercial building projects, but we were hooked on the technology immediately.

I was working for my dad, Frank, a mechanical engineer and owner of Pittsburgh-based Comfort Supply Inc., who suggested I familiarize myself with the HVAC industry and join the family business. Now, I have been the owner and president of our HVAC distribution company since 2001. We serve central and western Pennsylvania with three locations.

In 1993, after learning about and offering ductless heat-pump systems for several years, I attended the ASHRAE show in Chicago, Illinois, and visited the Mitsubishi Electric trade show booth. The company had an R2 series heat recovery system that could simultaneously cool and heat different spaces within a building. I was eager to introduce this innovative VRF heat-pump technology to our customers and prospects. Fortunately, the manufacturer didn’t want to ship the VRF heat pump back from the show, so the company gave the unit to us.

Although I didn’t know it at the time, this experience made Comfort Supply one of the first VRF distributors in the U.S., which also makes us a VRF pioneer.

Comfort Supply now specializes in VRF heat-pump systems, ductless split systems, and energy recovery ventilators. VRF systems even comprise about 50% of our business today.

VRF Has Many Selling Points

Comfort Supply serves commercial and residential customers and remains a proponent of all-electric VRF solutions. While it is true that VRF is more often used for commercial buildings, we have seen success with residential installations, too. Both applications of VRF offer a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable way to heat and cool buildings. VRF systems can also reduce HVAC operating costs and improve occupant comfort.

Using a highly efficient VRF system means a building is divided into zones that have individual set points based on usage, occupancy, and user preferences. VRF technology modulates the flow of refrigerant, so the equipment uses only the precise amount of energy needed to meet each zone’s comfort requirements.

Using an inverter-driven compressor and continuous fan operation, a VRF system keeps each zone’s temperature steady while consuming less energy.

Building owners, tenants, and homeowners benefit from precise comfort control, easier compliance with building codes and local laws restricting building emissions (on the commercial side), and may enjoy lower or more predictable utility costs. Choosing a VRF solution can also create opportunities to qualify for utility incentives and sustainable building certifications.

The Future of VRF Technology

We were among only a handful of distributors in central and western Pennsylvania supporting VRF systems when we started. Today, hundreds of HVAC technicians in our territory install these all-climate, all-electric heat-pump solutions. Year after year, this innovative technology becomes more popular.

Distributors and contractors are, of course, paying close attention to the refrigerant changes that are under way that will impact HVAC choices soon. Many are waiting to see how manufacturers will update their products to align with regulations.

Contractors should also be paying attention to newer hybrid VRF models that leverage water to cut down the use of refrigerants even more. I believe these hybrid models with built-in water-heating will become more in demand thanks to the national movement to electrify and decarbonize buildings and homes.

Find the Passion, and Go For It

Having enthusiasm for VRF systems — like I had back when they were in their infancy — has spread like wildfire throughout my company. Today we have a team of 44 employees who have multiple decades of experience supporting VRF systems.

More than 30 years ago, people were still learning about VRF applications for commercial buildings, and they said VRF systems would never work in residences. My company and others around the country have been pushing both applications ever since. We took a chance and continued installing heat-pump technology we believed in — a choice that has served us well.