Updated! A revived housing market and greater air-quality awareness are contributing to the health of the home-comfort business, making way for two new product entries.
From Friedrich, a room-air resource since 1952, comes the latest additions to its ductless J-Series line. This all-season solution, considered an affordable alternative to central heating and air, features a pair of Energy Star-rated 9,000 and 12,000 Btu units, capable of delivering 28.0 SEER/12.5 HSPF, with low ambient heat pump operation down to -13 degrees F.
“Ductless systems are a fantastic option for customers who want exceptional heating and cooling performance and efficiency,” said T.J. Wheeler, Friedrich’s marketing and product management VP. “Ductless delivers great flexibility when it comes to installation, but also maximum comfort and cost-savings year-round.”
Also adding to the home-comfort cavalcade is Amway — yes, the direct-channel, sell-from-home operation. Though more closely associated with private-label health and beauty products, the company has long maintained an Atmosphere line of air purifiers, and its latest is a doozy. Retail priced at $1,699, the new Atmosphere Sky air treatment system uses three separate filters (HEPA, carbon and a washable pre-filter) to remove odors and 130 contaminants including mold, bacteria, viruses and allergens as small as .007 microns at a capture rate of 99.99 percent, the company said.
The thigh-high unit can clean a 468-square-foot room nearly silently; can be operated remotely from a mobile app; and carries a five-year limited warranty with recommended filter replacement.
Amway initially manufactured the Sky system itself at its mile-long headquarters and factory facilities in Ada, Mich., but will shift production to Malaysia’s Venture Corp. Ltd. beginning next month, a spokesperson told TWICE.
See also: LG Clearing The Air At CES
