Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Price
The Gradient will have the efficiency and power of professionally installed products with similar features at a fraction of the price of those units. More information on pricing will be released after the completion of our beta program.
Carbon emissions
The Gradient's CEER rating is 10.8. In addition, we estimate a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of up to 95% when the Gradient is used to cool and heat, depending on your source of electricity. That’s like choosing to walk instead of drive up to 15 miles daily – just by switching to Gradient.
Our end goal is to achieve a 100% carbon reduction; we see our current model as a very important and very big first step toward that goal.
Technical specs
The Gradient is rated at 8600 BTU/hr cooling and can replace any mid-to-large sized window AC. In addition, the unit can replace up to two space heaters depending on the temperature and humidity conditions. Heating performance may range from 8000 BTU/hr to 3000 BTU/hr. Cold weather and high relative humidity can affect heating performance.
The current version of the Gradient works exclusively with windows that are single or double hung, i.e., they can slide up and down. We look forward to expanding our product line to fit other window styles in the future.
The Gradient is well suited for moderate climates.Rated Cooling Capacity: 8600 BTU/hrHeating Capacity Range: 3000 - 8000 BTU/hr
For cooling we recommend the Gradient for rooms up to 450 sq ft. Our recommendation for heating depends more heavily on your particular climate.
The Gradient system requires a standard 120V outlet.
Yes, that's correct. Variable speed drives help to increase the efficiency of the Gradient. They also carry a better noise profile, so you get whisper-quiet, cool comfort.
The Gradient's compressor is on the outdoor portion of the unit. Its indoor fan and indoor heat exchanger are on the indoor portion.
We're currently finalizing tests of the Gradient's CEER in the lab. We're excited to share results of those tests on this page soon.
The Gradient uses a standard MERV 2 air filter. We're investigating advanced air filtration as an upgrade or in future products.
Indoor unit height: 24 in
Indoor unit width: 24 in
Indoor unit depth: 8 in
Outdoor unit height: 24 in
Outdoor unit width: 24 in
Outdoor unit depth: 15 in
Depending on window sill depth, the outdoor unit extends between 16 and 18 inches from the exterior wall.
The Gradient provides heating and cooling with outdoor temperatures between 20°F and 115°F.
Availability
The Gradient is currently in-stock and available for sale on our website.
For now, the Gradient is only available in the United States. But we’re excited to expand availability to other regions as soon as possible. At Gradient we’re serious about our mission to enable everyone to have access to comfortable buildings — in a way that doesn't compromise the environment.
Heat pump
The Gradient uses heat pump technology. The unit will have the efficiency and power of professionally installed products with similar features — at a fraction of the price of those units.
Technically, any window AC — and any air conditioner — is a heat pump. But usually when folks use the term ‘heat pump’ in the HVAC industry, they're referring to an AC that can also provide heating. That’s what the Gradient offers; it'll cool your home in warm weather, and then switch to heat in the winter.
We are starting to see window ACs that also provide heating. Some of those units use heat pump technology, but some of them only use a resistance heater — a much less efficient approach. Both of these systems see limited adoption because they're fairly limited in capacity and efficiency.
Refrigerant
The Gradient currently uses R32. But our goal is to move to even more climate-friendly refrigerants in the near future. Natural refrigerants create more efficient and climate-friendly products; we believe they're the future of the industry. In fact, natural refrigerants are already being used in many applications around the globe.
At Gradient we're working with regulatory agencies and closely following industry standards to get full approval for these more climate-friendly refrigerants in the United States.
We’ve seen a lot of movement toward R290 across the globe — although less so in the United States. At Gradient, we believe that R290 would be a very efficient and environmentally friendly solution. In fact, the Gradient can safely use R290 due to its coolant loop, since the refrigerant never goes indoors. But certain changes in industry standards need to happen before we know exactly what our next step will be.
Installation
The Gradient is designed to be simply installed by two laypeople — not professionals. Our do-it-yourself (DIY) installation approach generally takes about 15 minutes.
Installation Guide
The Gradient ships with adjustable foam sealing that accommodates windows that are up to 36” wide. The foam can be placed inside the window frame, around the unit and cords, under the window pane, and between window panes.
Yes, extra foam is available from other retailers.
The Gradient ships with adjustable foam sealing that accommodates windows that are up to 36” wide. The foam can be placed inside the window frame, around the unit and cords, under the window pane, and between window panes.
Investing
At Gradient we recently completed our Series A round. If you're interested in participating in our next funding round, please reach out to hello@gradient.com.
Contact
At this time, we do not have a dedicated phone line and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The reason why: we have a small (but mighty!) team that is working around the clock to best answer all customer inquiries. The way to reach us is by sending a message to hello@gradientcomfort.com — we'll get back to you as soon as we can and greatly appreciate your patience and understanding.
