Park model homes are usually around 400 square feet and are typically located in remote areas or secluded camp-like settings, such as wooded areas, dry western deserts and northern coastal hillsides. Cozy and efficient, the homes appeal to minimalists seeking to enjoy natural environments without distractions. Whether it’s hiking, fishing, hunting, farming or simply breathing in the fresh air, satisfied Zook customers can enjoy their hobbies with the comfort of having a place to retire to at the end of the day.

While Zook’s clients like to be close to nature, they still want modern heating and air conditioning in their cabins, according to Matt Meshey. “Early on, our clients expressed how climate control was very important to them,” he said. As their trusted HVAC distributor, Thos. Somerville Company helped Zook and CampPad evaluate heating and cooling products, comparing quality, affordability, availability, limited warranties and serviceability. Together, the partners selected ductless -split systems from LG Electronics for the park model homes.

The project team selected LG’s Multi F Inverter Heat Pump Outdoor Units with ductless, wall-mounted indoor units for each cabin. Depending on the cabin footprint, model, location, and outdoor climate, cabins have
a 1-1/2-ton or 2-ton multi-port outdoor heat pump. The indoor units are sized at 7,000, 9,000 or 12,000 BTUs, and cabins may have a single-head or dual-head system depending on the homeowner’s conditioning needs.

Tim Holmes, Sales & Product Manager at the Thos. Somerville Company, said LG’s 98-foot pre-charged line set enabled the team to install the outdoor unit and run pipes to the indoor unit without adding additional refrigerant. This saved time and money compared to options with 49-foot line sets. Heat pumps operate like two-way air conditioners. In warm outdoor temperatures, heat pumps provide air conditioning by absorbing indoor heat and rejecting the heat outdoors. This is similar to how conventional one-way air conditioners work, but heat pumps also provide heating. In colder outdoor temperatures, the heat pump compression cycle generates heat, and it absorbs heat from the outdoors and transfers it indoors to keep occupants comfortable. “Moving heat is more efficient than burning fossil fuels to generate heat and helps to reduce air pollution,” said Holmes.

The heat pumps use inverter motors to vary compressor speeds and heating or cooling capacity based on environmental conditions and occupant comfort needs. Inverter technology enables LG’s heat pumps to extract ambient outdoor heat to warm homes at temperatures far lower than conventional
heat pumps. Also, by varying heating or cooling capacity to match realtime needs, the LG system conserves energy and provides cost savings by using less electricity.

The LG mini-split units give homeowners precise internal climate control and comfort in their cabins. Besides the thermostat, each unit has wi-fi capabilities, enabling the owner to set temperatures and operate the system from anywhere using a smartphone application.

Zook delivers a turnkey option to people who want to build a cabin home at an affordable price without sacrificing quality or comfort. People who may have been priced out in the past now have access to cabin living, enhanced with energy-efficient heat pump technology for quality comfort control.

“The LG brand is a product that we stand behind, and we know our customers will have a really good experience with,” said Melissa Meshey. “They’re going to have a comfortable home that is as warm or cool as
they want.”