What it is

Zero Homes secured $16.8M Series A to scale software that eliminates in-person Manual J heat pump sizing visits. The platform uses customer-submitted photos/videos to scope systems and generate quotes with rebates, then schedules vetted contractors for installation, cutting project costs 20% average.

Why it matters

Traditional Manual J assessments require costly in-person visits before homeowners commit, inflating soft costs that contractors must absorb or pass through. Electrical contractors benefit from streamlined scoping that reduces pre-sale expense and accelerates quote-to-install timelines, especially relevant as rising utility costs pressure homeowners to act on electrification projects.

Evidence from source:

  • Platform cuts heat pump installation cost by 20% on average, with greater savings in rural areas
  • Manual J assessment is gold standard for sizing; wrong-size systems cause comfort issues, higher bills, shorter lifespan, mold risk
  • In-person visits add time and expense before customers commit, unnecessarily inflating heat pump costs

Open questions

  • How does remote sizing handle electrical service upgrade scoping when heat pumps require panel or ampacity changes?
  • What liability or warranty model protects contractors if remote Manual J assessments prove inaccurate at install?