ILLEGALLY IMPORTED AND SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA

None of the Copycats are listed in the database of NRCan as required by law! Not as Room Air Conditioners, not as Heat Pumps, and not even (incorrectly) as PTHP. Zero. 

Almost none of the Copycats are listed in DOE’s database, as required by law! Not as Heat Pumps, and not even (incorrectly) as PTHP or Room Air Conditioners!

Canada — Energy Efficiency Act, Section 5(1)

“Every dealer who, for the purpose of sale or lease, ships an energy-using product from one province to another or imports an energy-using product into Canada shall provide the Minister [...] with prescribed information...” “A report must be filed only when a product model is not already listed in the NRCan database."

“Each manufacturer, before distributing in commerce any basic model of a covered product... shall submit a certification report.”

USA — 10 CFR § 429.12(a) & § 429.102

“Each manufacturer, before distributing in commerce any basic model of a covered product... shall submit a certification report.”

Under 10 CFR § 429.102, “prohibited acts” include:

  • Failure to certify a model before selling it.
  • Distributing a model that does not meet minimum energy standards.

If a company or contractor tells you a model “doesn’t need to be on the list,” they are incorrect. Every regulated heat pump (under 65,000 Btu/h) must be reported to the Minister (Canada) or to the DOE to be legally present in the North American market.

Canada — Penalties Bill S-4 / 2026 Context

As of recent updates to the Act (Bill S-4), this law has been sharpened significantly to catch online “grey market” sellers:

  • Summary Conviction (Minor): Up to $50,000 for an offense
  • Indictable Offense (Major): Up to $200,000 for an offense

USA — 10 CFR § 429.120

“Any person who knowingly violates any provision of § 429.102(a) may be subject to assessment of a civil penalty of no more than $575 for each violation.”
“As to § 429.102(a)(1) with respect to failure to certify... each unit of a covered product or covered equipment distributed in violation of such paragraph shall constitute a separate violation.”
“For violations of § 429.102(a)(1), (3), and (4), each day of noncompliance shall constitute a separate violation for each basic model at issue.”

US Department of Energy’s Compliance Certification Database (DOE CCMS)
Every unit imported and/or sold in the USA must be registered in this database by law. It is illegal to import, sell, or use a unit that is not listed.

California Energy Commission, Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDBS)
Every unit imported and/or sold in the State of California, in addition to being registered in the DOE CCMS, must be registered in this database by law. It is illegal to import, sell, or use a unit that is not listed.

Natural Resources Canada Searchable Product List (NRCan SPL)
By law, every unit imported and/or sold in Canada must be registered in this database, and it is illegal to import, sell, or use a unit that is not listed. Units can be listed under Room Air Conditioner or Heat Pump. You can check and see that not a single Copycat is listed.

Brand & Model USA Canada
DOE CCMS California MAEDBS AHRI NRCan as a Heat Pump AHRI
Applied ComfortTPHE10L00E6
Applied ComfortTPHE10K10E6
DesignLineRoommate MHP11
DesignLineRoommate MHP10
DubbllDDHPA-10X-00E
DubbllDDHPA-12Y-10E
Forest AirFPH-12-2PA
Forest AirFPH-12-2PD
Genuine ComfortGCMB-H12KA0-1
Genuine ComfortGCMB-H12KC2-1
Genuine ComfortGCMB-H12KD3-1
Ice Air*8RSXC09-DHN/AN/A
Inspiron AiriAIRHP-35-CC/CC-ERV
Inspiron AiriAIRHP-35-CS/CS-ERV
Inspiron AiriAIRHP-35-VK/VK-ERV
Inspiron AiriAIRHP-35-WM-A
IslandaireEZMB9L5A1S95AA
IslandaireEZMB10L5A1S95AA
KinghomeDolphin 40 Inverter
Mits AirMITSWZ-28EC
Mits AirMITSWZ-40EC
Multi MFGMAIRHP-35-CS/CS-ERV
Multi MFGMAIRHP-35-WM
Multi MFGMAIRHP-35-CC/CC-ERV
NordicaYWD-10HD/FC6-W
NordicaYWD-10HD2/FC6-W
OrtechSolo
PMC Green*PMCG-10HD
SilktechEcoAuro 1.0
SilktechEcoAuro 2.0
TechnoactTECH-115V-10C
WaysosCompact-Aire 3K
WilliamsMontara HP003
ZymboMITSWZ-40EC
ZymboClima Puro
ZymboDolphin 25 Inverter
ZymboCompact-Aire 3K
ZymboDolphin 40 Inverter

* PMC Green and Ice Air are not sold in Canada

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Ice Air Responded!

Read our response to Ice Air’s threatening letter, where we set the record straight.