[sokoloff]

I think probably the ugly lineset covers characteristic of lowest possible budget (and therefore overwhelmingly most common) installation of air-to-air heat pumps.

[fullstop]

I guess this depends on where you locate the heat pump. On mine, the insulated pipe and mains connection are within two feet of the building.

[sokoloff]

Is yours air-to-air?

[fullstop]

It is -- it looks just like an air conditioner plopped on a pad. There's two lines connected to it and leading into the house; one is an insulated copper pipe, and the other is the mains power connected to an electrical disconnect box.

[sokoloff]

Did they retrofit the linesets through the walls to the interior units?

Or do you have existing ductwork (which a house with hydronic gas heat probably does not have, or else they'd probably not be asking the question)?

[fullstop]

Yes, there is existing ductwork in the house.

I understand the situation -- I had searched to see if hydronic gas heating used ducts, and it can but it seems that this is not common.

Their issue is not an issue of heat pumps themselves, but rather the lack of an air handler.