2026 guide · Updated September 24, 2026
Wall-mounted vs central
How to choose a heat pump in Quebec: wall-mounted or central?
The rule is simple: no ducts, go wall-mounted; ducts in good condition, go central. In between, it all comes down to three factors: capacity, upfront cost and operating cost. Answer five questions and we’ll tell you what to install.
Question 1 of 5
Your home is…
Your answers
Home…
Ducts…
Heating…
Spaces…
Priority…
- The AirGreen golden rule, in one minute
- Grant calculated with the LogisVert guide of September 15, 2026
- Confirmed on site, free of charge, by an estimator
By AirGreen Air Conditioning & HeatingPublished Updated Reading time: 9 min
$120
per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C: the same LogisVert formula for wall-mounted and central units
20 to 30%
of the air lost in the ducts of a typical house (ENERGY STAR)
15 to 20 years
of service life for a well-maintained heat pump (NRCan)
771 · 351
wall-mounted and central models to compare on airgreen.ca
01 · The golden rule
Wall-mounted or central? Start by looking under your floors.
At AirGreen, our mission is to meet the specific needs of your home. As a general rule, we recommend:
No ducts
Your home has no ventilation ducts? Choose the wall-mounted system.
No duct network to build: one head per room, or a single compressor with several heads (multi-zone).
See wall-mounted heat pumps
Existing ducts
Your home already has ducts? Go with the central system.
Ducts in good condition can be used right away: the air reaches every room, with a single thermostat.
See central heat pumpsBoth systems work very well for Quebec homes. Upfront cost is only one factor among others: to make an informed choice, we compare wall-mounted and central units on three factors.
Looking for a recommendation from one of our specialized technicians? Book an appointment today, it’s free.
02 · The 5 systems
Wall-mounted, multi-zone, ducted or central: see where the air goes.
Pick a system, switch from winter to summer and tap the numbered points. Between wall-mounted and central, there are three options few people know about.
Tap the points
Winter: the heat pump heats1 / 4
Outdoor unit
On a ground stand, on the wall or on a balcony. It captures heat from the outdoor air, even in winter with a cold-climate model.
Winter: the heat pump heats1 / 4
Outdoor unit
On a ground stand, on the wall or on a balcony. It captures heat from the outdoor air, even in winter with a cold-climate model.
Multi-zone heat pump
One compressor, two to five heads, one temperature per room.
Ideal if: House or plex without ducts, closed rooms, bedrooms upstairs.
Good to know: One wall opening per head, with the lines grouped toward a single outdoor unit.
See multi-zone units (552)Ducted mini-split (short ducts)
A unit hidden in the ceiling, a closet or the attic, with short ducts.
Ideal if: You don’t want anything on the wall, or a floor has no ducts.
Good to know: More work than a wall unit: opening a ceiling or closet, small ducts.
See ducted units (217)Central unit paired with your furnace
A heat pump is added to the existing furnace, which stays on as backup.
Ideal if: A house heated by forced air with oil, propane or gas.
Good to know: A coil on the furnace and an outdoor unit. Any work on the gas or oil appliance is entrusted to a partner holding the required licence.
See central units03 · Factor 1 · Capacity
Cooling and heating capacity: one room or the whole house?
A whole house or a single room
Central systems are designed to cool and heat an entire house. A mini-split system can be installed for a single room or for a whole home, depending on the BTU capacity chosen.
A ductless wall-mounted mini-split system
A wall-mounted heat pump is made up of an outdoor compressor and at least one indoor head. Depending on the needs of the home, indoor heads can be added: when one compressor feeds several heads, it is called a multi-zone heat pump.
As a general rule, a wall-mounted heat pump is recommended to cool and heat an apartment or a large part of a multi-storey home.
For larger homes, the decision usually depends on whether or not there are ducts. In an existing house, it is hard to justify the cost of new ducts before even installing the heat pump.
IndoorOutdoor
- 1Wall headOn the wall of the room: it blows warm or cool air.
- 2A single opening in the wallThe refrigerant line, the cable and the condensate drain.
- 3Outdoor unitThe compressor captures heat from the air, even in winter.
What the unit really delivers at −8 °C
The capacity shown on a heat pump is its rated capacity. Here is the heat actually delivered in cold weather, according to the ENERGY STAR listings of five models sold by AirGreen. Tap a model.
Rated capacity (model name)Actual heating at −8 °C (ENERGY STAR)
Gree Charmo R32 · Wall unit 12,000 BTU
Rated at 12,000 BTU, it still delivers 9,700 BTU/h of heating at −8 °C, or 81% of its rated capacity (ENERGY STAR, AHRI 215402236).
See the product page04 · Factor 2 · Upfront cost
Upfront cost: ducts make all the difference.
You already have ducts
It is almost always better to install a central heat pump. Even if it costs a little more than a wall-mounted unit on average, your ducts optimize heating and cooling and reduce operating costs.
You don’t have ducts
You have to add the cost of the ducts to the cost of the heat pump: the upfront cost of a central unit then depends on your home. Without major renovations planned, choose a wall-mounted heat pump.
What changes the price
CapacityMore BTU, more equipment. We calculate it on site based on volume, insulation and sun exposure.
The number of headsOne wall unit = one head. Multi-zone adds one head per room on the same compressor.
The ductsExisting and sound: nothing to add. Old: to be checked or sealed. None: that is the biggest cost item of a central unit.
The locationBalcony, wall, ground stand, roof: access and line length matter.
Permits and condosSome cities regulate where the outdoor unit can go; in a condo, the board often has to approve it.
The final price reaches you in writing within 24 hours of the visit. And the grant lowers the bill, for a wall-mounted unit as for a central one:
All five examples are certified cold climate: this is the rate that applies.
Central 3 tons · Gree FLEXX ULTRA R32
$3,384
Estimated LogisVert grant
Capacity at −8 °C28,200 BTU/h
Rate$120 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C
Calculation28,200 ÷ 1,000 × $120 = $3,384
CertificationAHRI 215213330
Cap: 100% of the cost before taxes. Apply within 9 months of installation. 5% bonus if you submit two or more measures together.
See the model pageAll five examples are certified cold climate: this is the rate that applies.
Central 3 tons · Gree FLEXX ULTRA R32
$3,384
Estimated LogisVert grant
Capacity at −8 °C28,200 BTU/h
Rate$120 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C
Calculation28,200 ÷ 1,000 × $120 = $3,384
CertificationAHRI 215213330
Cap: 100% of the cost before taxes. Apply within 9 months of installation. 5% bonus if you submit two or more measures together.
See the model page05 · Factor 3 · Operating cost
Operating cost: the money leaking out of the ducts.
After the installation cost, you have to look at what each system costs to run, year after year.
Ducts in excellent condition
Which is not often the case: a central heat pump then costs about the same to run as a wall-mounted unit of equivalent capacity and efficiency.
Typical ducts
On average, a central unit costs more to run. The culprits: leaks, holes and poor connections. In a typical house, 20 to 30% of the air that is heated or cooled is lost along the way (ENERGY STAR).
Within the range of a typical house (20 to 30%, ENERGY STAR).
Within the range of a typical house (20 to 30%, ENERGY STAR).
Every year, in your walls and your basement:
$450
Over a 15 to 20-year service life
$6,750 to $9,000
Equivalent at Rate D
4,039 kWh per year
Estimate: your cost × the % lost. kWh at the price of the 2nd tier of Rate D (11.142¢, April 1, 2026). Service life: Natural Resources Canada.
What leaks cost over the years
$2,2505 years
$4,50010 years
$6,75015 years
$9,00020 years
06 · The scorecard
Eight criteria, your priorities: which one wins at your place?
Tell us whether you have ducts and what matters to you. Your priorities count double. Tap a criterion to read why.
1. Does your house have ducts?
2. What matters to you (counts double)0 of 3
Wall-mounted
4
points
Central
2
For your house and your priorities, the wall unit (or multi-zone) wins.
Without ducts, a central unit means building a duct network first.
Get it confirmed on site, free of chargeNo ducts to build: the wall unit starts well ahead. For a central unit, the ducts are added to the bill.
2. What matters to you (counts double)0 of 3
Wall-mounted
4
points
Central
2
For your house and your priorities, the wall unit (or multi-zone) wins.
Without ducts, a central unit means building a duct network first.
Get it confirmed on site, free of chargeNo ducts to build: the wall unit starts well ahead. For a central unit, the ducts are added to the bill.
07 · Your ducts
Do you have ducts? And are they in good condition?
That is the question that decides everything. Walk around the house and check what you see.
Check what you see at home.
A two-minute walk around the house is enough.
Check what you see at home.
A two-minute walk around the house is enough.
08 · Side by side
Wall-mounted, multi-zone, ducted, central: the comparison table.
Choose your type of home: the columns that suit you light up.
Ducts in good condition: the central unit uses them. If they are old, we check them before choosing.
Wall-mounted
Multi-zone
Ducted
CentralFor you
Ducts needed
None
None
Short, to be installed
Existing, in good condition
Rooms served
An open area
2 to 5 rooms
A few neighbouring rooms
The whole house
What you see
A head on the wall
One head per room
Grilles
Grilles
Work
One opening in the wall
One opening per head
Ceiling or closet
Little, if the ducts are suitable
One temperature per room
Yes, for the room
Yes, each head
No, one zone
No, one thermostat
LogisVert example (cold climate)
$1,632 · Fujitsu XLTH 18,000
$4,320 · FreeMatch 36,000
Depends on the combination
$3,384 · FLEXX ULTRA 3 t
Wall-mounted
Ducts neededNone
Rooms servedAn open area
What you seeA head on the wall
WorkOne opening in the wall
One temperature per roomYes, for the room
LogisVert example (cold climate)$1,632 · Fujitsu XLTH 18,000
Multi-zone
Ducts neededNone
Rooms served2 to 5 rooms
What you seeOne head per room
WorkOne opening per head
One temperature per roomYes, each head
LogisVert example (cold climate)$4,320 · FreeMatch 36,000
Ducted
Ducts neededShort, to be installed
Rooms servedA few neighbouring rooms
What you seeGrilles
WorkCeiling or closet
One temperature per roomNo, one zone
LogisVert example (cold climate)Depends on the combination
CentralFor you
Ducts neededExisting, in good condition
Rooms servedThe whole house
What you seeGrilles
WorkLittle, if the ducts are suitable
One temperature per roomNo, one thermostat
LogisVert example (cold climate)$3,384 · FLEXX ULTRA 3 t
09 · True or false
Six common beliefs, fact-checked.
Tap a card to see the answer and its source.
0 of 6 revealed
10 · In the field
Two real jobs, two approaches.
Not catalogue pictures: a wall-mounted unit and a central unit installed by AirGreen, from the same brand.
No ducts? We go through the wall.
The outdoor unit goes on the balcony, the line crosses the wall only once and the head heats the main room. No ceiling opened, no floor touched.
Ducts? We connect to them in the basement.
The air handler sits in the basement and connects to the existing duct network. Nothing changes in the rooms: the same grilles, a single thermostat.
11 · What’s next?
From question to grant, in five steps.
Step 1 of 5
Free estimate
An AirGreen estimator comes to your home and looks at the space, your ducts if you have any, and the planned spot for the outdoor unit. No obligation, nothing to sign on site.
12 · Frequently asked questions
Wall-mounted or central: your questions, our answers.
10 questions
A single head heats an open area or an apartment very well. In a multi-storey house with closed rooms, the heat from one head does not turn corners: that is when you move to a multi-zone system (several heads on one compressor) or to a central unit if you already have ducts.
Personalized advice
Want advice for your home? Book an appointment, it’s free.
An AirGreen estimator comes to your home, looks at your home and your ducts with you, and the final price arrives in writing within 24 hours. Wall-mounted, multi-zone or central: you decide with the real numbers.
RBQ licence 5645-9605-01
15.8 Ventilation · 15.10 Refrigeration · 16 Electricity
$5M liability insurance
Full coverage, from the start to the end of the work.
Free on-site estimate
We look at your home with you, with no obligation.
Quote within 24 h
The final price in writing, before we start.
Sources checked on September 24, 2026.
- Hydro-Québec, LogisVert program – Participation guide (residential), version 1.10, September 15, 2026 (in French)
- ENERGY STAR (EPA), certified heat pump database: capacity at 17 °F (−8 °C) by AHRI number, accessed September 24, 2026
- ENERGY STAR, Duct Sealing: 20 to 30% of the air lost in a typical house
- Natural Resources Canada, Heating and cooling with a heat pump
- Hydro-Québec, Electricity rates in effect April 1, 2026 (Rate D) (in French)
The amounts shown are estimates; only the responsible organizations confirm the assistance granted. The capacity examples come from the ENERGY STAR listings of the models sold by AirGreen.