Wall-mounted, high on the wall
The most common. At least 2.3 to 2.5 m from the floor in the manuals we checked, and 15 cm clear above for the Gree Sapphire.
Updated September 24, 2026Rules from Hydro-Québec, NRCan and the manufacturers
2026 guide · Wall-mounted heat pump · Montréal
Basic rules for ductless mini splits: the 10 that matter in Montréal
Well chosen, well installed and well set, a mini split heats with up to 3 times less electricity than your baseboards (Hydro-Québec). Set up wrong, it’s your baseboards that do the heating, at full price. Here are the 10 rules, a 2-minute test and the tools to apply them at home.
By AirGreen Climatisation & ChauffagePublished April 11, 2023Updated September 24, 2026Reading: 20 min · test: 2 min
This month · September
15.5 °C
average temperature in Montréal (Environment Canada, 1981-2010)
- Clean the filters before the heating season.
- Set the baseboards 2 to 3 °C below the heat pump again.
- Forget Auto mode.
NRCan · Hydro-Québec
2 to 3 °C
lower for the baseboards than for the heat pump. The heat pump has to heat first.
Hydro-Québec
1 month
between filter cleanings when it runs hard. A dirty filter costs it 10 to 30% of its efficiency.
LogisVert · cold climate
$120/ 1,000 BTU/h
of heating capacity at -8 °C, if the outdoor unit is 12,000 BTU/h or more. Apply within 9 months.
15 to 20 yearsthe lifespan of an air-source heat pump, according to NRCan
2 °Cthe maximum setback advised at night or when you are away
201 hper year below -15 °C in Montréal, from 2015 to 2025 (ECCC)
+25%more electricity, at worst, for a poorly maintained unit
01 · Understand
What is a ductless mini split?
A ductless mini split, or wall-mounted heat pump, connects an outdoor unit to one or more indoor units through refrigerant lines. With no air ducts, each unit heats or cools the room it is in directly. One head: that’s a single-zone system. Several heads on the same outdoor unit: a multi-zone system (NRCan).
Multi-zone: three heads on the same outdoor unit. Every room with its own head is heated, with its own remote.
EfficientUp to 3 times less electricity than baseboards for the same heat (Hydro-Québec).
No ductsNo air ducts to install: a hole of about 7 cm, a refrigerant line and a drain.
VersatileIt heats in winter, cools and dehumidifies in summer, room by room.
Single-zone, multi-zone or central
Three ways to heat with a heat pump. The ductless mini split is the first two.
| Ductless single-zone | Ductless multi-zone | Ducted central | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indoor units | 1 head | 2 heads or more | 1 air handler |
| Outdoor unit | 1 | 1 for all the heads | 1 |
| Air ducts | None | None | Yes, throughout the house |
| What it heats | The room the head is in | Every room that has its own head | The whole house, through the vents |
| Controls | 1 remote | 1 per head | 1 thermostat |
| LogisVert | Yes, outdoor unit of 12,000 BTU/h and up | Yes, same condition | Yes, same condition |
NRCan definitions (“single-zone”, “multi-split”); eligibility: Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert guide v1.10. Wall-mounted or central: the full comparison.
Where the indoor head goes
Ductless units go on the wall, in the ceiling or near the floor.
Cassette, in the ceiling
Recessed; air comes out in one or more directions (1-way or 8-way models at Gree).
Console, near the floor
Mounted low on the wall or on the floor (NRCan).
Wherever you put it: away from strong heat sources, nothing in front of the air intake or outlet, and not right above an electrical appliance (Gree installation manual). Direct sun and strong wind are what you protect the outdoor unit from (same manual).
02 · The house, point by point
Nine places where it all happens, from the indoor head to the stand in the snow.
Touch a point. Switch from winter to summer: the settings change with the season.
Point 1 of 9 · Winter
The indoor head
Down
the louvre direction in heating, fan on high or automatic (NRCan)
Let it breathe: respect the clearances in the manual, for example 6 in. (15 cm) above for the Gree Sapphire, and don’t hide it behind furniture. It heats the room it is in: install it where you live.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Gree manual
Where to install the head1 of 9 points seen.
03 · The test
Does your mini split follow the basic rules? The 10-question test.
Answer honestly. Every “no” points to the fix, from the most cost-effective to the least urgent.
1
The size was chosen after an assessment of the home.Rule 1 · Choose
2
Your model is ENERGY STAR cold climate.Rule 2 · Choose
3
The indoor head is in the room you use the most.Rule 3 · Choose
4
Nothing blocks the air in front of or under the head: furniture, curtain, shelf.Rule 4 · Install
5
The outdoor unit is raised and clear of snow and leaves.Rule 5 · Install
6
In winter, the remote is on Heat, not Auto.Rule 6 · Use
7
Your baseboards are set 2 to 3 °C lower than the heat pump.Rule 7 · Use
8
You keep the same setpoint, without turning it off at night.Rule 8 · Use
9
The indoor filters were cleaned in the last 3 months.Rule 9 · Maintain
10
A technician serviced it within the last year.Rule 10 · Maintain
Your result
0/ 10
0 of 10 questions answered.
Start with question 1Yes, no or I don’t know: your result builds as you go.
04 · The 10 rules
The 10 basic rules for a ductless mini split: choose, install, use, maintain.
Touch a rule: the why, the number, what to do and what to avoid, with the source.
ChooseRule 01
The right size, not the biggest
750 sq. ft
= 12,000 to 15,000 BTU/h according to Hydro-Québec’s two guides
An oversized heat pump runs in short cycles: discomfort, wear and lost savings (NRCan), and in summer, air that stays humid (Hydro-Québec). An undersized one lets the baseboards take over more often. In Québec, you size it to cover heating without oversizing it for cooling.
Do
Have the home assessed: floor area, ceilings, windows, insulation.
Ask how the size was chosen.
Avoid
Going “a bit bigger, just in case”.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Hydro-Québec, Choosing the right capacity · Seven points to consider
Calculate the right sizeChooseRule 02
ENERGY STAR cold climate
1.75
minimum COP at -15 °C to be “cold climate” under ENERGY STAR
For ENERGY STAR, “cold climate” means a COP of at least 1.75 at -15 °C, with at least 70% of its 8 °C capacity still available at -15 °C. LogisVert pays $120 per 1,000 BTU/h at -8 °C for these models, versus $50 for a regular ENERGY STAR unit. Since November 26, 2025, a non-certified unit is not eligible.
Do
Check the AHRI number on the model’s spec sheet.
Compare the capacity at -8 °C, not just the SEER.
Avoid
Choosing on SEER alone: it measures summer.
Source: EPA ENERGY STAR, Heat Pump v6.2 · Hydro-Québec, LogisVert guide v1.10 (Sept. 15, 2026)
All about LogisVertChooseRule 03
One head per living space
1 floor
= 1 single-zone heat pump, for a two-storey home without ducts (Hydro-Québec)
Ductless indoor units heat or cool the air of the room they are installed in (NRCan). For a two-storey home without forced air, Hydro-Québec suggests two single-zone heat pumps, one per floor. Several closed rooms: a multi-zone system connects several heads to a single outdoor unit.
Do
Install the head in the busiest room, where air can flow to the others.
In summer, keep bedroom doors open (Hydro-Québec).
Avoid
Counting on the living-room head to heat closed bedrooms.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Hydro-Québec, Choosing the right capacity
Wall-mounted or central?InstallRule 04
Let the indoor head breathe
65 to 75 mm
the hole in the wall for the refrigerant line and the drain, per the manuals
Every manufacturer sets clearances around the head, for example 6 in. (15 cm) above for the Gree Sapphire. NRCan notes that poor airflow shortens equipment life and lowers efficiency. And “ductless” does not mean no work: you need a hole of about 7 cm to the outside, a drain and a power supply.
Do
Respect the clearances in the installation manual.
Keep furniture, curtains and shelves away from the air intake and outlet.
Avoid
Recessing the head in a niche or hiding it behind furniture.
Source: Gree, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi installation manuals · NRCan (2025-12-24)
Where to install the headInstallRule 05
Outdoor unit above the snow
50 dB
maximum at the property line in several Montréal boroughs
Manufacturers call for a raised stand, higher than drifting snow (Fujitsu manual). Hydro-Québec says to keep it clear of snow, ice and leaves. For neighbours, each city has its rules: 50 dB at the property line in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Lachine, Montréal-Nord and Saint-Léonard; 53 dB(A) and 1 m from a lot line in Longueuil.
Do
Check your city’s by-law before installing.
Clear it after every storm.
Avoid
Tucking it into a corner: two nearby walls add up to 6 dB (AHRI 275).
Source: Fujitsu manual (part 9374747160) · Hydro-Québec · montreal.ca (Aug. 3, 2026) · Longueuil (July 2025) · AHRI 275
Permits and by-lawsUseRule 06
Heat mode in winter, never Auto
Heat
the mode to keep all winter, with the fan on high or automatic
Hydro-Québec recommends Heat mode in winter, Cool in summer, and forgetting Auto mode. NRCan adds: in heating, fan on high or automatic and louvres pointing down; in cooling, fan on low to remove more humidity and air aimed at the occupants.
Do
Winter: Heat, fan on high or auto, louvres down.
Summer: Cool, fan on low.
Avoid
Leaving the remote on Auto all year.
Source: Hydro-Québec, Seven tips · LogisVert leaflet 2025G386F (rev. 07/2026) · NRCan
Settings by seasonUseRule 07
Baseboards 2 to 3 °C lower
2 to 3 °C
apart. Hydro-Québec’s example: heat pump 20 °C, baseboards 18 °C.
NRCan recommends setting backup heating 2 to 3 °C below the heat pump’s setpoint: the heat pump then supplies most of the heat. Baseboards are still useful: in deep cold and during defrost, they take over.
Do
Lower the thermostats in rooms heated by the heat pump.
Keep the baseboards on: they are your backup.
Avoid
Shutting off the baseboards for the winter.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Hydro-Québec, LogisVert leaflet (rev. 07/2026)
Keep the heat pump on?UseRule 08
A steady setpoint
2 °C
setback, at most, at night or when you are away (NRCan)
Heat pumps respond more slowly than a furnace. NRCan advises a setback of no more than 2 °C, or a smart thermostat that restarts early. Hydro-Québec: let it run continuously; repeated adjustments use more energy and shorten its life.
Do
Pick a setpoint and keep it.
Before a Flex D peak event, preheat by 1 or 2 degrees (Hydro-Québec).
Avoid
Turning it off when you leave for work.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Hydro-Québec, Seven tips · Eight mistakes
Keep the heat pump on?MaintainRule 09
Clean filters
10 to 30%
of efficiency lost with a dirty filter (Hydro-Québec)
Hydro-Québec recommends cleaning the filters every month when the unit runs a lot, and at least at the start of each season; NRCan sets the maximum at 3 months. Rinse them with room-temperature water, no detergent, and let them dry completely out of the sun.
Do
Every month in deep winter and during heat waves.
Put them back fully dry.
Avoid
Washing them with detergent or putting them back wet.
Source: Hydro-Québec, Using and maintaining a heat pump (v1, Mar. 16, 2026) · Using your heat pump in winter · NRCan
Cleaning serviceMaintainRule 10
A yearly service visit
+25%
more electricity, at worst, for a poorly maintained unit (Hydro-Québec)
NRCan recommends having a qualified contractor service the unit every year. Hydro-Québec estimates a poorly maintained unit can use up to 25% more electricity. Well maintained, an air-source heat pump lasts 15 to 20 years (NRCan).
Do
Book the service visit once a year.
Keep your service invoices.
Avoid
Waiting for a breakdown to call.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24) · Hydro-Québec, Seven tips
Cleaning and maintenance05 · Choose
What size mini split for your room or your home?
In Québec, heating is what decides. Enter the floor area: we round up to the nearest catalogue size, with a real model as an example.
1Floor area to heat
Both benchmarks come from two Hydro-Québec pages: 12,000 BTU/h for 750 sq. ft (“Choosing the right capacity”) and 15,000 BTU/h for 750 sq. ft (“Seven points to consider”). Even Hydro-Québec doesn’t give a single number: the real answer depends on the ceilings, the windows and the insulation.
Starting point
12,000BTU/h
to 15,000 BTU/h depending on the benchmark used, for 750 sq. ft. An on-site assessment settles it.
Example · Sharp CHU 12,00018,900 BTU/h at -8 °C · AHRI 217512736$2,268Indicative LogisVert amount: capacity at -8 °C ÷ 1,000 × $120, capped at the cost. Only Hydro-Québec confirms the grant.
What an on-site assessment looks at
Floor area, ceiling height, insulation and climate, plus sun exposure and the number of occupants.
Floor areaThe starting point of the calculation.
CeilingsA high ceiling means more air to heat.
InsulationWalls, roof, doors and windows.
ClimateMontréal’s design temperature: -23 °C (NBC 2020).
SunVery sunny room: +10% (ENERGY STAR).
Occupants+600 BTU/h per person beyond two (ENERGY STAR).
Too big or too small: what it changes
| Too big | Too small | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | It keeps starting and stopping (short cycles). | The baseboards take over more often. |
| In summer | It cools fast but dehumidifies poorly: humid, clammy air. | It can struggle during heat waves. |
| Comfort | Discomfort and wear on the unit. | Rooms that don’t warm up in deep cold. |
| The bill | The savings you expected may not happen. | Electric backup heat costs more than the heat pump. |
NRCan (2025-12-24); Hydro-Québec, Choosing the right capacity; ENERGY STAR, room air conditioners.
Hydro-Québec’s benchmarks by type of home
| Type of home | Typical capacity | What Hydro-Québec says |
|---|---|---|
| Condo | 12,000 to 24,000 BTU/h | A ductless wall-mounted heat pump is appropriate. |
| Bungalow | 24,000 to 48,000 BTU/h | Depending on floor area and insulation. |
| Two-storey house | Up to 65,000 BTU/h | Without forced air: two single-zone heat pumps, one per floor. |
Hydro-Québec, “Heat pump: how to determine the right capacity”, accessed September 24, 2026.
Our cold-climate wall units, side by side
Sort them. Each row leads to the model’s page.
Model (AirGreen)AHRIHeat at -8 °CLogisVert (indicative)Heats down toIndoor soundOutdoor sound
AirGreen spec sheets read on September 24, 2026. Indicative LogisVert = capacity at -8 °C ÷ 1,000 × $120 (ENERGY STAR cold climate), capped at the cost; only Hydro-Québec confirms the grant. Indoor sound: minimum / maximum, in dB. A 9,000 BTU/h wall unit on its own is not eligible for LogisVert.
06 · Install
Where to install the outdoor unit: snow, air and neighbours.
It draws in air, drains defrost water and can be heard outside. Three reasons to choose its spot carefully.
- On a stand higher than drifting snow.Fujitsu installation manual (part 9374747160)
- Securely anchored if exposed to wind, out of direct sun if possible.Fujitsu and Gree manuals
- Below 0 °C, no drain hose or drain cap supplied: the water would freeze in them.Fujitsu manual
- Away from neighbours’ windows and bedrooms; a corner adds up to 6 dB.Manuals; AHRI 275
- Clear of leaves, grass clippings and branches, all year.Hydro-Québec
Example clearances, from a Fujitsu manual: each model has its own, in its installation manual.
Will your neighbour hear it? Test the location
Five choices, one number: the estimated sound level at the property line.
1Your model
2Distance to the property line
3Around the unit
4A screen between the unit and the neighbour
5Your city’s limit
At the property line
43.5 dB
estimated at 3 m, versus 50 dB allowed. A quiet room: 40 dB(A); a conversation at 1 m: 55 dB(A) (CCOHS).
limit 50 dB
30 dB40 dB, quiet room60 dB
Model spec sheet, at 1 m50 dB
Distance, 3 m-9.5 dB
Walls around+3 dB
Screen0 dB
City limit50 dB
Under the limit, with 6.5 dB to spareOn paper, the location passes. Wind and real surfaces can add a few decibels.
Indicative estimate based on the AHRI 275 standard, from the 1 m level listed on our spec sheets. Wind, background noise and real surfaces change the result.
Your city’s rules
| Where | Noise allowed | Permit | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahuntsic-Cartierville | 50 dB at the property line | — | See the page |
| Lachine | 50 dB at the property line | — | The city may require an acoustic study or a screen. See the page |
| Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve | 55 dB from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 52 dB at night | — | See the page |
| Montréal-Nord | 50 dB at the property line | Yes | See the page |
| Saint-Léonard | 50 dB at the property line | Yes | See the page |
| Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie | Standards in the commitment form | Yes | Study and screen for large equipment. See the page |
| Verdun | — | Yes | Screen possible on rooftops. See the page |
| Outremont, Ville-Marie, Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension | — | Yes | See the page |
| Longueuil (Saint-Hubert, Greenfield Park, Vieux-Longueuil) | 53 dB(A) | No | 1 m from a lot line, 2 m high at most, hidden from the street if 2 m or less. See the page |
| Laval | — | No, if sections 265 and 266 of the planning code are met | Fines from $400 to $1,000. See the page |
Ville de Montréal, summary by borough (updated August 3, 2026); Ville de Longueuil (Noise page and Heat pump sheet, July 2025); Ville de Laval (April 4, 2025). “—”: nothing specified in the official summary. Always check the by-law in force. All cities and boroughs.
07 · Use
How to set a mini split, winter and summer.
Touch a season. Every setting comes from Hydro-Québec or NRCan.
Mode
Heat
20 °C
Example from Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert leaflet
FanHigh or Auto
LouvresDown
Baseboards, 2 to 3 °C lower18 °C
Let it run continuously, at the same setpoint.Hydro-Québec
At night, a 2 °C setback at most, or a smart thermostat that restarts early.NRCan
Forget Auto mode.Hydro-Québec
Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, ice and leaves.Hydro-Québec
Steam on the outdoor unit? That’s the defrost cycle.NRCan
A winter peak day, hour by hour
Rate Flex D: from December 1 to March 31, up to 30 events and 120 hours per winter, announced the day before.
0h2h4h6h8h10h12h14h16h18h20h22h
Preheating, 22.5 °CDuring the peak, 20 °CUsual setpoint, 21 °CHours at 46.463¢ per kWh
Hydro-Québec’s example for a 21 °C setpoint. Hours on the chart: midnight to 11 p.m.
Both · the same day
8 h
at the peak price that day, 46.463¢ per kWh. Preheat 2 h before, lower to 20 °C during, go back to 21 °C.
Off-peak, first 40 kWh per day4.886¢
Off-peak, above that9.103¢
During a peak event46.463¢
Average savings, winter 2025-2026$90 to $150
First-winter protectionIf the bill is higher than it would have been on the base rate, Hydro-Québec refunds the difference.
08 · Deep cold
A mini split in deep cold in Montréal: what really happens.
Choose your model’s minimum temperature. Both charts update.
1Your model’s minimum temperature
The coldest night of the last 10 winters
On February 4, 2023, it hit -29.3 °C. Drag the slider, hour by hour.
Hourly temperatureModel limit: -26 °CShaded zone: below the limit, the baseboards heat alone
Hourly temperatureModel limit: -26 °CShaded zone: below the limit, the baseboards heat alone
Montréal airport, hourly readings from Environment and Climate Change Canada. The 4 a.m. reading on February 4 is missing: interpolated.
February 4, 2023, 5:00
-29.3 °C
Below its limit: baseboards onlyBelow the minimum temperature listed by the manufacturer, the baseboards heat alone.
Hours below -26 °C during these 61 hours20 h
Lowest reading-29.3 °C
Hours per year below -20 °C, 2015 to 202550 h
The rule that followsKeep your baseboards on, set 2 to 3 °C below the heat pump. They are your safety net for those few hours each winter.
Ten winters of hourly readings
How many hours per year below your model’s limit, and what share of heating needs stays above it.
-30 °C-20 °C-10 °C0 °C10 °C18 °C
Below the limit: the baseboards heat aloneThe heat pump can heat
Hours per year at each temperature, Montréal airport, July 2015 to June 2025. AirGreen calculation from Environment Canada hourly readings, degree-hours below 18 °C. Indicative.
Heating needs covered
99.8%
of winter heating needs come above -26 °C, the limit you chose.
Hours per year below -26 °C4.0 h
In full daysless than half a day
Coldest night of the 10 winters-29.3 °C, Feb. 4, 2023
Almost the whole winter, on paperEven above its limit, a heat pump loses capacity in the cold. That is why you keep the baseboards, set 2 to 3 °C lower.
09 · Maintain
Mini split maintenance: filters every month, a technician every year.
Neglecting maintenance means lower efficiency, a higher bill and, eventually, breakdowns. Here is what you do, and what the technician does.
Clean the filters in 4 steps
Every month when it runs hard, at least at the start of each season (Hydro-Québec); every 3 months at most (NRCan).
Open the front panel
Lift the front panel of the indoor head, with the unit off.
Remove the filters
They slide down, no tools needed.
Rinse with water
Room-temperature water, no detergent (Hydro-Québec).
Dry in the shade
Completely, out of the sun, before putting them back.
You, in two minutes
0 / 5
The technician, once a year
0 / 4
NRCan recommends having the yearly service done by a qualified contractor.
$What the heat pump costs you in electricity
Hydro-Québec estimates a poorly maintained unit can use up to 25% more electricity, and a dirty filter costs it 10 to 30% of its efficiency.
A neglected unit, at worst
+$125
per year, at worst, on $500 of electricity: up to 25% more for a poorly maintained unit (Hydro-Québec).
Over 15 years, at today’s rate+$1,875
Maintenance, pricing or a free on-site estimateContact us: our technicians service wall-mounted heat pumps across Greater Montréal.
Contact us 10 · Normal or not
That noise, that steam, that water: normal or not?
Eight normal behaviours and four signs worth a call, from the manufacturers’ manuals and our service team.
Verdict
Normal
Steam on the outdoor unit in winter
That’s the defrost cycle: the outdoor fan stops, the frost melts, then heating resumes.
Source: NRCan (2025-12-24)
Before you call
- Clear the outdoor unit: snow, ice, leaves.
- Check that the filters are clean.
- Turn the head off, switch off the breaker for 15 to 20 minutes, then turn it back on.
11 · My calendar
Your maintenance calendar, from the installation date.
LogisVert, filters, peaks, service, legal warranty: every date is calculated from today.
2Filter cleaning
3On Rate Flex D?
4Purchase contract signed
LogisVert · apply by June 24, 2027 at the latest
273 days
Time leftto send your LogisVert application to Hydro-Québec, with your invoice.
- September 24, 2026Today
Installation
Keep the itemized invoice and the model numbers of both units.
- October 24, 2026In 30 days
Next filter cleaning
Then every month in peak season (Hydro-Québec). Water, no detergent, dried out of the sun.
- December 1, 2026In 68 days
Flex D peak events begin
Preheat by 1 or 2 degrees before each event, lower during, then go back.
- June 24, 2027In 273 days
Last day to apply for LogisVert
$120 per 1,000 BTU/h of heating at -8 °C for an ENERGY STAR cold-climate model, $50 for a regular ENERGY STAR unit. Outdoor unit of 12,000 BTU/h and up.
- September 24, 2027In 365 days
Yearly service by a professional
NRCan recommends it every year. A poorly maintained unit can use up to 25% more (Hydro-Québec).
- September 24, 2032In 2192 days
End of the legal warranty of good working order
New Québec law: 6 years for a heat pump, from delivery, for contracts signed on or after October 5, 2026. Normal maintenance remains your responsibility.
- 2041 to 2046NRCan
Typical end of service life
15 to 20 years for an air-source heat pump, according to NRCan, with yearly servicing.
Dates calculated from today. LogisVert: no later than 9 months after installation (guide v1.10). Only Hydro-Québec confirms the grant.
The year, month by month
The current month is already selected. 1981-2010 normals for Montréal airport (Environment Canada).
Heating degree-daysCooling degree-days
September · recommended setting
20 °C
Heat · from the first cold nights
Average temperature15.5 °C
Heating degree-days94
Cooling degree-days21
To do in September
- Clean the filters before the heating season.
- Set the baseboards 2 to 3 °C below the heat pump again.
- Forget Auto mode.
The number of the month. 15.5 °C on average: 94 heating degree-days, 21 cooling.
12 · The traps
Six common beliefs that cost money, corrected by official sources.
At night
“Turning it off at night saves money.”In the morning, the baseboards do the catching up. Set it back 2 °C at most (NRCan).Auto
“Auto mode knows best.”Hydro-Québec says to forget it, winter and summer.Steam
“Steam is coming out of the unit: it’s broken.”That’s the defrost cycle. The outdoor fan stops, the frost melts, then heating resumes.Bigger
“A bigger unit will heat better.”Oversized, it runs in short cycles and dehumidifies poorly in summer.No hole
“Ductless means no work.”You need a hole of about 7 cm in the wall, a drain and a power supply.Ottawa
“The federal government pays too.”In Québec, the Greener Homes Grant closed on September 30, 2025, and the oil-to-heat-pump program (OHPA) has not taken applications since July 31, 2026. LogisVert remains.13 · In short
Following these rules gets the most out of your wall-mounted heat pump, and keeps it running for years.
Sizing, installation and maintenance make the difference. Work with experienced HVAC professionals to choose the unit and install it.
Choose
The right size, ENERGY STAR cold climate, one head per living space.
Install
A head that can breathe, an outdoor unit above the snow, away from the neighbours.
Use
Heat mode, baseboards 2 to 3 °C lower, a steady setpoint. In summer, 22 to 25 °C.
Maintain
Clean filters every month in season, a technician once a year.
Go further
Calculating the right wall heat pump sizeShould I keep my heat pump on all the time?Are wall-mounted mini split heat pumps noisy?Where to install a wall-mounted mini split?What is a good SEER rating for a heat pump?Wall-mounted or central: how to choose in QuébecWall-mounted mini split: pros and consLogisVert: Hydro-Québec’s rebateAll our wall-mounted heat pumps
14 · Frequently asked questions
The 14 questions we get asked most about ductless mini splits.
Hydro-Québec gives two benchmarks: about 12,000 BTU/h for 750 sq. ft in its capacity guide, and 15,000 BTU/h for 750 sq. ft in its seven points to consider. In Québec, heating is what decides. An on-site assessment takes the ceilings, windows and insulation into account.
In winter, yes. Hydro-Québec recommends letting it run continuously at a steady setpoint. If you lower the temperature at night, NRCan advises 2 °C at most: the heat pump catches up slowly, and the baseboards would do the work in the morning.
Heat mode, never Auto (Hydro-Québec). NRCan adds: fan on high or automatic, and louvres pointing down.
2 to 3 °C below the heat pump’s setpoint. Example from Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert leaflet: heat pump at 20 °C, baseboards at 18 °C. The baseboards remain your backup heat in deep cold and during defrost.
Every month when the unit runs a lot, and at least at the start of each season (Hydro-Québec). NRCan sets the maximum at 3 months. Rinse them with room-temperature water, no detergent, and let them dry completely out of the sun.
It’s the defrost cycle. The heat pump reverses for a few minutes to melt the frost on the outdoor coil; the outdoor fan stops and steam escapes. Depending on the model, it starts on demand or every 30, 60 or 90 minutes.
It depends on the model. NRCan puts the limit of recent models between -15 and -25 °C; our cold-climate wall units list -26 to -30 °C on their spec sheets. The colder it gets, the more their capacity drops. In Montréal, from 2015 to 2025, it was below -20 °C about 50 hours a year.
On a stand higher than drifting snow (manufacturers’ manuals), clear of snow, ice and leaves (Hydro-Québec), and according to your city’s by-law. Several Montréal boroughs limit noise to 50 dB at the property line; Longueuil requires 1 m from a lot line.
It depends on the city. In Montréal, seven boroughs require a permit, including Montréal-Nord, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Verdun and Ville-Marie. Longueuil doesn’t. Laval doesn’t if sections 265 and 266 of its planning code are met. Our Permits and by-laws page has the details by city.
$120 per 1,000 BTU/h of heating capacity at -8 °C for an ENERGY STAR cold-climate model, $50 for a regular ENERGY STAR unit. The outdoor unit must be at least 12,000 BTU/h, the application must be made within 9 months, and the grant can’t exceed the cost. Example: Sharp CHU 12,000, 18,900 BTU/h at -8 °C, $2,268.
15 to 20 years for an air-source heat pump, according to NRCan, with a yearly service visit by a qualified contractor. Hydro-Québec estimates a poorly maintained unit can use up to 25% more electricity.
Yes. In summer, use Cool mode with the fan on low: it removes more humidity (NRCan). Hydro-Québec suggests a setpoint of 22 to 25 °C. Health Canada targets indoor humidity between 30 and 50%.
In the room you use the most, at the height the manual calls for (at least 2.3 to 2.5 m from the floor in the manuals we checked), away from strong heat sources, with nothing in front of the air intake and outlet, and not right above an electrical appliance (Gree manuals). Leave the specified clearances, for example 15 cm above.
One head mainly heats the room it is in (NRCan). For several closed rooms, you add heads on the same outdoor unit (multi-zone) or one heat pump per floor, as Hydro-Québec suggests for a two-storey home without forced air. Keep the baseboards as backup for deep cold.
AirGreen · Free estimate
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An advisor assesses your home on site, suggests ENERGY STAR cold-climate models with their indicative LogisVert amount, and sends you a detailed quote within 24 h.
RBQ licence 5645-9605-01Subclasses 15.8 Ventilation, 15.10 Refrigeration and 16 Electricity.
The AHRI number on our spec sheetsEvery certified model shows its rating and its indicative LogisVert amount.
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Sources. Sources checked on September 24, 2026. Natural Resources Canada: “Heating and cooling with a heat pump” (modified December 24, 2025). Hydro-Québec: LogisVert leaflet “Tips for using a heat pump” (2025G386F, rev. 07/2026); guide “Using and maintaining a heat pump” (version 1, March 16, 2026); tips “Seven tips”, “Using your heat pump in winter”, “Six summer tips”, “Seven points to consider” and “Choosing the right capacity”; Rate Flex D and rate schedule as of April 1, 2026; LogisVert residential participation guide v1.10 (September 15, 2026). EPA ENERGY STAR: Heat Pump specification v6.2. Installation manuals from Fujitsu General (outdoor unit, part 9374747160), Gree and Mitsubishi. AHRI 275 (application of sound ratings). Ville de Montréal (update of August 3, 2026), Ville de Longueuil (July 2025), Ville de Laval (April 4, 2025). CCOHS. Health Canada. Gree VIREO+ ULTRA installation and owner’s manual (031519). Environment and Climate Change Canada: 1981-2010 normals and hourly readings for MONTREAL INTL A, July 2015 to June 2025 (AirGreen calculation, indicative). AirGreen spec sheets and AHRI numbers read on September 24, 2026. Amounts shown are estimates; only the responsible organizations confirm the assistance granted.