2 in 1
It heats in winter and cools in summer
Reversible cycle: in summer, it pulls heat out of the room and releases it outside. In winter, it captures heat from the outdoor air and brings it inside.
Source: NRCan, Dec. 24, 2025
Updated September 24, 2026
Complete guide · Greater Montreal
Wall-mounted heat pump (mini-split): pros and cons12 real advantages, 9 drawbacks to plan for, and a test to see if it’s right for you.
A wall unit heats and cools without a single duct, and LogisVert can pay back a good part of it. It also has its limits. It’s all here, numbers and sources included.
Three real AirGreen installs, three brands. Tap a photo to read the project.
$120per 1,000 BTU/h at -8°C with LogisVert, cold-climate model
-30°Cheating limit of our toughest cold-climate wall units
17 dBat its lowest, our quietest 12,000 BTU wall unit
0 ductsto build
65–75 mmthe only hole in the wall
1.1 to 3.7COP at -8°C (NRCan)
9 monthsto apply for LogisVert
The essentials in 30 seconds
Short answer+Pros
- Heats in winter and cools in summer, no ducts
- Up to 3.7 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh paid at -8°C
- 17 to 30 dB at its lowest, below the level of a quiet room
- LogisVert: $120 per 1,000 BTU/h at -8°C
–Cons
- One head mostly heats its own room
- Backup heat needed in deep cold and during defrost
- Filters to wash every 2 to 3 months
- Outdoor unit subject to municipal by-laws
Our verdict
The best choice to heat and cool without ducts, especially with electric baseboards. With several floors or closed rooms, plan one head per zone.
Check for my home →01 · The test
Five answers, one honest verdict
We won’t recommend a wall unit if it doesn’t make sense for your home. Tap one answer per row: the verdict updates as you go.
Your home
Your current heating
Rooms to heat and cool
Floors
What matters most
Your verdict · 0 of 5
Answer the questions
The verdict builds as you go: the setup that makes sense for your home, the advantages that count and the points to plan for.
02 · What it is
What is a wall-mounted heat pump (mini-split)?
Two units joined by two small lines: a head on the wall, a unit outside. That’s it.
Also called a wall system or ductless mini-split, a wall-mounted heat pump heats and cools the air in one room or a series of rooms, drawing heat from the outdoor air in winter and releasing it outside in summer.
A single head is enough for one room or a large open area; some open-concept houses are heated almost entirely this way. As soon as there are several zones or floors, you move to several heads: separate wall units or a multi-zone system.
Its small size and the lack of ducts make it the ideal option where there are no ducts, or where building them would be complicated. That’s why so many homeowners and builders choose it.
The wall head (indoor unit)Blows warm or cool air into the room, with its own setpoint.
The outdoor unitIt houses the compressor. It captures or releases the heat outside.
Two small refrigerant linesInsulated copper that carries heat between inside and outside.
An electrical cableIt powers and connects the two units.
A drainIt carries condensation water away from the head.
Heat from the outdoor air comes into the house
Temperatures shown for illustration. Tap the numbered points.
1
The wall head
The upsideIt heats and cools the room directly. At its lowest, 17 to 30 dB on our 12,000 BTU units.
To plan forYou can see it. The manual requires clearance from the ceiling (15 cm for some models).
03 · Heat pump or air conditioner
Looks like an air conditioner, twice as useful
A wall-mounted heat pump looks like an air conditioner, but its reversing valve lets it run the cycle backwards and heat. In summer, it pulls heat out of the room and releases it outside; in winter, it captures heat from the outdoor air and brings it inside.
| Window air conditioner | PTAC | Wall-mounted heat pump | Central heat pump | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats in winter | No cooling only | Resistance or heat pump in mild weather | Yes heat pump down to -26 to -30°C depending on the model | Yes heat pump + backup |
| Where the compressor is | In the window | In the room’s wall | Outside | Outside |
| Opening required | The whole window | A 42 × 16 in. sleeve in the wall | A 65 to 75 mm hole | Existing ducts or ducts to build |
| Compressor noise in the room | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Rooms served | One | One | One per head, or 2 to 4 with multi-zone | The whole home, through the ducts |
| Ducts | None | None | None | Required |
Window air conditioner
Heats in winterNo cooling only
Where the compressor isIn the window
Opening requiredThe whole window
Compressor noise in the roomYes
Rooms servedOne
DuctsNone
PTAC
Heats in winterResistance or heat pump in mild weather
Where the compressor isIn the room’s wall
Opening requiredA 42 × 16 in. sleeve in the wall
Compressor noise in the roomYes
Rooms servedOne
DuctsNone
Wall-mounted heat pump
Heats in winterYes heat pump down to -26 to -30°C depending on the model
Where the compressor isOutside
Opening requiredA 65 to 75 mm hole
Compressor noise in the roomNo
Rooms servedOne per head, or 2 to 4 with multi-zone
DuctsNone
Central heat pump
Heats in winterYes heat pump + backup
Where the compressor isOutside
Opening requiredExisting ducts or ducts to build
Compressor noise in the roomNo
Rooms servedThe whole home, through the ducts
DuctsRequired
In Quebec, a heat pump is a better deal than air conditioning alone: it works twelve months a year, it cuts electric heating, and LogisVert pays back part of it. Federal programs, on the other hand, are closed in Quebec.
See the 2026 rebates04 · Pros
12 advantages of a wall-mounted heat pump
Each one with its proof. After the test, the ones that matter for you are marked.
0 ducts
No ducts to build
Ideal where there are no ducts, or where adding them would be complicated: electric baseboards, plexes, condos. No ducts to build means that much less work.
Source: NRCan: ductless units
1 hole
A simple installation
A single 65 to 75 mm opening, per the manufacturer’s manual, for the lines, the cable and the drain. No demolition, nothing hidden in the walls.
Source: Gree, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi manuals
771 models
A wide choice of energy-efficient models
771 wall-mounted heat pump listings in our catalogue, each with its AHRI number and its estimated LogisVert amount.
Source: airgreen.ca catalogue, Sept. 24, 2026
COP 3.7
Inexpensive to run
At -8°C, the COP ranges from 1.1 to 3.7: up to 3.7 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh you pay for. At 8°C, from 2.0 to 5.4. A baseboard gives 1 kWh for 1 kWh.
Source: NRCan, Dec. 24, 2025
17 dB
Quiet
At their lowest, our 12,000 BTU wall units run from 17 to 30 dB. A quiet room measures 40 dB(A); a bedroom should stay under 30 dB.
Source: airgreen.ca spec sheets · CCOHS · WHO
Design
Discreet and elegant
White, black or mirror finishes depending on the series (SHARP CHU-B, LG ART COOL MIRROR). Outside, the lines run under a cover that blends into the wall.
Source: airgreen.ca catalogue
1 head, 1 zone
Every room at its own temperature
Each head has its own setpoint. Cooler bedrooms, a warmer living room, without heating empty rooms.
Source: How it works
Flexible placement
The outdoor unit doesn’t have to sit behind the head
Unlike a PTAC or a window air conditioner, the compressor can be installed farther away, within the line length the manufacturer allows.
Source: Installation manuals
Window back
Goodbye, window air conditioner
The compressor is outside. The window closes again, and its noise stays outdoors.
Source: How it works
$120
LogisVert pays by the BTU
$120 per 1,000 BTU/h of capacity at -8°C for a cold-climate model. A SHARP CHU 12,000 BTU gets $2,268.
Source: LogisVert guide v1.10, Sept. 15, 2026
Wi-Fi
Controlled from your phone
Wi-Fi included on most of our models (SHARP, FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, SAMSUNG, GREE). Warm up or cool down the house before you get home.
Source: airgreen.ca spec sheets
Swipe to see more →
+ · Seen in our customers’ homes
Six brands, six cities: from Saint-Eustache to Candiac
Real AirGreen installs, not catalogue pictures: GREE, SHARP, MIDEA, HITACHI, LG and PANASONIC. Tap a photo to read the project. All our projects
GREE CHARMO R32Laval-Ouest, Laval
SHARP ZHU above the patio doorCandiac, South Shore
MIDEA MIDEA28, outdoor unit set perfectly levelTerrasse-Vaudreuil, Vaudreuil-Soulanges
HITACHI airHome 600Saint-Eustache, North Shore
LG Dual Inverter under a cathedral ceilingLe Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montreal
PANASONIC above the doorRosemont–La Petite-Patrie, MontrealSwipe to see more →
05 · Cons
9 drawbacks to plan for, and how we handle them
None of them rules out a good install. You just need to know them before you sign. Our warranty in detail
Its room first
One head mostly heats the room it’s in
Air doesn’t travel well past closed doors and up stairs.
Solution: One head per zone: separate units or multi-zone.
Source: NRCan, Dec. 24, 2025
Backup
In deep cold, it needs help
Below your home’s balance point, and during defrost, a backup heating system takes over.
Solution: Keep your baseboards: LogisVert doesn’t require removing them.
Source: NRCan · LogisVert guide v1.10
Upkeep
Filters to wash regularly
Filters every 2 to 3 months, a full cleaning once a year, condensate drain kept clear.
Solution: Reusable filters: 5 minutes at the sink.
Source: NRCan · AirGreen recommendations
Outside
The outdoor unit has its rules
Clearance, snow, noise: several Montreal boroughs set a 50 dB limit at the property line, and some require a permit. In a condo, the syndicate usually has a say.
Solution: We check the location and your area’s by-law before installing.
Source: City of Montréal, Aug. 3, 2026
Visible
You can see the head on the wall
And the lines run outside, under a cover. Nothing is hidden in the walls.
Solution: Black and mirror finishes are available.
Source: airgreen.ca catalogue
9,000 BTU
A small wall unit on its own gets no rebate
LogisVert requires an outdoor unit of at least 12,000 BTU/h in cooling.
Solution: Aim for 12,000 BTU or more, or a 9,000 head on a multi-zone.
Source: Hydro-Québec, LogisVert residential
1 compressor
Multi-zone: one unit for all the heads
If it stops, all the heads stop. With separate units, a breakdown only affects one room.
Solution: We compare both options at your home, LogisVert included.
Source: NRCan: multi-split definition
Floors
The connections can get complicated
In some multi-storey homes, connecting the outdoor unit to the heads or to the electrical panel takes more work. These cases are rare.
Solution: Our technicians propose a route on site, even in complex homes.
Source: AirGreen field experience
Service
A breakdown needs an installer who comes back
A wall unit can be repaired, as long as the company still provides service after the installation.
Solution: Starting October 5, 2026: a 6-year legal warranty, parts and labour. Extended warranties on some brands.
Source: CPA s. 38.1 · AirGreen Warranty page
Swipe to see more →
06 · The numbers
Bill, cold, quiet: the advantages, measured
Three tabs, your numbers. Every result shows its calculation and its source.
In your Hydro-Québec customer account, the winter consumption above your summer consumption is mostly heating.
Share of the heating taken on by the wall unit
Average efficiency over the winter (COP)
NRCan: COP of 2.0 to 5.4 at 8°C and 1.1 to 3.7 at -8°C. Choose conservatively.
Same heat, two bills (the part heated by the wall unit)
Estimated savings per year
$334
at most, at the second-tier price of Rate D
kWh avoided: 12,000 × 50% × (1 − 1/2)3,000 kWh
At the second-tier price (11.142¢/kWh)$334
If everything stayed in the first tier (7.065¢/kWh)$212
Rate D in effect April 1, 2026. Winter heating mostly drives up the second tier (above 40 kWh per day). An estimate, not a promise: your home, your insulation and your habits decide.
Outdoor temperature
SHARP CHUlimit -30°CStill heating
SAMSUNG WindFree MaxHeatlimit -30°CStill heating
GREE Clivia R32limit -30°CStill heating
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE ORION XLTHlimit -26°CStill heating
Efficiency (COP) according to NRCan
At 8°C2.0 to 5.4
At -8°C1.1 to 3.7
01 (baseboard)23456
At -8°C
The LogisVert measuring point
COP of 1.1 to 3.7. This is the temperature at which Hydro-Québec measures capacity to calculate the rebate.
Source: NRCan · LogisVert guide v1.10
The colder it gets, the less heat it delivers. Below your home’s balance point, and during defrost, the backup heat takes over.
Benchmarks
Bedroom, continuous noise (WHO)30 dB
Quiet room (CCOHS)40 dB(A)
Conversation at 1 m (CCOHS)55 dB(A)
+3 dBenergy × 2
Outside, several Montreal boroughs set a 50 dB limit at the property line. All about noise
07 · Multi-zone
Multi-zone (multi-split) systems or separate wall units
One outdoor unit for several heads, or one unit per head: both make sense. Here are the numbers.
A multi-zone (multi-split) system isn’t very different from a single-zone wall unit: several indoor units are paired with a single outdoor unit to heat and cool several rooms in a large home.
It’s often ideal when the layout keeps air from circulating everywhere, for example with several large floors. Each head is controlled separately and can be set to a different temperature.
Estimated LogisVert$2,268
Real exampleSHARP CHU 12,000 BTU
Outdoor units1 unit
Heads1
If an outdoor unit stopsThe room goes on backup heat
A reader’s question, June 2023
“A multi-zone breaks down very often, is it better to install one compressor per indoor unit?”
Our answer: no reliable public data shows that a multi-zone breaks down more often. What is certain: all its heads depend on a single outdoor unit. For three heads in a two-storey house, we compare both options on site. * The LogisVert guide sets no limit on the number of heat pumps per home: have Hydro-Québec confirm at 1 833 396-1888.
08 · LogisVert rebate
What LogisVert pays back, model by model
Hydro-Québec’s calculation: heating capacity at -8°C, divided by 1,000, multiplied by $120 for a cold-climate model. The program in detail · All 2026 rebates
LogisVert · estimated amount
SHARP CHU 12,000 BTU
$2,268
Capacity at -8°C (ENERGY STAR, AHRI 217512736)18,900 BTU/h
18.9 × $120 (cold climate)$2,268
Cap: 100% of the purchase and installation cost. Apply no later than 9 months after installation. ENERGY STAR required since Nov. 26, 2025. Only Hydro-Québec confirms the amount.
LogisVert amount by model (cold climate, $120 per 1,000 BTU/h at -8°C)
Capacities at -8°C from ENERGY STAR, by AHRI number (Sept. 24, 2026). Tap a bar for details.
09 · Myth or fact
Seven common beliefs, seven sourced answers
Your gut against our sources. Answer, and the explanation appears.
0 / 7right answers · 0 of 7 answered
01
A wall unit stops heating below -15°C.
02
To get LogisVert, you have to remove your baseboards.
03
A 9,000 BTU wall unit on its own qualifies for LogisVert.
04
A wall unit replaces the window air conditioner and heats too.
05
Wall units are noisy.
06
Federal grants still pay for a heat pump in Quebec.
07
If a multi-zone’s outdoor unit stops, all the heads stop.
10 · Frequently asked questions
The 12 questions we’re asked most
Can a wall-mounted heat pump heat a whole house?
In an open area on a single floor, one properly sized head can be enough. As soon as there are closed rooms or several floors, a head mostly heats the room where it’s installed: plan one head per zone, as separate units or a multi-zone system.
AirGreen Heat Pumps, Air Conditioning & Heating · Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore, North Shore
A well-chosen wall unit starts with a well-placed wall unit
Phone consultation and on-site estimate, 100% free. We come see your home, tell you how many heads and which model, and you get your personalized quote in less than 24 hours.
RBQ 5645-9605-01Subclasses 15.8 Ventilation, 15.10 Refrigeration, 16 Electricity
AHRI on every product pageAnd the estimated LogisVert amount, model by model
Consultation and estimateBy phone or on site, 100% free
Quote within 24 hPersonalized, in writing, in less than 24 hours
Hydro-Québec never solicits by phone or door to door for LogisVert.
Sources checked on September 24, 2026
- Hydro-Québec, Guide de participation LogisVert résidentiel (residential participation guide), version 1.10, September 15, 2026; LogisVert residential page
- Natural Resources Canada, “Heating and Cooling With a Heat Pump”, modified December 24, 2025
- ENERGY STAR, Heat Pump Equipment, version 6.2 (revised February 2026); ENERGY STAR data by AHRI number, consulted September 24, 2026
- CCOHS, “Noise – Basic Information”, November 27, 2024; WHO, Guidelines for Community Noise, 1999
- City of Montréal, “Obtenir un permis pour installer une thermopompe ou un appareil de climatisation” (permit to install a heat pump or air conditioner), August 3, 2026
- Consumer Protection Act, s. 38.1 to 38.6 (SQ 2023, c. 21); Regulation respecting the application of the Act, s. 79.21 (Order in Council 1459-2025); Office de la protection du consommateur, February 19, 2026
- NRCan, pages “Closed: Canada Greener Homes Grant – Quebec” (July 20, 2026) and the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program (September 17, 2026)
- Installation manuals for Gree Sapphire, Fujitsu ASTG12KMCA, Mitsubishi MSZ-GS; airgreen.ca spec sheets (sound, heating limits, Wi-Fi)
- Hydro-Québec, Electricity Rates effective April 1, 2026, Rate D (s. 2.5)
The amounts shown are estimates; only the responsible organizations confirm the aid granted.
+ · Read next
ComparisonWall-mounted or central: which one for your homeNoiseAre wall-mounted heat pumps noisy?SizingChoosing the right size of wall-mounted heat pumpLocationWhere to install a wall-mounted heat pumpRebates2026 heat pump rebatesCatalogueOur wall-mounted heat pumpsWarrantyOur warranty in Montreal and MontérégiePermitsPermits and by-laws by city
1 comment
Bravo pour votre site. Je magasine une thermopompe avec 3 unité a l’intérieur car je possède un cottage, Mais une question me revient souvent et les mauvais commentaires, comme quoi un multi-zone brise très souvent et qu’il est mieux d’installer un compresseur par unité intérieur. Pouvez-vous éclairer mes lanternes s.v.p. Merci et bonne continuité