In Boucherville, a central installation where condensate management and ductwork adaptation were integral parts of the project
This MIDEA EVOX G3 electric furnace installation in Boucherville highlights a particularly interesting aspect of replacing a central system: the new equipment must be integrated with everything already around it, from the ductwork to condensate drainage, including the refrigerant connections, wiring, and available space for future servicing.
The photo taken at our job site shows several of these elements at once. The MIDEA EVOX G3 is installed vertically on a base made of galvanized sheet metal. Above it, we connected the unit to the main system using a transition adapted to the existing dimensions. On the side and at the front, the pipes, wiring, and condensate drainage system are organized to remain accessible.
One detail particularly draws attention: the condensate pump installed at the bottom of the furnace. In this Boucherville basement, the water produced during cooling operation could not simply be treated as a secondary detail. It had to be collected and drained in a controlled manner.
This is the kind of detail that distinguishes a true central HVAC installation of a simple equipment replacement.
Why a condensate pump is present in this installation
When a central heat pump operates in cooling mode, warm, humid air from the home passes over the cold indoor coil. Some of the moisture in the air then turns into water.
This water must leave the unit reliably.
When the building configuration allows for a continuous natural slope toward a drain, we can often use gravity drainage. But when a suitable drain is not low enough, is too far away, or the route does not allow for an adequate slope, a condensate pump becomes a logical solution.
In this installation with Boucherville, the pump visible near the base of the system collects the water and pumps it toward the designated drainage point.
This component may appear small compared with the furnace, but its role is important. Poor condensate management can lead to:
- water on the floor;
- moisture around the equipment;
- damage to the basement finish;
- odors;
- an accumulation in the drain pan;
- safety shutdowns;
- in the long term, problems far more costly than a properly installed pump.
We therefore need to consider drainage during project planning, not when the unit is already fully installed.
A sheet-metal base fabricated to properly integrate the EVOX G3
The lower part of the installation is just as important.
The MIDEA is mounted on a sheet-metal cabinet fabricated to provide the transition to the existing system. In a home already equipped with a central system, the dimensions of the new cabinet rarely match those of the old equipment exactly.
We therefore need to fabricate an adapter that serves several functions:
- properly support the unit;
- ensure an airtight air connection;
- maintain a sufficient cross-section for airflow;
- limit turbulence;
- facilitate access to the components;
- fit into the existing ductwork.
A transition that is too small or too abrupt can become a significant restriction.
Air does not behave like an electrical cable that can simply be passed through any opening. As resistance increases in the duct system, the fan must work harder to maintain airflow.
This is precisely why we pay so much attention to static pressure during a central heat pump installation.
The EVOX G3’s Constant Airflow technology and its value in an existing home
The MIDEA EVOX G3 uses Computational Constant Airflow 2.0, designed to adapt fan operation to the network’s different conditions.
According to MIDEA documentation, the system can handle external static pressure of up to approximately 1.2 in. of water column and provide up to 60 airflow adjustment levels.
In an existing home in Boucherville, this capability is particularly relevant.
A system installed twenty or thirty years ago may include:
- ducts of different sizes;
- several elbows;
- significant lengths;
- more restrictive dampers;
- a filter with higher resistance;
- renovations that modified certain branches.
The EVOX G3 fan can therefore offer more adjustment options than an older motor with only a few fixed speeds.
An important nuance: technology never replaces good ductwork
However, we never consider the fan’s compensation capacity an excuse to accept an inadequate duct system.
If a return-air system is genuinely undersized or a transition creates excessive restriction, the right approach is to correct the problem.
A motor capable of working harder can temporarily maintain airflow, but this situation can increase fan noise and energy consumption.
Our objective is instead to combine properly adapted ductwork and precise airflow adjustment.
Why the EVOX G3 is an interesting option for furnace replacements in Boucherville
A cabinet designed to fit the dimensions of many existing furnaces
MIDEA documentation indicates that units in the EVOX G3 range are available in widths of approximately 14.5 to 21.5 inches, depending on the capacity.
The manufacturer specifically designed this series to facilitate the replacement of existing central systems. The platform can also accommodate different power supplies, including 115 V and 208/230 V, depending on the configuration.
In many homes in Boucherville, Longueuil, and the South Shore, mechanical rooms were built around an older gas or electric furnace.
Completely changing the room layout may involve:
- relocate ductwork;
- rebuild a plenum;
- modify walls;
- relocate the water heater;
- modify certain electrical infrastructure.
Being able to use a unit whose dimensions were designed for the replacement market can therefore significantly simplify the project.
A useful modular design for hard-to-access basements
The EVOX G3 also uses a modular design called Block N Lock.
MIDEA offers six possible configurations, including upflow, downflow, right-horizontal, left-horizontal, and “low-boy” installations intended for spaces with height constraints.
For us, this flexibility becomes particularly useful when the equipment must be transported into a basement with a narrow staircase.
The biggest challenge of a central replacement can sometimes arise before the furnace even reaches the mechanical room: getting a large cabinet through a doorway, down a staircase, and around a tight corner.
A design that can be handled in a more modular way therefore provides a concrete advantage on the job site.
What we observe above the furnace on this project
In the photo, the top of the EVOX G3 is connected to a large sheet-metal transition.
We can see that this section of the system does not exactly match the dimensions of the new cabinet. It was therefore necessary to create an adapter providing a gradual transition to the existing ductwork.
The joints were also sealed.
This step has three main objectives:
- limit air leaks;
- reduce unnecessary pressure losses;
- prevent some of the heated or conditioned air from being lost directly into the mechanical room.
In an unfinished basement, a small leak may seem inconsequential because it does not necessarily cause visible damage. But this leak represents air that does not reach the rooms it was intended for.
Over an entire heating or cooling season, that matters.
R-454B refrigerant: a clearly identified new generation on the unit
The safety label on the front of the unit displays the symbol associated with the refrigerant A2L.
MIDEA documentation indicates that the EVOX range uses R-454B, whose stated global warming potential is 466.
For homeowners, the difference between R-410A and R-454B may seem primarily technical.
For our technicians, it affects installation and service procedures.
A new R-454B installation must be handled using the appropriate methods for this refrigerant category. When upgrading an older central system, we must also verify the compatibility of the components and lines rather than assume that everything previously installed can simply be reused.
Heating performance suited to Quebec’s climate
The EVOX G3 platform was designed for cold climates.
MIDEA indicates continuous operation down to -30 °C. For the three-ton system used in the published tests, the manufacturer also reports up to 100% heating capacity at -25 °C, with a COP of approximately 1.9 under these test conditions.
For a property located in Boucherville, this data is far more meaningful than a simple nominal capacity at moderate temperatures.
When we select a central heat pump for the South Shore, we want to know how it performs during periods when the heating demand is truly significant.
We therefore examine the low-temperature performance curve, the home’s heating load, and the planned auxiliary heating capacity.
Electric auxiliary heating available up to 25 kW, depending on the configuration
MIDEA provides three-stage auxiliary heating kits capable of reaching 25 kW, depending on the model and configuration. The manufacturer also indicates that the stages can be activated and adjusted based on temperature variations.
This does not mean that we must automatically install 25 kW.
Excessive capacity can create a significant electrical load without providing any real benefit.
In particular, we need to check:
- the home’s heat loss;
- the heat pump’s low-temperature capacity;
- the size of the electrical panel;
- the other loads present in the house;
- the conductor size;
- the required circuit breaker;
- the auxiliary heating control strategy.
The sizing of the electric furnace must therefore be included in the system’s overall calculation.
From 18,000 to 54,000 BTU in the EVOX G3 range
The technical sheet provided by MIDEA presents different combinations ranging from 18,000 to 54,000 BTU/h. The table notably includes configurations of 18,000, 24,000, 30,000, 36,000, 48,000, and 54,000 BTU.
The range can reach up to 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 10.8 HSPF2, depending on the exact combination of the indoor and outdoor units.
It is important to understand that the name EVOX G3 therefore does not correspond to a single capacity.
The nameplate of the photographed unit at Boucherville is visible, but the precise number is not legible enough in the image for us to state a tonnage without risking an error.
We prefer not to invent a technical specification.
In our quotes and installations, we always use the exact indoor and outdoor model numbers to confirm:
- tonnage;
- efficiency;
- low-temperature capacity;
- compatibility;
- the certified combination.
Filtration up to MERV 13
The EVOX G3 documentation also indicates compatibility with filters from 1, 2, or 4 inches, up to MERV 13.
This flexibility is useful for adapting filtration to the building's needs.
An MERV 13 filter can capture more particles than a more basic filter, but it also creates additional resistance to airflow.
We must therefore evaluate the filter's surface area, thickness, and return-air network before choosing the appropriate solution.
The mistake to avoid: installing the most restrictive filter simply because it seems better
A central system only works if sufficient air passes through the unit.
A highly restrictive filter installed on an undersized return can reduce airflow, increase static pressure, and make the fan work unnecessarily hard.
Filtration quality must therefore always be considered along with the actual airflow.
24 V, 485 communication, and smart controls
The EVOX G3 can operate with different control configurations. The documentation indicates compatibility with the protocol 485 as well as with certain configurations using a thermostat 24 V.
MIDEA also offers its communicating thermostat and the SmartHome app.
The documented functions notably include:
- schedule programming;
- temperature management;
- control of certain humidity parameters;
- consumption monitoring;
- certain self-diagnostic functions;
- remote software updates.
In a replacement of an existing system, this compatibility with several control methods can be useful when we want to limit modifications to the wiring already present in the walls.
Why the condensate pump visible on this project deserves to be planned from the outset
Let us return to one of the most interesting details of this installation Boucherville.
The pump mounted on the system base shows that our work does not stop at the main components.
When planning, we need to know where the water produced by the evaporator will go.
A condensate pump must:
- be positioned securely;
- remain accessible;
- properly receive the drain from the pan;
- be able to pump the water toward the designated point;
- be installed in a way that facilitates its maintenance;
- not interfere with opening the furnace panels.
In this installation, the pump remains directly accessible in front of the metal base. This arrangement makes future inspection or maintenance easier without having to disassemble a significant part of the system.
Rebates: verify the exact combination before announcing eligibility
Owners in Boucherville and the South Shore who are replacing an old central system regularly ask us whether their new heat pump may qualify for financial assistance.
The answer depends on the exact combination.
In particular, we must verify:
- the outdoor model;
- the indoor model;
- the certified combination number;
- the recognized efficiency ratings;
- the program's criteria at the time of installation.
The MIDEA brand or the EVOX G3 name alone is not enough to confirm a rebate amount.
This verification is part of our work before presenting the client with the potential savings associated with a program.
What this Boucherville installation shows about our approach at AirGreen
This project clearly illustrates the elements we consider in a electric furnace and central heat pump installation.
The photo shows an important part of the work that is usually hidden after the finishing work:
- the transition plenum;
- the duct connections;
- the sealing;
- the condensate pump;
- the drainage;
- the wiring;
- the refrigerant lines;
- service access.
We always aim to plan not only for operation on the day the system is commissioned, but also for what will happen several years later when the equipment requires HVAC maintenance, an inspection, or a repair.
A panel must be removable. A pump must be accessible. A filter must be replaceable. The ductwork must not prevent a technician from reaching a component.
This level of detail is what turns a proper installation into one that is truly designed to last.
In Boucherville, Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore, we apply this same approach to every replacement of electric furnace, central heat pump, and HVAC system choosing the right equipment, integrating it properly with the existing ductwork, and addressing all surrounding details with the same care as the equipment itself.