Installation of a 3-head GREE FREEMATCH R32 heat pump in Richelieu, Montérégie

A GREE head installed in a very compact area, between the ceiling and storage doors

This installation of GREE FREEMATCH R32 3-head heat pump in Richelieu shows very clearly why the positioning of indoor units must be assessed room by room. In the photograph taken after the work, one of the GREE wall-mounted heads is located in a particularly restricted section of wall: immediately below the ceiling, above louvered doors, and near a circular ceiling light fixture.

The available space was therefore far from being a completely clear wall.

We had to integrate the head without interfering with the opening of the doors beneath the unit, maintain sufficient air intake clearance above, allow the lower louver to move, and prevent the airflow from being blocked. The result is a compact installation in which the unit uses a section of wall that would otherwise have been difficult to utilize.

The photograph also reveals an especially discreet finish: no line set cover is visibly running down the wall beside the unit. Since the complete route of the lines is not visible, we cannot confirm their exact path, but the interior integration leaves the area beneath the heat pump largely unobstructed.

For a homeowner comparing a a multi-zone heat pump in Richelieu, on the South Shore, or in Greater Montreal, this project illustrates an important point: the best installation is not just about choosing the right number of BTUs. The positioning of the three heads directly affects comfort, drainage, maintenance, and the final appearance.

A head positioned high without obstructing the doors beneath the unit

The visible indoor unit is installed above two louvered doors. In this type of configuration, we must first ensure that the moving elements located beneath the head can continue to operate normally.

We specifically check:

• the maximum height reached by the doors when they are opened;
• the space available for the air discharge louver;
• the distance between the bottom of the head and the frame;
• the risk of an open door touching the casing;
• the access required to remove the head for future servicing;
• the path of the air toward the room.

An appliance installed a few centimeters too low may seem perfectly acceptable when the doors are closed, then become a problem as soon as they are opened.

Conversely, mounting the indoor head as high as possible is not necessarily the right solution either.

The clearance above the unit remains essential

The heat pump draws air from the room primarily through the upper part of the indoor unit. It must therefore maintain an appropriate space between its casing and the ceiling.

The photo shows that the GREE head is indeed installed high, but not directly against the ceiling surface.

This clearance serves several functions:

• allow ambient air to enter;
• avoid unnecessarily restricting airflow;
• facilitate opening the front panel;
• allow filter removal;
• make theHVAC maintenance possible without major disassembly.

A visually compact installation loses all its value if the filters can no longer be removed normally.

At AirGreen, we therefore consider future maintenance during installation. The heat pump must not only work on the day it is installed; it must remain accessible several years later.

The ceiling light fixture also had to be part of the planning.

A circular light fixture is visible almost directly in front of the unit. It is far enough away not to physically interfere with the louver's operation, but its presence clearly illustrates the importance of examining the entire room before drilling.

An indoor unit must not be positioned in isolation. We must take into account:

• light fixtures;
• wiring that may be in the ceiling;
• doors;
• cabinets;
• studs;
• electrical boxes;
• existing piping;
• permanent furniture.

The location of the light fixture can also provide clues about the presence of wiring in that part of the structure. Before drilling through a wall or securing the mounting plate, it is therefore necessary to assess what may be behind the finish.

Why a three-head heat pump is useful in a home with multiple zones

The GREE FREEMATCH R32 is a multizone system. Unlike three completely independent heat pumps, the three indoor units can be connected to a single outdoor unit.

This makes it possible to serve three different areas of the building, for example:

• a bedroom;
• a living area;
• a second bedroom or office;
• a different floor;
• a remote room that receives little air from a central head.

Each indoor unit can have its own temperature setting and fan speed.

This helps avoid a common situation with a single head: the living room quickly reaches the desired temperature, while a bedroom behind a closed door remains much too hot or too cold.

A three-head installation therefore provides more localized comfort control.

An important point: three heads do not mean three completely independent systems.

The indoor units share the same outdoor unit.

They can operate at different setpoint temperatures, but the system generally must remain in a compatible mode. One unit normally cannot call for heating while another simultaneously calls for cooling on a conventional residential multi-zone system in this category.

The outdoor capacity is also shared.

If all three zones demand substantial heating at the same time, the outdoor unit distributes the available capacity among the three circuits.

This is precisely why we never size a GREE multi-zone system only by adding up the figures listed on the heads.

Up to 21 SEER2 and 10 HSPF2 for FREEMATCH R32

According to the technical documentation provided for this series, the GREE FREEMATCH R32 can reach 21 SEER2, 12.5 EER2 and 10 HSPF2. The stated operating range is from -30°C to 48°C in cooling mode and -30°C to 24°C in heating mode.

The first page of the technical sheet also presents several features relevant to a multi-zone system:

• G10 inverter technology;
• intelligent defrosting;
• self-diagnostics;
• automatic voltage adaptation;
• quiet operation;
• indoor units powered by the outdoor unit;
• up to seven indoor unit options;
• A2L leak detection sensor included.

Inverter modulation is particularly useful in a three-zone system. Demand can change continuously: one bedroom reaches its setpoint and reduces its demand while the living room still requires heating or cooling.

The compressor then adjusts its operation rather than relying solely on repeated starts and stops.

Which FREEMATCH R32 outdoor units are compatible with three heads?

The technical sheet presents five outdoor units, but not all of them can accommodate three indoor units.

The model The 18,000 BTU/h GWHD(18)ND6MO model accepts only two heads. For a three-zone configuration, the options therefore start with the 24,000 BTU/h model.

Outdoor model	Number of connectable heads	Rated cooling	Rated heating
GWHD(24)ND6MO	2 to 3	24,000 BTU/h	24,000 BTU/h
GWHD(30)ND6MO	2 to 4	28,400 BTU/h	30,000 BTU/h
GWHD(36)ND6MO	2 to 4	36,000 BTU/h	36,000 BTU/h
GWHD(42)ND6MO	2 to 5	42,000 BTU/h	44,300 BTU/h

All outdoor units shown operate at 208/230 volts.

The photo of the Richelieu installation shows only an indoor unit. It therefore cannot honestly confirm which of these outdoor units was installed or the precise BTU capacity of the photographed wall-mounted unit.

We prefer to maintain this distinction rather than assign a capacity based solely on the apparent width of the casing.

How we determine the capacity of each of the three zones

Two rooms of the same area may require very different capacities.

To size a three-head heat pump, we notably consider:

• actual floor area;
• room volume;
• ceiling height;
• wall insulation;
• ceiling insulation;
• the window area;
• solar orientation;
• the number of exterior walls;
• air infiltration;
• the use of the room;
• heat-generating equipment;
• the number of occupants;
• the desired temperatures.

The head visible in Richelieu appears to be installed in an area where the wall space is highly structured. This factor influences placement, but it is not enough to determine capacity.

A small room facing due south with lots of glazing may have a higher cooling load than a larger room on the shaded side.

Why oversizing a head can also be a mistake

A larger unit is not automatically more comfortable.

An oversized head may reach its setpoint too quickly. In cooling mode, excessively short cycles can reduce the time available to remove moisture from the air.

Conversely, a head that is too small may run almost continuously without reaching the desired temperature on the most demanding days.

The selection should therefore target balanced operation, not simply the greatest possible capacity.

Performance down to -30 °C must be interpreted correctly

The documentation indicates a heating operating range down to -30 °C.

This information means that the platform is designed to operate within this temperature range. It does not mean that the nominal capacity automatically remains the same as the temperature drops from -8 °C to -20 °C and then to -30 °C.

For an installation at Richelieu and the South Shore, this distinction is important.

In extremely cold weather, all three zones may call for heat simultaneously. We must therefore consider:

• the actual low-temperature capacity;
• the building’s heat loss;
• the exact combination of the three heads;
• the presence of auxiliary heating;
• the desired indoor temperature.

A nominal BTU figure alone does not tell the whole story of winter heating.

What cannot be seen in the photo: the refrigeration work, drainage, and commissioning of the three heads

Three indoor units mean three connections to organize

Behind an interior installation this clean lies a much more complex network.

Each head must be connected to the outdoor unit by:

• a liquid line;
• a gas line;
• a communication and power cable according to the planned architecture;
• a condensate drain.

For the product line presented in the sheet, the listed refrigerant connections are 1/4 in. on the liquid side and 3/8 in. on the gas side.

In a three-head installation, we must above all avoid mixing up the circuits.

Each unit is identified so that:

head A → lines A → wiring A → port A

remains correctly associated, and so on for the other units.

A mix-up between the lines and the communication wires can cause errors that are very difficult to diagnose once the protective coverings are finished.

FREEMATCH offers considerable flexibility for piping lengths

Depending on the outdoor unit selected, the documentation specifies a maximum total length of up to:

• 60 m with the 24,000 BTU/h;
• 80 m with the 28,400 BTU/h;
• 80 m with the 36,000 BTU/h;
• 100 m with the 42,000 BTU/h.

The maximum height difference is 15 m for 24,000 BTU/h and 25 m for the higher-capacity models.

This flexibility makes it easier to distribute three heads across different sections of the building.

It does not mean that we deliberately try to create the longest runs possible.

A more direct routing can reduce:

• the amount of copper;
• line-set lengths;
• penetrations;
• material costs;
• the number of changes in direction;
• the potential additional amount of refrigerant required.

R32 and the calculation of the additional charge

The data sheet indicates different factory-charged lengths depending on the outdoor model and provides for an additional charge when the system exceeds the length covered by the factory charge.

On a multi-zone system, this calculation is particularly important because three runs can quickly result in a significant total length.

We must therefore measure the actual line lengths rather than simply estimate the straight-line distance between the heads and the outdoor unit.

The R32 belongs to the A2L category. The documentation also mentions an A2L leak detection sensor in the system.

A proper installation requires, among other things:

1. clean lines;
2. properly completed connections;
3. a leak test;
4. proper evacuation;
5. validating the lengths;
6. adjusting the charge when necessary;
7. checking the electrical connections;
8. commissioning of the three circuits.

The drain for the head located above the doors deserves particular attention

The visible head is positioned above louvered doors.

A condensate leak in this area could flow directly onto the frame or the doors.

The drainage must therefore be treated with the same care as the refrigerant lines.

In air conditioning, moisture in the air condenses on the evaporator. This water is collected in the indoor unit’s drain pan and then discharged through a pipe.

When drainage operates by gravity, we must maintain a continuous slope.

We check:

• that there is no reverse slope;
• that the pipe is not pinched behind the unit;
• that the connections are leak-tight;
• that the water flows to the designated point;
• that the drain does not terminate in a location where it could damage the building.

Before the project is completed, a drainage test can confirm the drain's actual operation.

Electrical requirements vary according to outdoor capacity

Although all the outdoor units shown are powered at 208/230 V, the current requirements are not identical.

For models compatible with three heads, the technical sheet indicates:

• 24,000 BTU/h: MCA 19.5 A, MOCP 25 A;
• 28,400 BTU/h: MCA 23 A, MOCP 35 A;
• 36,000 BTU/h: MCA 30 A, MOCP 45 A;
• 42,000 BTU/h: MCA 30 A, MOCP 45 A.

The capacity selection therefore directly affects the electrical circuit.

We cannot conclude that an old circuit is adequate simply because an air conditioner or an older heat pump was already installed there.

The exact model must be confirmed before determining the required protection.

A multi-zone commissioning must test much more than the ON button

Once the three heads are installed, we must validate the system as a whole.

Our checks include, in particular:

1. the individual startup of each indoor unit;
2. each unit's response to the controls;
3. louver movement;
4. fan speeds;
5. supply-air temperatures;
6. the operation of multiple zones simultaneously;
7. the drainage from each drain;
8. communication with the outdoor unit;
9. the absence of unusual vibrations or noises;
10. consistency among the three circuits.

This last step is particularly important: a system that starts up is not necessarily a fully verified system.

AHRI numbers depend on the exact configuration

Page 2 of the technical sheet provides separate AHRI numbers for ductless, ducted, and mixed and for each outdoor unit.

In an installation using three wall-mounted heads, it is important to confirm the exact combination before using an AHRI number to document the project or submit a financial assistance application.

A reference belonging to another outdoor capacity should not be used as an approximation.

Rebates: verify the combination and the program that actually applies

The series documentation indicates that the equipment is eligible for local rebates.

However, this statement does not guarantee that a specific amount will automatically be paid for any configuration.

Eligibility depends in particular on:

• the selected outdoor unit;
• the indoor units;
• the AHRI number;
• the building type;
• the available program;
• the purchase and installation date;
• the requested documents.

For a homeowner in Richelieu or the South Shore, so we recommend confirming eligibility based on the actual proposed combination rather than relying solely on the FREEMATCH R32 trade name.

A warranty that also deserves to be properly documented

The supplied sheet mentions a 10-year standard warranty, as well as an additional two-year extension with Wolseley when the registration and/or proof-of-installation requirements are met.

After the work, it is wise to keep:

• the detailed invoice;
• the outdoor unit reference;
• the models of the three heads;
• serial numbers;
• the AHRI combination;
• registration documents;
• photos of the rating plates;
• documents related to any applicable rebates.

This documentation can become very useful several years after installation.

What the homeowner should monitor after the work

The head photographed in Richelieu is installed above doors that may be used frequently. It is therefore important to preserve the environment as it was intended when the system was installed.

We particularly recommend:

• not placing a very tall piece of furniture directly in front of the air discharge;
• keeping the upper air return unobstructed;
• checking the filters periodically;
• monitoring for any unusual signs of water;
• not hanging objects from the casing;
• to maintain safe access for servicing.

Cleaning the filters is relatively simple, but the evaporator, blower wheel, and condensate pan may require a thorough HVAC cleaning after several seasons of operation.

A Richelieu installation where discretion comes primarily from good planning

This GREE FREEMATCH R32 three-head heat pump in Richelieu illustrates a type of challenge we regularly encounter: installing an indoor unit in a room without a large blank wall ready to accommodate the equipment.

Here, the available space was above louvered doors, near the ceiling, and close to a light fixture.

We therefore had to consider all of the following simultaneously:

• door clearance;
• available height;
• air return;
• air discharge;
• routing of the connections;
• wall structure;
• drainage;
• filter accessibility.

The result is a wall-mounted head integrated into an area that takes up virtually no usable space in the room.

However, this indoor unit represents only part of the project. A three-head multi-zone heat pump also requires consistent sizing of the three zones, proper outdoor unit selection, a carefully identified refrigerant line network, and methodical commissioning.

At AirGreen, we apply this same approach to our Richelieu, Longueuil, and the South Shore, as well as our heat pump installations in Montreal, Laval, and the North Shore adapt the system to the building rather than forcing the building to adapt to the system.

At this Richelieu project, it is precisely this preparation that makes it possible to GREE FREEMATCH R32 to remain visually discreet while fulfilling the much more complex role of a three-zone heating and cooling system.