A compact integration on a brick façade where every centimeter counts
In Ahuntsic-Cartierville, in a residential area of Montreal where side and rear spaces are often tighter than in the suburbs, we completed this MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump installation with particular attention to the outdoor positioning. The job-site photo clearly summarizes the challenge: a brick façade, a relatively narrow foundation, a mature shrub immediately to the left of the unit, technical lines already present on the wall, and very little reason to sacrifice additional ground space.
Our solution was to secure the outdoor unit on two metal wall brackets, above ground level. This keeps the condenser clear beneath its base, while its large front fan has open space to discharge air. This configuration addresses several requirements at once: protection from snow, management of defrost water, preservation of outdoor space, and maintenance accessibility.
The image also shows a long, light-colored vertical run descending along the brick wall to near the unit. The refrigerant and electrical connections are grouped on the service side of the machine. The photograph appears to have been taken during the final phase of the job, when some connection components were still visible before the finishing work was fully completed.
The MIDEA EVOX G3 belongs to a family of ducted central systems with inverter technology, developed to modernize heating and cooling installations using a duct network. MIDEA documentation presents this generation as an upgrade solution for residential central systems.
Why a wall-mounted installation was particularly relevant in Ahuntsic-Cartierville
In a densely populated Montreal neighborhood, the location of an outdoor heat pump cannot be chosen solely based on the shortest distance to the mechanical room.
We must also take into account the actual use of the yard and the proximity of the building’s other elements.
On this job site, placing the unit on the ground would have created several constraints:
- reduction of the available space around the shrub;
- greater exposure to leaves and plant debris;
- greater proximity to the ground;
- potential snow accumulation around the base;
- more limited space for water from defrost cycles;
- less convenient maintenance around the underside of the unit.
By raising the central heat pump, we create a clear area beneath the condenser. This clearance is particularly important in Quebec when the equipment contributes to heating during the winter.
The space beneath the heat pump plays a real role during defrost cycles
A heat pump that heats a home in January must regularly remove the frost that forms on its outdoor coil.
During defrosting, the ice turns into water.
If the condenser is placed too close to the ground, this water can then refreeze beneath the machine. After several episodes of cold, snow, and defrosting, ice can accumulate.
For the Ahuntsic-Cartierville installation, the metal supports maintain appreciable clearance between the condenser and the ground. This configuration facilitates:
- water drainage;
- inspecting underneath the machine;
- removing snow;
- cleaning the area;
- and maintaining clear space around the base.
This installation detail does not change the unit’s specifications, but it can make a significant difference over several winters.
A large horizontal fan that requires adequate clearance
The EVOX G3 visible in the photo is equipped with a large axial fan on the front.
MIDEA uses a horizontal discharge design on this generation, with a vertical coil. The manufacturer indicates that this architecture is intended to produce a more uniform airflow across the coil’s surface and support heat-transfer efficiency as the outdoor temperature decreases.
The condenser’s position was therefore planned with airflow in mind.
The front of the fan remains clear, which is essential to prevent the expelled air from immediately recirculating toward the machine.
The neighboring shrub: an element to incorporate into the project, but also to monitor
The vegetation is very close to the unit, especially on the left.
At the time of installation, this does not necessarily mean that the heat pump is poorly positioned. What matters is respecting the required clearances and ensuring that the branches do not obstruct the coil.
The important point comes next: a hedge or shrub keeps growing.
We therefore recommend that the owner keep the vegetation trimmed and prevent branches from:
- touch the casing;
- rest against the coil;
- come closer to the fan;
- or trap leaves behind the unit.
This small piece of HVAC maintenance helps maintain adequate airflow around the condenser.
A heat pump designed to operate in extreme cold
For a project in Montreal, winter performance weighs heavily in the choice of a central system.
According to the documentation provided, the EVOX G3 Extreme Heat line is designed to continue operating down to -30 °C. MIDEA also states, based on tests conducted with a three-ton system, that it can reach 100% capacity at approximately -25 °C, with a COP of up to 1.9.
This information must nevertheless be understood correctly.
The fact that a system can continue operating at -30 °C does not mean that every model in the line provides exactly its rated capacity at that temperature.
Performance depends on the specific model and temperature.
That is why we always evaluate:
- the home's heat load;
- low-temperature heating capacity;
- the auxiliary system;
- and the exact indoor-outdoor match.
M-Powevi compressor technology
MIDEA attributes part of this winter performance to its M-Powevi compressor technology.
In very cold conditions, the system uses intermediate vapor injection to increase the amount of compressed refrigerant and support heating capacity. The documentation also mentions a high-efficiency compressor motor and an optimized discharge design.
For a home located in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, this type of technology is relevant because a central heat pump should ideally maintain a significant contribution to heating when temperatures drop well below zero.
A range of several capacities, not just one EVOX G3
The term « EVOX G3 » refers to a family of systems, not a single capacity.
The technical documentation includes systems with nominal cooling capacities of:
- 18,000 BTU/h;
- 24,000 BTU/h;
- 30,000 BTU/h;
- 36,000 BTU/h;
- 48,000 BTU/h;
- 54,000 BTU/h.
The detailed rating plate is not legible enough in the photograph to confirm with certainty the exact capacity installed on this project.
We therefore prefer not to make it up.
For a central heat pump quote, we consider it much more reliable to indicate the outdoor model, indoor model, and corresponding match.
Performance that truly varies by capacity
The EVOX G3 line can reach 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, 10.8 HSPF2, and a COP at 5 °F of up to 2.14.
However, not all capacities have exactly these values.
The technical data sheet indicates, for example:
- 18,000 BTU: 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, 10.1 HSPF2;
- 24,000 BTU: 18.6 SEER2, 12 EER2, 10 HSPF2;
- 30,000 BTU: 17.2 SEER2, 12 EER2, 10.8 HSPF2;
- 36,000 BTU: 17.7 SEER2, 12 EER2, 10 HSPF2;
- 48,000 BTU: 17.5 SEER2, 12 EER2, 9.5 HSPF2.
This is an important distinction when comparing multiple quotes.
The figure “up to 19 SEER2” describes the maximum for the range; it should not be presented as the automatic performance of every EVOX G3 system.
Why we never choose a central heat pump based solely on square footage
Proper sizing is not simply a quick multiplication of the home's area by a number of BTUs.
In Ahuntsic-Cartierville, many homes were built or renovated during very different periods. Two properties of the same area can therefore have completely different heat losses.
We examine in particular:
- the quality of the insulation;
- the windows;
- the building's airtightness;
- solar exposure;
- the heated area;
- the basement;
- the ducts;
- the return air;
- and heating needs during extreme cold.
An oversized unit may operate in cycles that are too short and hinder summer humidity control.
An undersized unit may rely more heavily on auxiliary electric heating.
The right result lies in sizing suited to the building.
A central EVOX G3 must also be evaluated inside the home, where comfort is actually distributed
The indoor unit is an integral part of performance
The outdoor photograph shows only half of the system.
Indoors, the MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump is paired with an air handler that must supply the home's duct network.
Airflow then becomes just as important as the refrigeration circuit.
A central system could have an excellent outdoor compressor and still provide disappointing comfort if the ducts are poorly balanced or too restrictive.
That is why we always evaluate the system as a whole.
A modular indoor unit to facilitate renovations
The EVOX G3 was designed with several positioning options.
MIDEA documentation specifically mentions configurations in:
- upflow;
- downflow;
- right horizontal;
- left horizontal;
- and certain low-boy installations.
This flexibility is particularly useful in Montreal homes, where mechanical rooms are often constrained by beams, ducts, plumbing, and existing equipment.
MIDEA also offers indoor units of different widths, approximately 14.5 to 21.5 inches, as well as a multivoltage architecture that can accept 115 V or 208/230 V, depending on the configuration.
For replacing a furnace or an older air handler, this detail can reduce several costly modifications.
Computational Constant Airflow 2.0: a technology designed to work with ductwork
The EVOX G3 incorporates Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 technology.
According to MIDEA, it allows the fan to adjust its output and speed to better maintain airflow when the system's static pressure varies.
The documentation mentions a capacity of up to approximately 1.2 inches of water column static pressure, as well as airflow adjustment with up to 60 levels.
MIDEA also indicates that the system can respond to certain variations caused by the ductwork, a clogged filter, or a coil obstruction.
This is a useful function, but it should not be interpreted as permission to ignore a deficient duct system.
An undersized duct remains a restriction.
Insufficient return air remains a problem.
MERV 13 filtration available in several formats
Indoor air quality also depends on the filter and its compatibility with the system.
MIDEA offers a module that can accommodate 1-, 2-, or 4-inch MERV 13 filters. The manufacturer indicates that this type of filtration can capture more dust, pollen, particles, and pet hair or dander, while helping keep the indoor coil cleaner.
However, the filter choice must remain consistent with the available static pressure.
A highly restrictive filter installed on an inadequate duct system can reduce airflow.
We therefore always consider filtration and ventilation together.
Auxiliary heating up to 25 kW depending on the configuration
MIDEA also offers three-stage auxiliary electric heating that can reach 25 kW, depending on the equipment selected.
In our climate, this option is part of the overall sizing.
The goal is not to use the electric elements as soon as the temperature drops slightly below zero.
On the contrary, we want to allow the inverter heat pump to produce as much heat as possible within its efficient operating range, then use auxiliary heating when the building load genuinely requires it.
24 V thermostat, 485 communication and renovation flexibility
The EVOX G3 can operate with different control systems.
MIDEA mentions compatibility with 485 communication and traditional 24 V thermostats. The manufacturer also describes Sub-1 GHz wireless communication between certain components, which can reduce the need to add new cables in an existing home.
In a renovation in Montreal, this flexibility can become a significant advantage.
Running a new communication cable through several finished walls can be much more complicated than expected.
R-454B: the refrigerant used by the new-generation EVOX
The EVOX G3 product line uses R-454B, an A2L-classified refrigerant.
MIDEA indicates a global warming potential of 466 and states that it selected this refrigerant for its next-generation product line.
This transition also requires suitable installation and commissioning methods.
For us, this means paying methodical attention in particular to:
- making the connections;
- ensuring tightness;
- evacuating the system;
- insulating the lines;
- checking the circuit;
- and at start-up.
Technology evolves, but installation quality remains fundamental.
What we can also see in the photo: a project still in the finishing phase
An interesting detail of this installation in Ahuntsic-Cartierville is that some connections and cables remain visible underneath and to the right of the machine in the photograph.
This suggests that the photo was taken during the final stages of the work or before all the exterior elements were given their final finish.
This is a useful reminder: an HVAC installation comprises several phases.
We must first properly position and secure the equipment, then complete the refrigeration and electrical connections, followed by evacuation, testing, start-up and finally the visual finishing.
The quality is therefore not judged solely by the first moment when the heat pump appears on the wall.
The wall support must be installed according to the structure, not just the visible masonry
The façade is made of brick, but a heat pump support must be secured to a structure capable of bearing the unit's loads.
The machine also produces normal vibrations during operation.
The support must therefore be rigid, level and properly installed.
In the photo, we see two long metal brackets supporting the condenser at a good height and leaving the underside completely open.
This type of configuration also facilitates access during certain future work.
ENERGY STAR and financial incentives: verify the exact pairing
MIDEA documentation indicates that the EVOX range presented exceeds the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient specifications mentioned for this category of equipment.
However, this does not mean that every installation bearing the EVOX G3 name automatically receives a given subsidy.
To verify financial assistance, the following must be confirmed:
- the outdoor unit model;
- the indoor unit model;
- the exact matched combination;
- the corresponding AHRI reference;
- the program criteria applicable on the installation date.
That is why we avoid promising an amount based solely on the heat pump's commercial name.
A few mistakes to avoid in a similar installation in Montreal
This Ahuntsic-Cartierville installation highlights several common mistakes.
Install the unit too low.
Defrosting snow and ice quickly become problematic.
Let vegetation grow against the coil.
Airflow must remain unobstructed.
Choose the tonnage based on the size of the condenser.
Only the model and the matched combination can correctly identify the capacity.
Install a filter that is too restrictive without checking the pressure.
The filtration must remain compatible with the system.
Ignore the ductwork capacity.
The heat pump and air distribution system must be sized together.
Place the unit in an inaccessible area.
Future maintenance must be considered from the time of installation.
An installation particularly suited to an urban property
This project in Ahuntsic-Cartierville shows that it is possible to integrate a next-generation central heat pump into a relatively compact space without taking over the yard.
The wall-mounted setup offers genuine practical value here.
The unit is kept above the ground, its fan remains unobstructed, the brick wall maintains a relatively clean appearance, and the space beneath the unit remains available for defrosting and maintenance.
The MIDEA EVOX G3, for its part, offers several features that are well suited to a Quebec home: inverter technology, low-temperature operation, R-454B refrigerant, a modular indoor unit, 24 V or communicating control, MERV 13 filtration, and an adaptive blower.
But our role at AirGreen is not simply to install the brand and model listed on a quote.
We must ensure that the equipment matches the building, the ductwork, the heating and cooling load, and the outdoor environment.
This is the approach we apply in Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and on the South Shore: a central heat pump installation designed as a complete system, not simply as an outdoor box added to the wall.