Installation of a MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump in Beaconsfield, in Montreal’s West Island

In Beaconsfield, an EVOX G3 installation adapted to a narrow side passage, a basement window and an existing deck

This installation of a MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump in Beaconsfield clearly represents the type of project where field experience makes a real difference. We did not have a blank facade with several metres of open space for positioning the condenser. Instead, the outdoor unit had to be integrated into a relatively narrow side passage between the wall of the residence and an existing deck structure.

The photo taken after our work shows several constraints at once. A basement window is located beneath the right side of the unit, the wooden deck occupies the left side, the ground remains in use as a passageway and the refrigerant lines must reach the inside of the house by running up the facade.

Our solution at AirGreen was to install the MIDEA EVOX G3 on elevated metal wall brackets, orienting its large front fan toward the most open area. The refrigerant lines and wiring were then grouped together and protected in a vertical line set cover installed against the building.

The objective was therefore not simply to fit the heat pump into the available space. We had to preserve circulation, maintain access to the window, ensure proper air discharge, account for winter defrost cycles and keep service points accessible.

This is exactly the type of analysis we conduct during an HVAC installation in Beaconsfield, as well as in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore.

An installation on wall brackets that frees up the ground passageway

The first important choice for this installation concerns the height.

The heat pump is significantly elevated above the ground. It rests on a triangulated metal structure attached to the foundation rather than on a large concrete slab occupying the passageway.

In a narrow side yard, this configuration can be particularly advantageous.

It notably allows you to:

• retain more usable ground space;
• limit the risk of the unit's base quickly becoming surrounded by snow;
• provide an area beneath the unit for water from defrosting;
• facilitate certain cleaning operations;
• prevent a large concrete base from encroaching further on the passage;
• keep the condenser at a practical height for servicing.

For a central heat pump used as a heating source in Quebec, this elevation is not a minor detail.

The documentation for the MIDEA EVOX G3 Extreme Heat range indicates continuous operation down to -30 °C. Midea also reports significant heating performance at around -25 °C under its test conditions.

In other words, this machine is specifically designed to continue operating when snow, ice, and defrosting become most significant.

The basement window had to remain integrated into the project, not become an obstacle afterward.

The second notable element of the installation is the window located beneath the unit.

When we prepare this type of project, we do not look only at where we can mount the heat pump. We must also ask ourselves how this installation will affect the building over the following years.

In this case, several questions were relevant:

Will the window remain accessible?
Will the machine prevent its servicing?
Will the piping route pass in front of the glazing?
Could defrost water accumulate in this area?
Will the heat pump be high enough not to completely block the opening?

Our positioning allows us to use the vertical space above the window rather than blocking this entire section of the foundation.

This is a very concrete example of what we mean when we talk about an installation adapted to the actual home.

A nearby patio that also requires consideration of airflow

To the left of the condenser, the patio structure occupies part of the passage.

It was not supposed to create an air recirculation zone or interfere with the heat pump's operation.

The MIDEA EVOX G3 uses a front-discharge fan with horizontal airflow. Midea documentation associates this configuration with a high-efficiency vertical heat exchanger and indicates that it is intended to provide more uniform air distribution across the heat exchanger, particularly when temperatures drop.

At this Beaconsfield site, the large fan is directed toward the open space in front of the unit rather than toward the wall or the patio.

This orientation is particularly important.

A front-discharge heat pump must have a clear area in front of it. Avoid adding the following later:

• a storage box;
• patio furniture;
• a fence that is too close;
• an accumulation of materials;
• dense landscaping;
• a bench or permanent structure.

The discharged air must be able to leave the area efficiently.

Defrost cycles explain why the space beneath the heat pump matters so much

In heating mode, a heat pump extracts heat from the outdoor air. When temperature and humidity conditions favor it, frost can form on the coil.

The machine must then enter defrost cycle.

During this process, the ice melts and the water falls beneath the unit.

In very cold weather, this water can then freeze quickly.

A unit installed too low can, over the course of the season, end up above an increasingly large mass of ice.

In the photo of Beaconsfield, the clearance beneath the EVOX G3 is therefore particularly relevant. It provides more room before ground-level accumulation can approach the machine.

It is an installation decision directly related to the equipment's winter performance.

Why M-Powevi technology is interesting for Beaconsfield's climate

Midea emphasizes cold-climate heating with its M-Powevi compressor technology.

In the supplied documentation, the manufacturer explains that the system can use intermediate-temperature vapor injection when conditions become extreme. This technology is intended to increase the amount of compressed refrigerant and support heating capacity.

Midea also mentions a test conducted on a three-ton system in which the equipment reached up to 118% of its rated heating capacity at around -25 °C, with a COP of 1.92 under the test's specific conditions.

However, we always distinguish between laboratory data and actual operation in a home.

Actual performance also depends on:

• the exact model;
• the tonnage;
• the outdoor temperature;
• the home's heat load;
• the ductwork;
• the thermostat configuration;
• the auxiliary heating;
• the indoor unit settings.

The compressor technology is one part of the equation, but installation and sizing remain essential.

The refrigerant lines have been grouped and protected

The photograph also shows the technical side of the unit.

The refrigerant connections exit the machine on the right side and then join a vertical protective conduit attached to the façade.

This finish offers several advantages.

It protects the pipe insulation against:

• UV rays;
• impacts;
• the elements;
• accidental handling;
• friction;
• certain weather-related deterioration.

It also provides a much cleaner appearance than a set of pipes left exposed several feet above the ground.

For a home like this one in Beaconsfield, this detail is important. An HVAC installation remains visible for many years. We therefore aim to organize the technical layout as carefully as possible.

Access to the service valves must be planned from day one

The right side of the outdoor unit contains several components that may need to be inspected or accessed during future servicing.

We must therefore avoid positioning this part of the condenser against a structure or wall.

The heat pump may eventually require:

• electrical check;
• inspection of the connections;
• pressure measurement;
• diagnostics;
• work on the refrigeration circuit;
• cleaning;
• a repair.

A proper central heat pump installation must allow a technician to perform these operations without having to move the entire unit.

An EVOX G3 is a complete central system: the outdoor unit represents only part of the result

Several capacities are available under the MIDEA EVOX G3 name

The commercial name EVOX G3 does not correspond to a single unit.

Midea’s documentation presents a range of approximately 18,000 to 54,000 BTU/h, with efficiency levels varying according to the combination. The manufacturer indicates that this family can achieve up to 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 10.8 HSPF2.

Midea’s table lists, among others, the following Extreme Heat combinations:

• 18,000 BTU: MAUSE-H18B-2A + MO1HE-H18B-2A
• 24,000 BTU: MAUSE-H24B-2A + MO1HE-H24B-2A
• 30,000 BTU: MAUSE-H30B-2A + MO1HE-H30B-2A
• 36,000 BTU: MAUSE-H36B-2A + MO1HE-H36B-2A
• 48,000 BTU: MAUSE-H48B-2A + MO1HE-H48B-2A
• 54,000 BTU: MAUSE-H60B-2A + MO1HE-H60B-2A.

In the photo taken in Beaconsfield, the different labels are visible, but the exact number is not legible enough for us to state a precise tonnage with certainty.

We therefore avoid turning a visual estimate into official technical data.

SEER2 and HSPF2 efficiency ratings vary according to the combination

The technical table provided by Midea shows, 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, 10.0 HSPF2
• 48,000 BTU: 17.5 SEER2, 12 EER2, 9.5 HSPF2
• 54,000 BTU: 17.5 SEER2, 12 EER2, 9.5 HSPF2.

That is why we advise homeowners never to compare two quotes based solely on the mention “MIDEA EVOX G3”.

You need to look at the exact model numbers, capacity, and AHRI combination.

The tonnage must match the Beaconsfield home, not an approximate rule

A central heat pump should not be sized solely using a formula such as “X BTUs per square foot.”

Instead, we analyze:

• the heat losses;
• the insulation quality;
• the windows;
• the building's airtightness;
• the heated area;
• the number of floors;
• the ceiling height;
• the existing network's airflow;
• the duct size;
• the amount of return air;
• the electrical panel capacity.

Two homes of the same size can require very different capacities.

Bigger equipment is not automatically better equipment.

Computational Constant Airflow 2.0: a useful technology for existing ducts

The EVOX G3 uses a technology called Computational Constant Airflow 2.0.

Midea indicates that the indoor fan can adjust its output to maintain airflow under different static pressure conditions. The documentation presents scenarios of up to approximately 1.2 in. of water column and up to 60 levels of airflow customization.

This function can become particularly useful in renovations in Beaconsfield.

Existing duct networks may have various constraints:

• older sections;
• multiple branches;
• limited air returns;
• long ducts;
• more restrictive filters;
• grilles added over the course of renovations.

The system can adapt to a certain variation in resistance, but this function does not replace a properly designed duct network.

If the ducts are significantly undersized, we must correct the problem rather than ask the equipment to hide it.

The M-Coil and uniform air distribution

The documentation also presents an indoor unit using an M-Coil and a symmetrical fan.

In the comparison illustrated by Midea, this design shows approximately a 2% difference in airflow between the evaporator sections and less than 0.02 in. of water column pressure drop in the EVOX example presented.

The goal is to distribute air more evenly across the coil.

This technology is not visible from the garden, but it directly contributes to the operation of the central system.

A particularly suitable modular indoor unit for renovations

The EVOX G3 air handler has a modular architecture.

Midea offers up to six installation configurations, including:

• upward vertical;
• downward vertical;
• left horizontal;
• right horizontal;
• low-boy configurations in spaces with limited height.

The Block N Lock design also allows the modules to be separated for easier transport and repositioning.

In an existing basement in Beaconsfield, this flexibility can be particularly valuable.

Mechanical rooms often already contain a water heater, electrical panel, plumbing, or finished walls. A machine that is easier to handle and configure can reduce the scope of certain ancillary work.

A width designed to facilitate the replacement of certain furnaces

Midea presents indoor unit cabinets approximately 14.5 to 21.5 inches wide, depending on capacity. The system can also accommodate a 115 V or 208/230 V indoor power supply in the configurations specified by the manufacturer.

This can facilitate the replacement of certain older central furnaces.

However, no conversion should be considered automatic.

We are still checking:

the plenum,
the air return,
the duct dimensions,
the electrical connection,
the available capacity,
and the auxiliary heating configuration.

Auxiliary heating can reach 25 kW depending on the configuration

The EVOX G3 documentation provides for 10 kW, 15 kW, and up to 25 kW electric elements, with modulation across multiple stages.

The right auxiliary component depends directly on the project.

We consider:

• the building’s heat loss;
• the heat pump’s low-temperature capacity;
• the electrical panel;
• the design conditions;
• the desired heating strategy.

Systematically installing the largest available component is not a good approach.

485 communication, 24 V, and compatible thermostats

Midea provides 485 communication as well as 24 V configurations, with various thermostat options.

This flexibility may be useful when replacing an old central system in a home already wired for a conventional thermostat.

With the communicating Midea ecosystem and the SmartHome app, the documentation also presents features such as scheduling, energy-consumption monitoring, certain diagnostics, and remote updates.

Filtration up to MERV 13, provided the airflow is maintained

Midea indicates that its filtration module can accept 1-, 2-, or 4-inch filters, including MERV 13 in the configuration presented.

MERV 13 can capture more particles than some standard filters.

However, it also creates greater air resistance.

We must therefore consider filtration and static pressure as two directly related issues.

R-454B: a newer generation of refrigerant

The range presented uses R-454B refrigerant.

Midea classifies it as A2L and indicates a global warming potential of 466.

This evolution requires installers and technicians to use the appropriate procedures and tools for R-454B systems.

A recent EVOX G3 must therefore not be treated exactly like an older R-410A machine.

LogisVert: why we always verify the exact combination

Midea documentation indicates that the product line shown exceeds the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria cited by the manufacturer.

However, the document provided does not make it possible to confirm the LogisVert rebate amount for the Beaconsfield installation, or even its precise AHRI number from the photo.

At AirGreen, we therefore verify eligibility using:

• the exact outdoor model;
• the exact indoor model;
• the AHRI combination;
• the capacity;
• the program criteria applicable at the time of the work.

It is much more reliable than automatically associating a rebate with the EVOX G3 name alone.

The practical mistakes we want to avoid in this type of project

Installing the machine directly on the ground

In a narrow passage exposed to winter conditions, this can quickly reduce the usable clearances.

Unnecessarily blocking a window

The building must continue to function after the heat pump is installed.

Leaving the refrigerant lines unprotected

A long rise along the facade deserves a clean, durable line cover.

Forgetting the adjacent terrace

Existing structures are part of the airflow and accessibility calculations.

Blocking the service valves

Future maintenance must be planned before permanently securing the unit.

Choosing the capacity without checking the network

An excellent condenser connected to a poor duct network will remain limited by that network.

An installation that intelligently uses every available portion of space

This MIDEA EVOX G3 installation in Beaconsfield clearly demonstrates our approach at AirGreen.

We had a narrow passage, a terrace, a basement window, a vertical refrigerant line route, and a machine designed to operate during Quebec winters.

We therefore used the vertical space, raised the unit, protected the lines, and kept the front fan unobstructed.

The MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump offers interesting technical features: Inverter technology, low-temperature heating, advanced airflow management, a modular indoor unit, flexible controls, and R-454B refrigerant.

But the level of comfort achieved still depends on the quality of the HVAC installation.

It is this combination of technology and fieldwork that we apply in Beaconsfield and throughout Greater Montreal, particularly in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and the South Shore.