A central installation on a brick façade where clearances, height, and the routing of the connections were considered together
At Pointe-des-Cascades, we installed a MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump in a brick residence with several very practical constraints: an electrical meter immediately nearby, an adjacent exterior door, a façade already occupied by various lines, and ground space that we wanted to preserve.
The job-site photograph clearly shows the result. The MIDEA outdoor unit is mounted on a raised metal structure, securely installed against the brick wall. The large horizontal-discharge fan faces the open space in front of the house, while a vertical line-set cover rises neatly above the unit. On the left, the electrical meter remains visible and accessible; on the right, the door is not blocked by the heat pump.
This project clearly illustrates how we approach an HVAC installation: choosing the model matters, but how it is positioned on the building matters just as much.
The MIDEA EVOX G3 belongs to MIDEA's family of Inverter ducted central systems, designed in particular to facilitate the modernization of existing heating and air conditioning systems.
An outdoor installation dictated by the home, not just by the heat pump
On a façade like this, it would have been easy to choose the location that simply required the least work.
That is not our approach, however.
We need to consider simultaneously:
- the windows;
- the doors;
- the electrical meter;
- service access;
- the wall structure;
- the height of the ground;
- the heat pump clearances;
- the routing of the lines;
- the airflow direction.
At Pointe-des-Cascades, the outdoor unit was installed to occupy a relatively narrow area without blocking the door immediately to the right.
The unit also remains high enough to clear the floor and leave space beneath the machine.
A particularly important wall bracket for winter heating
The heat pump is mounted here on a metal bracket attached to the facade rather than directly on a small ground-level slab.
This choice makes perfect sense for a heat pump expected to operate during the winter.
During heating, the outdoor unit can accumulate frost on its heat exchanger. It then periodically performs a defrost cycle. The resulting water must be able to drain beneath the unit without immediately turning its base into a block of ice.
The clearance created by the bracket helps to:
- keep the unit above the snow;
- leave more room for defrost water;
- keep the base away from soil and debris;
- make it easier to clean the area;
- improve access during future HVAC maintenance.
This height must be considered from the beginning of the project. Raising a machine after all the connections have been completed is obviously much more complicated.
The proximity of the electrical meter requires precise placement
One of the most interesting details in this photo is the presence of the electrical meter to the left of the MIDEA.
When several technical components already occupy a facade, each new piece of equipment must be positioned methodically.
We must avoid creating an installation that will later complicate access to:
- to the meter;
- to the electrical connections;
- to the heat pump’s service panel;
- to the refrigerant valves;
- to the outdoor lines.
The photo shows that the meter remains fully visible and that the heat pump is installed in its own space.
This arrangement is important because an HVAC installation must remain accessible long after the installation team has left.
The neighboring exterior door also imposed a limitation
To the right of the outdoor unit, a door opens onto the yard.
Installing the heat pump farther to the right would have reduced the passageway and made the area much less practical day to day.
We therefore sought to keep the unit compact against the wall without placing it directly in line with the door.
This is the kind of decision that never appears on a SEER2 specification sheet, but directly affects the quality of a residential installation.
A horizontal-discharge fan needs space to operate
The EVOX G3 uses an outdoor design with horizontal discharge.
MIDEA describes an assembly consisting of a horizontal fan and a vertical heat exchanger, designed to promote more uniform airflow across the exchanger’s surface. The manufacturer associates this configuration with good heat exchange performance as the outdoor temperature drops.
At the Pointe-des-Cascades job site, the fan therefore faces the open space of the yard.
We avoid placing this type of unit directly facing:
- a very close fence;
- a solid structure;
- a dense hedge;
- another unit;
- an area where snow could form a wall in front of the fan.
The heat pump's operation depends on a significant volume of outdoor air. It must be allowed to move it properly.
The vertical line-set cover contributes as much to aesthetics as to protection
Above the heat pump, a line-set cover runs vertically up against the brick wall.
Its purpose is not solely to make the installation look neater.
It also helps better protect the various components connecting the outdoor unit to the indoor system, depending in particular on the configuration:
- the refrigerant lines;
- the insulation;
- the control wiring;
- certain electrical components.
On a highly visible facade, arranging the lines along a straight route makes a significant difference.
Ideally, a central installation should appear to have been integrated into the building, rather than added without planning.
EVOX G3: designed for heating in extreme cold
For a Quebec residence, the winter performance of a central heat pump is obviously essential.
MIDEA advertises continuous operation down to -30 °C for the EVOX G3 family. Its documentation also indicates, for the conditions and systems tested, up to 100% heating capacity at -25 °C, with a COP of up to 1.9. Some data in this section are based on a 3-ton MIDEA system.
The manufacturer explains that in extreme cold conditions, the compressor uses intermediate-temperature vapor injection to increase the amount of compressed refrigerant and support heating performance.
This is precisely the type of characteristic we consider when a central heat pump is expected to make a serious contribution to heating a home in Montérégie.
Efficiency varies according to the exact capacity installed
The EVOX G3 range includes several capacities and several combinations of indoor and outdoor units.
The documentation notably lists capacities of around 18,000, 24,000, 30,000, 36,000, 48,000, and 54,000 BTU/h.
From the photograph alone, we cannot confirm the complete reference of the unit installed in Pointe-des-Cascades with sufficient certainty.
We therefore deliberately avoid assigning it a specific tonnage.
For an actual installation, we rely on the nameplate and the complete combination to confirm:
- rated capacity;
- AHRI reference;
- efficiency ratings;
- heating capacity in cold weather;
- electrical requirements;
- potential eligibility for a financial assistance program.
Up to 19 SEER2, but not 19 SEER2 for every EVOX G3
MIDEA states that this entire range can achieve:
- 19 SEER2;
- 12.5 EER2;
- 10.8 HSPF2;
- COP up to 2.14 at 5 °F, or approximately -15 °C.
The brochure's technical table clearly shows that these values vary with capacity.
Among the published configurations, examples include:
- 18,000 BTU: 19 SEER2;
- 24,000 BTU: 18.6 SEER2;
- 30,000 BTU: 17.2 SEER2;
- 36,000 BTU: 17.7 SEER2;
- 48,000 BTU: 17.5 SEER2;
- 54,000 BTU: 17.5 SEER2.
That is why a serious heat pump comparison must always focus on the exact combination, not just the best figure printed in large characters in a brochure.
R-454B: the refrigerant used by this new generation
The MIDEA EVOX G3 is part of the new generation using R-454B.
MIDEA states that it selected this A2L refrigerant for its EVOX product line and mentions a global warming potential, or GWP, of 466.
For an HVAC installation, this means working with procedures and equipment appropriate for R-454B systems.
Preparation, testing, evacuation, recovery, and servicing methods must be adapted to the refrigerant used.
The visible part of the EVOX G3 is only half of the system: inside, airflow determines comfort
A central heat pump depends on the duct network
The outdoor unit photographed in Pointe-des-Cascades does not distribute air directly into the rooms.
It works with an indoor air-handling unit that circulates heated or conditioned air through the home's duct network.
This means that a proper installation must also check:
- the return air;
- supply ducts;
- transitions;
- grilles;
- static pressure;
- filtration;
- blower settings.
A high-performance condenser connected to a highly restrictive system will not deliver the same results as a properly balanced system.
Computational Constant Airflow 2.0: a technology suited to retrofit installations
The EVOX G3 incorporates a blower technology called Computational Constant Airflow 2.0.
MIDEA states that the blower can automatically adjust its speed and output according to the system conditions. In its documentation, the manufacturer shows an example of 1,200 CFM maintained at different static pressures, up to 1.2 in. of water column in the scenarios presented.
The platform also offers up to 60 air volume adjustment levels.
This can be very beneficial in a renovation because existing duct systems are never all identical.
This technology does not replace a properly sized duct system
However, a misinterpretation must be avoided.
A blower capable of compensating for certain variations cannot turn a duct that is far too small into a properly sized duct.
We must always check the causes of excessive static pressure.
Common problems include:
- an undersized return;
- a filter that is too restrictive;
- crushed ducts;
- closed dampers;
- transitions that are too abrupt;
- grilles that are too small;
- significant dust accumulation.
That is why our work is not limited to replacing the outdoor unit.
An indoor unit designed to make replacing certain existing furnaces easier
MIDEA designed the EVOX G3 indoor unit with particular attention to renovation projects.
The documentation presents a design whose width is close to that of several residential furnaces and an indoor power supply that can accommodate 115 V or 208/230 V, depending on the configuration.
This type of design can reduce certain modifications when replacing an old system.
Nevertheless, we must check the following before installation:
- the dimensions of the old furnace;
- the mechanical room height;
- the plenum;
- the return air;
- the electrical supply;
- the drain;
- the filter.
A modular design for challenging basements
The EVOX G3 air handler can also be configured in several positions.
The brochure notably presents the following installations:
- upflow;
- downflow;
- left horizontal;
- right horizontal;
- low-boy when height is restricted.
This flexibility is particularly relevant in existing homes in Pointe-des-Cascades, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Châteauguay, Longueuil, Montréal, Laval, on the South Shore and the North Shore, where mechanical rooms were not necessarily designed for a modern central heat pump.
Filtration: MERV 13 option
The product line also includes a module compatible with 1-, 2-, or 4-inch MERV 13 filters depending on the configuration. MIDEA indicates that this filtration can capture more dust, pollen, particles, and pet hair or dander.
However, better filtration must be properly incorporated into the airflow calculation.
A highly efficient but overly restrictive filter can harm the system if it was not accounted for in the design.
Communicating thermostat, 485 or 24 V
The EVOX G3 also offers several control options.
The documentation mentions Sub-1 GHz wireless communication between certain EVOX components, as well as configurations compatible with 485 or 24 V control and certain third-party thermostats.
In a renovation, this flexibility may make it possible to reuse some existing wiring or avoid invasive work in finished walls.
However, we choose the method based on the complete configuration and the desired features.
Auxiliary heating should be calculated rather than selected at the maximum
MIDEA also offers multi-stage auxiliary heating kits that can reach 25 kW depending on the application.
However, a 25 kW element is not automatically appropriate.
The right choice depends on:
- of the home's heat loss;
- of the heat pump's low-temperature capacity;
- of the electrical panel;
- of the existing heating system;
- of the required backup level.
This is particularly important in a property where the electrical installation already has to supply several significant loads.
The proximity of the electrical service entrance makes planning even more important
The meter visible in the photo is a reminder of this point.
Before a central heat pump installation, we must check not only where the heat pump circuit runs, but also the available electrical capacity.
A central heat pump and its auxiliary heating can represent significant loads.
It is therefore essential that the HVAC and electrical parts of the project be consistent.
Mistakes to avoid on a central installation like the one in Pointe-des-Cascades
Install the unit on the ground solely because it is faster
In Quebec, winter must be taken into account from the first day of the installation.
Block access to the meter or a door
An installation must respect the property’s normal use.
Completely hiding service access points
A technician will eventually need to work on the unit.
Running the lines without a logical layout
The line-hide cover must protect the connections while remaining visually neat.
Assuming that all EVOX G3 units have the same performance
The data changes depending on the model and combination.
Not checking the duct network
The best condenser cannot compensate for all the deficiencies of an indoor duct network.
And what about rebates for this MIDEA EVOX G3?
The MIDEA brochure helps document the lineup’s performance, but it is not sufficient on its own to confirm this precise installation’s eligibility for a Quebec program.
To properly verify financial assistance, we must identify:
- the outdoor model number;
- the indoor model number;
- the certified combination;
- the corresponding AHRI reference;
- the heating capacity recognized by the program;
- the rules applicable on the installation date.
We always prefer to perform this verification using the exact combination rather than publish an amount based on another version of the same EVOX G3 family.
A successful central installation can be seen in the details
This MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump installation in Pointe-des-Cascades clearly shows that a successful outdoor installation relies on a series of decisions that seem simple once the work is complete.
The unit has been raised.
The fan has clear space in front of it.
The electrical meter remains accessible.
The adjacent door remains usable.
The lines run along a clean vertical route.
The heat pump remains accessible for servicing.
These are precisely the details that matter to us at AirGreen.
We install central heat pumps in Pointe-des-Cascades and throughout the greater Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, North Shore and South Shore area, adapting each installation to the building’s actual constraints.
The MIDEA EVOX G3 provides an interesting platform with its Inverter technology, its advertised operation down to -30 °C, its R-454B refrigerant, its horizontal-discharge design, and its advanced airflow management system.
Our job then consists of ensuring that all this technology is installed under conditions that truly allow it to deliver the expected performance.