In Pointe-Fortune, an EVOX G3 installed on a wall-mounted support between the garage and garden to preserve ground space and prepare for winter
This MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump installation in Pointe-Fortune clearly shows why the location of the outdoor unit deserves as much attention as the choice of the machine itself. On this project, the space available beside the residence was used in several ways: a garage opening is immediately to the left, a dense raised flower bed occupies the area to the right, and the passage in front of the house had to remain as clear as possible.
Rather than placing the condenser directly on a slab in the middle of this area, we chose an installation on a metal support secured to the lower part of the building, keeping the MIDEA EVOX G3 above the ground.
The visible result in the photo is particularly interesting for a homeowner comparing different methods of central heat pump installation: the machine remains accessible, the front fan is unobstructed, the garden retains its purpose, and the space in front of the garage entrance is not occupied by a large ground base.
This way of installing a heat pump is also consistent with the climate of Pointe-Fortune. When the unit is used for heating during the winter, the clearance beneath the condenser becomes useful for dealing with snow and defrost water.
An outdoor installation guided by the property's actual layout
The first thing we look at in an HVAC installation is not only the number of BTUs.
We look at the building.
Here, three visible elements in the photo directly influenced the planning:
- the garage opening, located very close to the mechanical area;
- the raised flower bed, which occupies the right side of the property;
- the available height above the ground, which made it possible to use an elevated support.
A ground installation would have taken up more space in this small circulation area. It would also have brought the condenser closer to the ground, plants, and seasonal accumulations.
By installing the outdoor unit on a metal structure, we can preserve open space beneath the heat pump while using a portion of the wall that otherwise had no particular function.
The garden beside the heat pump: an aesthetic detail that also becomes a clearance issue
The garden bed visible on the right is well established. It adds an interesting element to the project because it highlights a very practical rule: vegetation around a heat pump must be maintained.
Plants do not necessarily cause problems when they remain far enough away from the unit. What we want to avoid is having them eventually:
- press against the coil;
- block part of the air intake;
- make cleaning difficult;
- trap leaves and debris around the cabinet;
- make a technician’s access more difficult.
In this Pointe-Fortune installation, the large front grille is completely unobstructed. The condenser can discharge its air into the open space in front of it rather than directly against a structure.
This is particularly important with the MIDEA EVOX G3, since Midea uses a horizontal discharge outdoor design on this platform, with a front-mounted fan and a vertical coil. The manufacturer describes this configuration as a way to achieve more uniform airflow across the coil surface and maintain better performance as the outdoor temperature drops.
Why the raised support is particularly relevant for heating
A heat pump used only as an air conditioner could be evaluated almost exclusively based on its summer performance.
This is not the case with the EVOX G3.
During the winter, a central heat pump draws heat from the outdoor air. Frost may then form on the coil under certain conditions, and the system periodically initiates a defrost cycle.
The water resulting from this process must be able to drain away.
If a unit is placed almost directly at ground level, this water can refreeze very close to the base, particularly when it combines with snow that has already accumulated.
The visible clearance beneath the Pointe-Fortune unit therefore provides several practical benefits:
- more space for defrost water drainage;
- less immediate proximity to snow on the ground;
- easier access beneath the unit;
- reduced direct contact with vegetation and soil;
- more practical maintenance of the area around the condenser.
This height obviously does not relieve the owner of the responsibility to keep the outdoor area clear during the winter.
A heat pump installed near a garage door must remain compatible with daily use
The condenser is located very close to the garage opening.
In this type of environment, we must consider the property's actual use after we leave. The HVAC system must not become an obstacle to daily movement, yard maintenance, or garage access.
The wall-mounted installation helps here to free up floor space.
This is an advantage we often encounter in our installations in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and the South Shore, particularly when homes have narrow side passages, decks, stairs, or existing landscaping.
Refrigerant lines entering the building quickly
In the lower-left part of the photo, we can see the lines heading toward the house.
A relatively direct route between the outdoor unit and the inside of the building is generally beneficial when the architecture allows it, since it simplifies line routing and limits unnecessary detours.
Nevertheless, we must always comply with:
- lengths permitted by the manufacturer;
- specified diameters;
- insulation protection;
- bend radius;
- service requirements;
- the requirements relating to R-454B refrigerant.
Midea indicates that the EVOX range in question uses R-454B, an A2L refrigerant with an announced global warming potential of 466.
For us, this means procedures and tools compatible with this generation of equipment.
EVOX G3: a central heat pump designed to operate down to -30 °C
The climate in Pointe-Fortune makes low-temperature heating capacity particularly important.
In its documentation, Midea announces continuous operation down to -30 °C for the Extreme Heat platform presented. The manufacturer also indicates, based on tests conducted on a three-ton system, up to 100% heating capacity at -25 °C, with a COP reaching approximately 1.9.
Midea also explains the principle used by the compressor in extreme cold: intermediate-temperature vapor injection increases the total amount of compressed refrigerant to support heating performance.
For the homeowner, this means that the EVOX G3 is not designed only to cool a house during the summer. It is a central system intended to contribute actively to heating during a large part of the winter.
Multiple capacities: we never infer tonnage solely from a photo
The EVOX G3 range is available in several sizes.
Midea documentation lists nominal capacities ranging approximately from 18,000 to 54,000 BTU/h.
The detailed configurations include, among others:
- 18,000 BTU/h;
- 24,000 BTU/h;
- 30,000 BTU/h;
- 36,000 BTU/h;
- 48,000 BTU/h;
- 54,000 BTU/h.
Depending on the exact indoor and outdoor unit combination, the published ratings reach up to 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 10.8 HSPF2.
In the Pointe-Fortune photo, the outdoor unit’s model number is not legible enough to allow us to state its precise tonnage honestly. We therefore prefer not to artificially assign a capacity to the unit simply by visually comparing its cabinet with another machine.
To determine the exact specifications, we always rely on the model number and corresponding AHRI combination.
A few examples that show why the exact combination matters
The EVOX G3 range does not have a single efficiency rating applicable to all sizes.
For example, the documentation indicates the following for the 18,000 BTU/h combination:
- 18,000 BTU/h in cooling;
- 18,000 BTU/h of nominal heating;
- 19 SEER2;
- 12.5 EER2;
- 10.1 HSPF2;
- 18,600 BTU/h of heating at -15 °C with a COP of 2.12.
The 36,000 BTU/h configuration is published with:
- 36,000 BTU/h in cooling;
- 36,000 BTU/h in heating;
- 17.7 SEER2;
- 12.0 EER2;
- 10.0 HSPF2;
- approximately 32,600 BTU/h at -15 °C with a COP of 2.06.
These differences demonstrate why we never present “the EVOX G3’s SEER2” as if there were a single universal value.
What happens inside the house determines comfort just as much as the outdoor unit visible in the photo
The Pointe-Fortune heat pump is only the outdoor part of a ducted central system.
To achieve good performance, the indoor unit, ductwork, thermostat, filtration, and auxiliary heating must all work properly together.
Computational Constant Airflow 2.0: managing an existing ductwork system with greater precision
Midea incorporates its Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 technology into the EVOX G3.
The brochure shows a system capable of adapting fan operation to the conditions of the ductwork and filtration system. In the examples provided, Midea claims operating capability up to 1.2 in. of static pressure.
The manufacturer also provides up to 60 airflow adjustment levels.
This flexibility is particularly useful in an existing home.
A ductwork system is not always perfectly uniform. Some homes have been expanded or renovated, some branches have been modified, and the filters used today may differ from those planned during construction.
We still need to measure and check the system. Advanced fan technology does not replace properly sized ductwork.
A modular indoor unit with six configurations
The EVOX G3 also uses a modular design called Block N Lock.
The documentation presents six possible orientations, including upflow, downflow, horizontal right, horizontal left, and low-boy variants for spaces with limited height.
This feature becomes important in Quebec basements, where existing mechanical equipment is sometimes surrounded by ductwork, plumbing, electrical panels, or finished ceilings.
Dimensions designed to simplify certain existing furnace conversions
Midea lists indoor unit widths of approximately 14.5 to 21.5 inches, comparable to several central furnace sizes.
The benefit is obvious when an old furnace needs to be replaced: the more compatible the dimensions, the less likely we are to need to completely rebuild the connection to the ductwork.
But “compatible dimensions” never means “automatic replacement.”
We always check the plenum, return air, filtration, service clearance, and available electrical capacity.
Possible auxiliary heating of up to 25 kW
For periods when supplemental heat is required, Midea provides three-stage auxiliary heating elements that can reach 25 kW. The manufacturer indicates that these elements can be activated and modulated according to temperature variations.
However, the sizing of this supplemental heat must be based on the home.
A 25 kW element represents a significant electrical load. It is therefore necessary to analyze:
- the panel;
- the electrical service;
- the wiring;
- the property's other loads;
- the building's heat loss;
- the capacity already provided by the heat pump.
MERV 13 filtration in 1, 2 or 4 inches
The EVOX G3 platform also provides compatibility with 1-, 2- or 4-inch MERV 13 filters. According to the brochure, these filters can capture more dust, pollen, particles and dander while helping keep the indoor coil cleaner.
However, the filter choice must remain compatible with the available static pressure.
We always prefer properly sized filtration to a highly restrictive filter chosen solely because its rating appears better on the packaging.
485, 24 V and wireless communication control depending on the configuration
The EVOX G3 offers various control options.
Midea indicates compatibility with 485 communication and with 24 V systems, including third-party thermostats. The system is also designed to automatically identify the control mode being used.
The documentation also presents a Sub-1 GHz communication solution that can, in certain configurations, eliminate the communication cable between certain components.
In an existing home, this type of flexibility can avoid unnecessarily opening walls to run a new cable.
What about LogisVert for an EVOX G3?
The Midea brochure provided indicates that the applicable range exceeds the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient requirements presented by the manufacturer.
However, it contains no information that would directly confirm a LogisVert amount in Quebec.
Therefore, we cannot announce a specific financial incentive based solely on this document.
For an actual installation in Pointe-Fortune, eligibility must be verified based on the exact combination:
- outdoor unit;
- indoor unit;
- AHRI number;
- recognized capacity;
- program conditions applicable on the date of the work.
This is the right way to avoid discrepancies between a subsidy estimate and what is actually accepted in the file.
The mistakes this installation near a garage helps us avoid
This project highlights several important practices when carrying out a central heat pump installation on the South Shore and in western Montérégie:
- do not place the unit unnecessarily in a passageway;
- prevent vegetation from gradually touching the coil;
- keep the fan's front clear;
- properly elevate the unit for winter;
- keep access to the technical panels;
- protect the refrigerant lines;
- do not choose the capacity solely according to the size of the old heat pump;
- check the duct network before concluding that a central replacement will be simple;
- size the auxiliary heating according to the actual electrical capacity;
- never confuse the maximum performance of a product line with that of the exact combination installed.
A simple installation, but perfectly suited to the location
This Pointe-Fortune project is a good example of work where the objective was not to create a spectacular installation.
Instead, it was necessary to properly integrate a central heat pump into a space already occupied by the garage, garden, and existing pathways.
The elevated installation helps protect the ground and better prepare for winter conditions. The horizontal-discharge condenser remains unobstructed in front of its fan. The lines quickly return to the building, and the unit remains accessible for servicing.
Inside, the EVOX G3 platform brings its modular design, advanced airflow management, and numerous control options.
This comprehensive view of the HVAC system is what we apply at AirGreen in Pointe-Fortune, as well as in our installations in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and the South Shore.
A high-performance central heat pump starts with choosing the right equipment, but its long-term operation depends just as much on sizing, support, ductwork, electrical work, airflow, and installation quality.