In Rigaud, a central installation where clearance around the outdoor unit is just as important as its performance
In Rigaud, we completed this MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump installation at a brick residence where the outdoor space required several practical decisions. The job-site photo shows a typical situation we regularly encounter in Montérégie and Greater Montreal: a façade already occupied by a downspout, mature vegetation, electrical conduits, and various architectural elements, with limited space for properly positioning the heat pump.
The MIDEA outdoor unit was installed on wall-mounted metal brackets, above ground level. Its large front fan remains directed toward an open area, while the electrical disconnect and its conduit are positioned immediately to the right of the unit. To the left, a mature hedge highlights a very important point for this type of project: a central heat pump needs space to breathe, but also sufficient access for servicing throughout its service life.
This installation therefore makes it possible to address several topics that truly matter when a homeowner compares quotes for a central heat pump in Rigaud: heating performance in extreme cold, outdoor placement, snow, vegetation, indoor airflow, ductwork dimensions, auxiliary heating, R-454B refrigerant, and the choice of the exact MIDEA EVOX G3 combination.
A raised outdoor unit to better cope with winter
The first visible feature of this installation is the height of the heat pump.
We used two wall-mounted metal brackets secured to the foundation, keeping the unit well above the ground. For a machine intended to provide heating throughout a Quebec winter, this clearance is particularly important.
During heating, the outdoor coil can accumulate frost. The heat pump must then perform a defrost cycle. This operation produces water, which must be able to leave the unit and drain beneath it.
A unit installed too close to the ground can gradually become surrounded by ice, snow, or debris. The raised support reduces this risk and also helps facilitate future servicing.
For an installation like this one in Rigaud, we particularly want to maintain:
- sufficient clearance beneath the unit for snow and defrost water;
- clear space in front of the fan;
- access to the service panel;
- safe access to the electrical disconnect;
- enough lateral space to inspect and clean the heat exchanger;
- a practical distance from vegetation and building elements.
These are not minor details. They are elements that directly affect the system’s ability to operate properly for several years after installation.
A very close hedge: a jobsite detail that deserves real attention
The photo clearly shows a conifer hedge located near the left side of the heat pump.
The presence of vegetation does not automatically mean that a location is unsuitable. It does, however, mean that its maintenance must be planned.
A continuous hedge keeps growing. Branches can move closer to the heat exchanger, reduce the airflow space, and complicate access during HVAC maintenance. Leaves, needles, and other plant debris can also accumulate on the outdoor coil.
We therefore recommend that the owner keep vegetation trimmed around the unit so that the heat exchanger remains unobstructed.
The front-facing fan visible on this MIDEA discharges air horizontally. The area in front of the grille must therefore be kept especially clear.
The Midea technical brochure also describes this family of outdoor units as having a horizontal discharge and vertical heat exchanger design, intended to ensure uniform airflow through the heat exchanger.
Proper outdoor clearance allows this design to function as intended.
Electricity remains easily accessible
To the right of the heat pump, we can also see the outdoor electrical disconnect, connected by rigid conduit.
This arrangement makes sense for a permanent installation: the disconnecting device is identifiable and accessible near the equipment.
For our technicians, this accessibility simplifies checks during commissioning and future diagnostics.
We avoid situations as much as possible where an electrical panel or disconnect becomes difficult to reach because an appliance, fence, or vegetation has been placed directly in front of it.
A central heat pump designed to operate down to -30 °C
One of the main technical advantages of the MIDEA EVOX G3 Extreme Heat is its ability to operate in very low temperatures.
According to the Midea documentation provided, this platform can continue operating down to -30 °C. Midea also indicates up to 100% heating capacity at -25 °C, with a COP of up to 1.9 under the reference conditions presented.
For a residence located in Rigaud, this feature is particularly relevant.
A central heat pump used in Quebec must be chosen for its performance during cold days, not solely for its efficiency when the outdoor temperature is moderate.
The documentation also explains the principle used by the compressor under extreme conditions. Midea describes intermediate-temperature vapor injection designed to increase the amount of compressed refrigerant and support thermal performance when the temperature drops sharply.
Minimum operating temperature and heating capacity do not mean the same thing
It is important to make a distinction.
Saying that a heat pump can operate down to -30 °C does not automatically mean that it will cover 100% of the heat loss of every house on its own at -30 °C.
Each building has a different heating load.
A better-insulated, more compact and tighter house may require much less power than a large property with several windows, high ceilings and significant air infiltration.
For this reason, we examine the unit's actual capacity under different conditions and assess the required contribution from auxiliary heating.
EVOX G3: a complete product line rather than a single model
The photo clearly confirms that this is a MIDEA outdoor unit from the EVOX family, but it does not allow the model number and exact capacity to be read precisely.
We therefore avoid arbitrarily assigning a tonnage to this installation.
Midea's documentation presents several combinations ranging from 18,000 to 54,000 BTU/h for cooling, with different levels of energy performance. For the product line, Midea advertises up to 19 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, 10.8 HSPF2 and a COP of up to 2.14 at 5 °F, or approximately -15 °C.
The technical tables show configurations of 18,000, 24,000, 30,000, 36,000, 48,000 and 54,000 BTU/h for cooling, each with its own seasonal performance.
This means it is incorrect to say that an EVOX G3 automatically has 19 SEER2 or 10.8 HSPF2 simply because it bears this name.
The exact combination of the outdoor unit and indoor unit is crucial.
Why the unit size must match the home
When replacing a central system, we do not choose a new heat pump simply by copying the capacity listed on the old unit.
We also analyze the building.
The required capacity depends on insulation, windows, airtightness, floor area, interior volume, room layout, and actual heat losses.
The ductwork is just as important.
A larger heat pump generally requires greater airflow. If the ductwork cannot carry that airflow properly, the system may be noisy, operate with excessive static pressure, or provide uneven distribution.
Inverter technology provides finer modulation
The MIDEA EVOX G3 uses inverter compressor technology.
In a conventional fixed-capacity system, the compressor essentially operates at full power and then shuts off.
An inverter system can adjust its capacity according to demand.
This is particularly interesting in our climate because the home does not need the same amount of heat throughout the season.
At +5 °C, demand may be relatively low. At -20 °C, it becomes much higher.
By adapting its operation, the system can help maintain a more consistent temperature and reduce abrupt variations between cycles.
From the outdoor unit to the ductwork: what we check on a central system installation in Rigaud
The EVOX G3 indoor unit is designed to simplify renovations
The EVOX G3 was developed with several interesting features for replacing existing central systems.
Midea documentation indicates a 115 V and 208/230 V multivoltage design, with voltage adaptation based on the configuration. Indoor units are also offered in widths ranging approximately from 14.5 to 21.5 inches, to better match several common dimensions of existing furnaces.
In a renovation, these dimensions can simplify the work.
The air handler often has to be installed exactly where an old furnace was located. If the dimensions are too different, the plenum, transitions, and sometimes the return air system require more modification.
Dimensional compatibility does not eliminate all adaptation work, but it can make the conversion much more straightforward.
Six installation positions for the indoor unit
The Midea documentation also presents a modular design with six possible orientations for the indoor unit.
It can be configured in an upflow vertical, downflow vertical, left-horizontal, right-horizontal, or certain "low-boy" configurations when available height is limited.
For our central heat pump installations in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the South Shore, the North Shore, and in Vaudreuil-Soulanges, this flexibility is useful when a mechanical room is small or difficult to access.
An existing basement often imposes constraints that we do not encounter in new construction.
Airflow remains one of the most important considerations
The quality of a central heat pump depends enormously on airflow.
Midea equips the EVOX G3 with its Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 technology, designed to adapt fan operation to duct system conditions.
The documentation describes operation of up to 1.2 in. of static pressure under the conditions shown, with up to 60 airflow adjustment levels.
This technology is useful, but it does not mean that we can ignore an improperly sized duct system.
A return that is too small remains too small.
A crushed duct remains a restriction.
An oversized filter in terms of efficiency but undersized in surface area can still create a significant pressure drop.
We therefore use the motor's adaptability as a tuning tool, not as a solution intended to mask a poorly designed duct system.
MERV 13 filtration can improve air quality, but it must be properly sized
Midea also offers a module compatible with 1-, 2-, or 4-inch MERV 13 filters. The manufacturer states that these filters can help capture more dust, pollen, particles, and pet dander while helping keep the indoor coil cleaner.
For homeowners, a MERV 13 filter can therefore represent a worthwhile improvement.
But we must always consider airflow.
A higher-quality filter that is too small can add excessive resistance. We therefore seek a balance between filtration, media surface area, and system airflow.
Up to 25 kW of auxiliary heating depending on the configuration
The Midea brochure also presents three-stage auxiliary heating kits capable of up to 25 kW, depending on the model and application.
Auxiliary heating remains an important component in a Quebec installation.
It can help during periods when the home's heat losses exceed the heat pump's instantaneous capacity.
It can also serve as a safeguard in exceptional conditions.
However, we want to avoid a strategy in which the electric element kicks in too quickly. A good configuration should allow the heat pump to provide as much of the heating as reasonably possible before unnecessarily adding electric resistance.
Several thermostat and communication options
The EVOX G3 offers several control options.
Midea indicates compatibility with 485 communication, certain 24 V thermostats, and wireless communication options in certain configurations.
The documentation also presents a Midea communicating thermostat and the SmartHome app, with features such as scheduling, comfort monitoring, certain consumption information, and diagnostic tools.
This flexibility is useful when replacing a central system, because the thermostat wiring already present in a home is not always easy to replace.
The R-454B refrigerant and the new generation of central systems
The MIDEA EVOX G3 uses R-454B refrigerant.
Midea indicates a global warming potential, or GWP, of 466 for this A2L refrigerant.
For an HVAC installation, this change is significant.
R-454B requires appropriate practices, tools, and procedures. Refrigerant connections, leak tests, evacuation, and commissioning must be carried out according to the requirements applicable to this generation of equipment.
The location near vegetation must also be planned with maintenance in mind
Let us return to what the photo from Rigaud directly shows.
The hedge to the left of the unit is a good example of an element that must be monitored over time.
On the day of installation, the clearance may be sufficient. Two growing seasons later, the branches may have grown several centimeters.
We therefore recommend maintaining a clear area around the heat pump.
A technician must be able to inspect the coil, access the technical side, clean the unit, and work without having to start by cutting away a large amount of vegetation.
HVAC maintenance is much simpler when this has been anticipated.
Do not block the fan with a decorative screen
Some homeowners want to hide their heat pump behind a fence or screen.
In a configuration like the one in Rigaud, we advise against placing a screen too close to the front grille.
The EVOX G3's large fan must be able to discharge its air freely.
A poorly positioned decorative structure can cause air recirculation, impair operation and complicate servicing.
If a screen is desired, it must be designed while respecting the required clearances.
Eligibility for financial assistance must be verified using the exact combination
Midea documentation indicates that the EVOX G3 lineup reaches high energy-efficiency levels and includes a product family intended for cold-climate heating applications.
However, the brochure alone does not make it possible to confirm with certainty this specific installation in Rigaud’s eligibility for Quebec financial assistance.
The exact outdoor unit model, indoor unit model and corresponding certified combination must be known.
At AirGreen, we therefore avoid announcing a subsidy amount based simply on the EVOX G3 trade name.
The proper method is to verify the exact combination before presenting the homeowner with an eligible amount.
The result: a compact installation that takes the actual building into account
This MIDEA EVOX G3 central heat pump installation in Rigaud is a good example of a situation where the equipment must integrate into an existing environment.
The brick, foundation, electrical disconnect, downspout and, above all, the nearby vegetation had to be taken into account.
We installed the unit on wall brackets high enough to improve winter clearance. The front fan remains unobstructed. The electrical disconnect remains accessible. The unit is positioned close to the building without unnecessarily taking up space on the property.
Indoors, the same principles apply to the ductwork, filtration, auxiliary heating and thermostat.
The EVOX G3 offers interesting technical features: operation advertised down to -30 °C, inverter technology, R-454B refrigerant, modular indoor unit, advanced airflow management and several control options.
But a high-performance heat pump only reaches its full potential when it is installed correctly.
This is the approach we apply at AirGreen for our central heat pump projects in Rigaud, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Hudson, Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, on the South Shore and the North Shore: proper sizing, clean installation, planned service access and attention to the building's actual conditions.