Installation of a GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 ducted heat pump in Duvernay, Laval: Slim Duct system with integrated ducts in the attic

A ducted project in Duvernay where the quality of the air network mattered as much as the machine

In Duvernay, in the east of Laval, this installation of a GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 ducted heat pump allowed us to carry out a particularly technical HVAC project: integrating a heating and cooling system through ducted conduits in an attic already structured, insulated, and crossed by several mechanical elements. The client wanted more uniform comfort, without a visible wall unit in the main rooms, while maintaining a discreet interior finish.

The photo taken during the work clearly shows the reality of this type of HVAC installation: a ducted indoor unit wrapped in reflective insulation, black flexible ducts connected and routed between the roof trusses, carefully sealed joints with technical tape, protected cables, verification tools on site, and a work lamp used in a confined space. This is not a standard installation. It is a project where every detail in the attic directly influences the comfort in the rooms below.

Unlike a wall-mounted heat pump, where the indoor unit is visible and blows directly into the room, a ducted solution, also called Slim Duct or ductable system, is based on a different concept. The unit is hidden in a technical space, then the air is distributed through a network of ducts to several grilles. The client thus enjoys comfort without any visible device on the wall.

In this house in Duvernay, the main challenge was to achieve good air distribution while respecting the attic constraints: limited access, closely spaced framing wood, floor insulation, existing passages, and the need to maintain a clean, airtight, and accessible installation for future maintenance.

Why a GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 was relevant in this context

The GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 range is designed for projects where architectural integration is important. It is particularly suitable for owners who want a less visible solution than a wall unit, but more targeted and flexible than a traditional full central system.

In this project in Laval, the client was looking for three specific results:

• a more discreet air distribution;
• a more stable temperature in the served rooms;
• an installation capable of adapting to the existing attic structure.

The GREE ducted systems offered by AirGreen cover several capacities, including 9,000, 12,000, 18,000, 24,000, 30,000, and 36,000 BTU, depending on the actual needs of the house. The exact choice always depends on load calculation, duct length, number of air outlets, insulation level, solar orientation, and required static pressure.

This is a key point: with a ducted installation, it is not enough to just choose a capacity in BTU. You also need to check if the selected unit can effectively push air through the planned network. A unit that is too weak may lack airflow. A unit that is too strong can cause discomfort, short cycling, or excessive noise. Our job is to find the right balance.

A demanding attic: working between structure, insulation, and ducts

The attic shown in the photo presents several typical constraints of houses in Duvernay, Laval, and many residential areas of the North Shore: numerous roof trusses, tight passages, blown-in floor insulation, and limited physical access for technicians.

In this type of environment, the work must be planned even before the machine arrives. It is necessary to determine:

• where to position the indoor unit to allow for servicing;
• how to connect ducts without too tight bends;
• how to avoid unnecessarily compacting the existing insulation;
• how to protect cables and refrigerant lines;
• how to ensure reliable drainage;
• how to limit heat loss;
• how to maintain a safe and stable installation.

On this site, the unit was installed to respect the necessary clearances and allow access to important components. The duct network was then organized to reach the targeted areas with as few restrictions as possible. Every bend was carefully considered, as a poorly installed flexible duct can significantly reduce airflow.

Sealing: a detail that changes real performance

In the photo, you can see the red tape strips applied around the unit and joints. This sealing work is essential in a ducted HVAC installation. An air leak in an attic means that heated or cooled air is lost in an unoccupied space instead of being delivered to the rooms of the house.

These losses may seem small at first, but they eventually affect:

• the comfort of the occupants;
• the operating time of the heat pump;
• the electrical consumption;
• the ability to maintain the requested temperature;
• the balancing between rooms;
• the system’s durability.

At AirGreen, we pay special attention to fittings, joints, transitions, and access points. The goal is simple: air must flow where it is intended to go. In a ducted system, the quality of the network is as important as the quality of the machine.

Low static pressure or high static pressure: a technical decision, not an aesthetic one

The GREE ducted solutions include models with low static pressure and high static pressure. This distinction is fundamental for duct projects.

A low static pressure configuration can be relevant when the network is short, simple, with few outlets and little resistance. A high static pressure configuration may be necessary when the ducts are longer, when several rooms are served, or when the structure requires detours.

In this project in Duvernay, network analysis was central. The ducts visible in the photo show a distribution that must work around roof trusses and available passages. A poor choice of static pressure could have reduced the final performance, even with a device of good capacity. That’s why our technicians evaluate the system as a whole: indoor unit, ducts, grilles, lengths, bends, insulation, and airflow.

A discreet HVAC installation, but rigorous even in invisible areas

The great strength of a GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 system is its discretion. Once the work is completed, the customer mainly sees the grilles or diffusers in the rooms. The unit, ducts, and connections remain hidden in the attic. But this discretion should never overshadow the importance of the invisible work.

In a ducted installation, what is hidden determines almost everything: noise, airflow, comfort, reliability, drainage, energy losses, and ease of maintenance. This is precisely why we document our work and place so much importance on the steps carried out in attics, ceilings, and technical spaces.

R32: a modern technology in an integrated solution

The GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 series uses the refrigerant R32, found in recent HVAC systems. For owners in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore, this technical detail is important when comparing available options to modernize their comfort.

R32 is associated with new generations of heat pumps designed to offer good energy efficiency. Combined with a clean, properly sized, and correctly sealed installation, it provides a solution adapted to current residential needs.

In the case of ducted systems, the refrigerant alone is not enough to guarantee performance. The quality of the installation remains decisive. An efficient device can lose part of its advantage if the ducts are poorly insulated, poorly connected, or poorly balanced. That is why AirGreen always treats the machine and the network as a single system.

Drainage: a critical point in an attic installation

A ducted indoor unit installed in an attic produces condensation in cooling mode. This water must be safely drained, with an adequate slope or a drainage pump when the configuration requires it.

In a ceiling or attic, a drainage error can lead to significant consequences: moisture stains, safety shutdown, ceiling damage, or insulation infiltration. Our technicians therefore carefully check the drainage path, connections, drain stability, and accessibility for future inspections.

This point is often underestimated by owners shopping for a heat pump based only on price or BTU capacity. Yet, in a Slim Duct installation, condensation management is one of the most important elements for durability.

Insulation around the unit and ducts

The photo shows an indoor unit wrapped in a reflective insulating material. This protection helps limit heat loss and reduce the risk of condensation on cold surfaces when the system is running in cooling mode.

In an attic, temperature variations can be strong. In summer, the attic can become very hot. In winter, some areas can be much colder than the living rooms. If the ducts and the unit are not properly protected, part of the energy produced by the heat pump can be lost before even reaching the rooms.

We therefore pay particular attention to insulation, but also to the continuity of this insulation. A forgotten section, a poorly sealed joint, or an exposed connection can create a weak point. The goal is to preserve the actual system performance, not just the performance indicated in the technical sheets.

Balancing the airflow after startup

Once the installation is complete, commissioning is an essential step. For a ducted system, the air behavior in each served zone must be checked. A more distant room may receive less airflow if the network is not balanced. Another may receive too much air if the path is shorter.

Balancing allows adjusting the distribution to achieve more stable comfort. In a house in Duvernay, where rooms can be separated by corridors, doors, or areas with different sun exposures, this step makes a real difference.

A well-adjusted ductable system should provide a natural comfort feeling: no overly aggressive airflow, no room left out, no excessive variation between zones.

Common mistakes to avoid with a ducted heat pump

We regularly see poorly designed ducted projects, especially when equipment selection is done without network analysis. The most common mistakes are the following:

• choosing capacity based only on the area;
• ignoring the required static pressure;
• using ducts that are too long or too compressed;
• multiplying the grilles without calculating the available airflow;
• neglecting the sealing of joints;
• installing the unit without service access;
• forgetting the drainage logic;
• underestimating the importance of insulation in the attic.

These mistakes can turn a good device into a disappointing system. At AirGreen, we insist on a comprehensive approach: analysis, selection, installation, sealing, balancing, and follow-up.

The advantage of a GREE Élite dealer

AirGreen is a GREE Élite dealer, which allows us to offer specialized expertise on ducted systems, including low and high static pressure units as well as the All Match Slim Duct R32 series. Our teams are trained in duct network design, static load calculations, diagnostic procedures, and installation requirements specific to these systems.

This expertise is particularly important in projects like the one in Duvernay, where access is restricted and the network must be adjusted to the existing structure. The customer also benefits from easier access to original GREE parts for after-sales service in Laval, Montréal, Longueuil, on the Rive Nord, the Rive Sud, and in Montérégie.

Some selected GREE models can offer up to 12 years of warranty, depending on applicable conditions. For an installation integrated into a ceiling or attic, this protection is an important aspect of the final choice.

Subsidies and eligibility: validate the exact combination

For owners comparing ducted heat pump options, the question of subsidies often comes up. Eligibility depends on the exact combination of units, certifications, energy efficiency, and the criteria in effect at the time of installation.

At AirGreen, we help customers validate the necessary information and obtain the required documents when the system is eligible. This step is important, especially with ducted systems, since the combinations between indoor and outdoor units can vary depending on capacity, series, and configuration.

Why this type of system is well suited for Duvernay and Laval

Houses in Duvernay often have layouts where ducted systems can be very interesting: living spaces where aesthetics matter, usable attics, ceilings allowing certain integrations, and owners who want a solution more discreet than a wall unit.

This type of system is especially suitable for clients who want to:

• avoid visible wall units;
• achieve more uniform air distribution;
• serve multiple zones with a well-designed network;
• preserve the interior appearance;
• modernize comfort without installing a complete central system;
• benefit from an HVAC solution adapted to the Quebec climate.

We carry out similar installations in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and the South Shore, but each house requires a different approach. The ducted system is never a copy-paste solution. It must be designed around the house.

The result for the Duvernay client

At the end of this installation, the client obtained an integrated, discreet HVAC solution designed to offer more even comfort. The GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 unit is hidden in the attic, the ducts distribute air to targeted zones, and the visible elements in the house remain minimal.

The real value of the project lies in the details: sealed connections, organized ducts, careful insulation, planned access for maintenance, drainage management, and airflow balancing. These are the elements that make the difference between a simply functional installation and a durable, comfortable, and well-thought-out installation.

For owners in Duvernay, Laval, Montreal, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore, a GREE All Match Slim Duct R32 ducted heat pump can be an excellent option when the goal is to combine comfort, discretion, and performance. At AirGreen, we recommend this solution when the house allows for a clean integration and the duct network can be designed with precision.