A Fujitsu Altair 700 installation designed for the climate of Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington
In Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, a wall-mounted heat pump installation must be planned with both the building and outdoor conditions in mind. For this project, we installed a Fujitsu AIRSTAGE Altair 700 wall-mounted heat pump, a single-zone system using R-32 refrigerant and designed to provide both summer cooling and heating during much of the Quebec winter.
The photo taken after our work shows an important detail that distinguishes a properly executed HVAC installation from an improvised one: the outdoor unit is securely mounted on a metal wall bracket rather than placed directly at ground level. The refrigerant lines are grouped, protected, and carefully insulated, following a compact route along the brick wall.
This configuration is particularly relevant in an area such as Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, where snow accumulation and freeze-thaw cycles must be considered when choosing the location of the outdoor unit.
The Fujitsu AIRSTAGE Altair 700 range presented in the technical documentation includes the 9,000 BTU/h 09KMAS1 and 12,000 BTU/h 12KMAS1 models. The outdoor photo of this installation does not show the unit’s nameplate, so we cannot visually determine which of these two capacities was installed without this additional information. However, both configurations share several essential characteristics: 208–230 V power supply, a 15 A circuit, R-32 refrigerant, and 1/4 in. liquid and 3/8 in. gas refrigerant lines.
Why the Fujitsu Altair 700 was well suited to this installation
For a wall-mounted heat pump in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, nominal capacity is only part of the equation. We also consider the system’s behavior under partial load, its sound level, its operating range, the flexibility of the piping lengths, and how the unit can be integrated into the building without unnecessarily complicating the installation.
The Altair 700 series uses an Inverter compressor. Unlike a unit that operates primarily by switching on and off, the Inverter allows the heat pump to adjust its capacity according to actual demand. Once the indoor temperature is close to the setpoint, the system can reduce its output instead of repeatedly starting at full capacity.
The desired result is simple: a more stable room temperature, fewer sudden fluctuations, and electricity consumption better adapted to actual needs.
Fujitsu documentation also indicates a heating operating range down to -15 °C, as well as a cooling range of -10 °C to 50 °C for both capacities in the series.
This means that when shopping for a heat pump in Quebec, it is important to distinguish between two concepts: the presence of a heating mode and the unit’s actual ability to meet a property’s heating needs when temperatures drop significantly. A professional building assessment therefore remains essential.
High energy efficiency ratings across the two available capacities
The Fujitsu AIRSTAGE Altair 700 delivers particularly impressive performance data for a wall-mounted heat pump.
For the 9,000 BTU 09KMAS1 model, the technical sheet indicates, among other things:
- a nominal cooling capacity of 9,000 BTU/h;
- a cooling modulation range of 3,100 to 12,100 BTU/h;
- a nominal heating capacity of 12,000 BTU/h;
- a heating modulation range of 2,800 to 14,500 BTU/h;
- a SEER2 of 30.0;
- an HSPF2 Region V of 9.9;
- a 16.4 EER2;
- a COP2 of 4.64.
For the 12,000 BTU 12KMAS1 model, Fujitsu indicates:
- a nominal cooling capacity of 12,000 BTU/h;
- a cooling range of 3,100 to 13,800 BTU/h;
- a nominal heating capacity of 14,000 BTU/h;
- a heating modulation range of 2,800 to 15,000 BTU/h;
- a SEER2 of 27.5;
- an HSPF2 Region V of 8.5;
- a 13.5 EER2;
- a COP2 of 4.32.
Both units are ENERGY STAR certified, including the climate designations shown on the manufacturer's technical specifications.
For our customers in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, the South Shore, and Montérégie, these figures are much more useful than simply comparing the number of BTUs printed on a box. They make it possible to understand how the system performs over an entire season.
R-32: an important technical choice in this new generation of Fujitsu equipment
In the photo of this installation, the label R32 is clearly visible on the outdoor unit's panel.
The Fujitsu Altair 700 does indeed use R-32 refrigerant. According to the manufacturer's document, its global warming potential is 675, compared with 2,088 for R-410A, representing an announced reduction of approximately 68% in GWP.
For us, this transition to R-32 also means working with the installation methods, tools, and practices suited to next-generation equipment.
Simply replacing an existing heat pump with a new unit is never enough without checking the compatibility of the entire installation.
1/4 in. – 3/8 in. piping and up to 66 feet of permitted routing
The piping is one of the details we systematically check before a Fujitsu heat pump installation.
For the 9,000 and 12,000 BTU Altair 700 models, Fujitsu specifies:
liquid: 1/4 in.
gas: 3/8 in.
The stated minimum length is 10 feet, while the maximum length can reach 66 feet. The maximum permitted vertical difference is 49 feet. The specifications also mention a precharge covering up to 49 feet of piping.
These figures become especially important when the indoor unit and outdoor unit cannot be placed back to back.
In this installation in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, the visible routing remains particularly clean. The lines leave the building and are directed toward the outdoor unit without unnecessary detours. The black insulation is secured along the support, which reduces movement and helps keep the installation tidy.
A wall-mounted outdoor unit: a very useful detail in Quebec
The choice of outdoor support deserves particular attention.
For this project, the Fujitsu AIRSTAGE is mounted on a metal structure anchored to the building. This configuration keeps the unit elevated above the surface beneath it.
In a real-world HVAC installation in Quebec, this decision can help limit several problems:
- snow accumulation around the heat exchanger;
- obstruction of the bottom of the unit;
- ice directly beneath the heat pump;
- prolonged contact between the chassis and ground moisture;
- difficulty accessing it during certain maintenance work.
However, a common mistake must be avoided: raising the unit does not mean it can be positioned anywhere.
We must maintain the necessary clearances for airflow, verify the strength of the support, and plan how the water produced during defrost cycles will drain away in winter.
The location visible in the photo also offers a practical advantage: the unit remains accessible without being hidden behind a complex structure.
What this Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington installation reveals about the quality of an HVAC project
An installation is never just about choosing the heat pump
Two homeowners can purchase exactly the same Fujitsu Altair 700 and achieve very different results if the capacity selection, piping, or positioning was poorly planned.
At AirGreen, we therefore place particular importance on the work that takes place before startup.
We assess, among other things, the area to be conditioned, insulation, windows, sun exposure, room layout, and usage habits. A larger heat pump is not automatically a better heat pump.
An oversized unit can reach its setpoint too quickly and reduce the benefits of variable-speed operation. Conversely, an undersized unit will have to run more and may struggle to meet demand under certain conditions.
The low sound level of the Altair 700
Fujitsu documentation indicates that indoor sound levels can drop as low as 19 dB(A) in quiet mode.
At high speed, the indoor unit is rated at 40 dB(A) in cooling and 42 dB(A) in heating.
On the outdoor side, the 9,000 BTU model is rated at 44 dB(A) in cooling and 47 dB(A) in heating, while the 12,000 BTU model is listed at 48 and 50 dB(A).
These figures explain why the physical location of an outdoor unit remains important even with a modern, quiet heat pump. Near a bedroom, patio, or neighboring property, a difference of a few feet in positioning can noticeably improve acoustic comfort.
A compact indoor unit with built-in Wi-Fi
Both Altair 700 capacities use an indoor unit measuring 32 13/16 in wide, 10 5/8 in high, and 8 3/4 in deep.
The outdoor unit measures approximately 31 7/16 in wide, 21 5/16 in high, and 11 7/16 in deep. Its listed weight is 71 lb.
These relatively compact dimensions make it easier to integrate the system into various residential configurations.
The series also offers built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling remote monitoring and control using the AIRSTAGE app. Fujitsu also provides a range of optional interfaces and controllers, including for certain BACnet, Modbus, and 24 V thermostat integrations.
For a traditional residential installation, built-in Wi-Fi is often the most immediately useful feature: remote temperature control, adjusting settings before returning home, and more convenient day-to-day system management.
The mistakes we want to avoid during a similar installation
The experience gained from our installations of wall-mounted heat pumps in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore, the South Shore, and in Montérégie always brings us back to the same critical points.
Inadequate piping should never be kept simply because it is already in place. For the Altair 700, the specified dimensions are clearly 1/4 in and 3/8 in.
An existing electrical supply must also be checked rather than assumed to be compatible. For this series, Fujitsu specifies a single-phase supply of 208 to 230 V / 60 Hz with a 15 A circuit breaker.
You should also avoid placing the outdoor unit too close to the ground, neglecting winter drainage, crushing the pipe insulation, or unnecessarily increasing the piping length.
Finally, the choice between 9,000 and 12,000 BTU should be based on the needs of the area rather than a simple approximation based on square footage.
A clean installation today must also remain practical for many years to come
We do not judge an HVAC installation solely by its appearance on the day the tools are put away.
The unit must remain accessible for cleaning, troubleshooting, and maintenance. The outdoor fan must be able to breathe properly. The lines must remain protected. The fasteners must withstand Quebec's seasons.
That is precisely what we look for when planning an installation like this Fujitsu AIRSTAGE Altair 700 in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington.
The final photo shows a compact unit installed neatly against a masonry wall, with the piping grouped and protected and a bracket keeping the unit above the lower surface. These details may appear simple, but they are part of the overall quality of a project.
For homeowners currently comparing Fujitsu wall-mounted heat pumps, performance ratings are obviously important. However, they must be considered alongside the appropriate capacity, building type, equipment location, piping quality, and commissioning precision.
It is this combination of equipment selection and installation quality that truly enables a heat pump to deliver the performance for which it was designed.
AirGreen for Fujitsu heat pump installation in Montérégie and Greater Montreal
At AirGreen, we install wall-mounted heat pumps in Greater Montreal and surrounding areas, including Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, the South Shore, and Montérégie.
An installation like the one completed in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington illustrates our approach: inspecting the building, selecting the right equipment, planning a logical refrigerant line route, installing the outdoor unit on a base suited to the site, and paying attention to details that will still matter several winters later.
The Fujitsu AIRSTAGE Altair 700 combines Inverter technology, R-32 refrigerant, excellent seasonal efficiency, quiet operation, and a compact design. When properly installed and correctly sized, it is a particularly attractive solution for heating and cooling a residential area.