In Lacolle, an installation where the outdoor unit’s support is just as important as the heat pump’s performance
At Lacolle, we installed a FUJITSU AIRSTAGE Orion XLTH+ in a residence where the outdoor layout required particular attention. The site photograph clearly shows one of the features that sets this installation apart: the FUJITSU outdoor unit was not simply placed on the ground. It was installed on a raised wall-mounted metal bracket secured to the building’s structure.
This decision is not merely aesthetic. In Lacolle’s climate, where snow, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles are part of the winter reality, the height of the outdoor unit can have a direct impact on its operation.
The photo also shows that the side area of the house already accommodates other outdoor equipment. Our new unit therefore had to be integrated neatly into a relatively narrow space while maintaining the clearances required for airflow, servicing, and maintenance.
The result is an HVAC installation in which the unit remains elevated above the ground, precisely aligned and positioned to minimize problems associated with snow and water accumulation around its base.
A FUJITSU Orion XLTH+ designed for temperatures as low as -30 °C
The FUJITSU AIRSTAGE Orion XLTH+ is particularly well suited to this type of project because it is designed to provide heating down to -30 °C.
FUJITSU technical documentation presents the Orion XLTH+ lineup as a single-zone wall-mounted cold-climate system using Inverter technology and R-32 refrigerant. It includes the 09KTAP1, 12KTAP1, and 15KTAP1 capacities.
This minimum operating temperature is particularly relevant for homeowners in Lacolle, as well as those in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore who want to use their heat pump for much of the winter.
However, a cold-climate heat pump must be considered as a complete system: the equipment’s technology is important, but its outdoor installation must also be adapted to winter conditions.
This is precisely what this job site shows.
Why we raised the outdoor unit
The FUJITSU unit visible in the photo rests on a metal structure attached to the foundation wall. It is therefore well above ground level.
This configuration provides several practical benefits.
Limiting the impact of snow accumulation
An outdoor unit installed too low can gradually become surrounded by snow.
When this happens, several problems can arise:
- partial blockage of the coil;
- reduced airflow;
- ice accumulation;
- difficult access for maintenance;
- defrost water freezing directly beneath the unit;
- risk of windblown snow accumulating around the unit.
In Lacolle, these considerations are far from theoretical.
A heat pump capable of operating at very low temperatures must be able to breathe freely in cold weather. We therefore want to avoid having an excellent machine limited simply because its outdoor installation was not designed for January and February.
Defrosting: a normal occurrence that must be planned for during installation
In heating mode, a heat pump draws heat from the outdoor air. When conditions are cold and humid, frost can form on the outdoor coil.
The machine then periodically performs a defrost cycle.
During this process, the frost melts and produces water.
This water must be able to drain away.
The FUJITSU Orion XLTH+ documentation specifically indicates that the outdoor unit is equipped with a base pan heater designed for extremely cold climates.
The base pan heater helps the system, but it does not replace a proper physical installation.
If the unit is placed directly on a surface where water cannot drain, a mass of ice can gradually form beneath the heat pump.
In this Lacolle installation, positioning the unit on a wall bracket leaves significant space beneath it and facilitates the management of this water.
A precisely leveled unit
Another visible detail in the job-site photo also deserves attention: our level is placed directly on top of the outdoor unit.
It is not a decorative accessory.
During a heat pump installation, we verify that the outdoor unit is correctly positioned and stable before finalizing the work.
A properly adjusted support allows you to:
- to ensure a stable installation;
- to prevent a unit from appearing visibly tilted;
- to maintain a professional appearance;
- to comply with the configuration provided for drainage and equipment operation;
- to limit certain unnecessary movements and stresses on the connections.
The photo also shows the construction tools, electrical materials, and equipment needed for the installation. This step clearly shows that installing the outdoor unit involves more than simply mounting it on the wall.
A narrow outdoor space to organize intelligently
The photograph reveals another interesting detail: several outdoor units are located along the building.
In this type of configuration, each new unit must be positioned with the existing equipment in mind.
We must avoid creating a situation where one unit blows directly into another's heat exchanger or where access to one machine becomes impossible after the next one is added.
We must consider several aspects simultaneously:
- air circulation;
- future accessibility;
- proximity to the wall;
- routing of the lines;
- electrical connection;
- clearance beneath and around the unit;
- snow accumulation;
- location of basement windows;
- the possibility of a technician intervention.
This planning is particularly important in homes where two or more wall-mounted heat pumps are installed.
The heating performance that explains the choice of the XLTH+ range
The heating performance figures for the FUJITSU Orion XLTH+ range are interesting when looking for a heat pump genuinely designed for winter heating.
According to the manufacturer's technical specifications, the nominal capacities are as follows:
- 09KTAP1 : 9,000 BTU/h for cooling and 12,000 BTU/h for heating;
- 12KTAP1 : 12,000 BTU/h for cooling and 15,300 BTU/h for heating;
- 15KTAP1 : 14,500 BTU/h for cooling and 17,400 BTU/h for heating.
The exterior photo does not allow us to confirm with sufficient certainty which of these three capacities is installed in Lacolle. We therefore do not want to assign a BTU rating without directly reading the nameplate.
What particularly sets this range apart, however, is its heating capacity at very low temperatures.
At -30 °C, Fujitsu indicates that the maximum heating capacity still represents:
- 113% of the nominal capacity of the 09KTAP1;
- 103% for the 12KTAP1;
- 101% for the 15KTAP1.
These figures are important for a homeowner comparing several heat pumps.
A unit may be advertised as capable of “operating” at a given temperature without necessarily maintaining a high heating capacity. We therefore prefer to look at what the equipment can actually deliver when the outdoor temperature drops.
A FUJITSU installation in Lacolle designed to last and remain accessible
R-32 refrigerant and Inverter technology
The FUJITSU Orion XLTH+ operates with R-32 refrigerant.
The manufacturer's documentation indicates a global warming potential of 675 for R-32 versus 2,088 for R-410A, representing an announced reduction of 68%.
The range also uses an Inverter compressor.
This technology allows the machine to modulate its capacity according to demand instead of operating only in on-off mode.
Under the real conditions of a home in Lacolle, this allows the heat pump to adjust its operation when:
- the outdoor temperature becomes colder;
- the sun naturally warms certain rooms;
- demand decreases during the day;
- the indoor temperature approaches the setpoint;
- additional heat becomes necessary.
This modulation contributes to comfort while avoiding constantly operating the machine at maximum capacity.
An operating range truly suited to all four seasons
The series' technical specifications indicate a cooling operating range from -10 °C to 50 °C, and a heating operating range from -30 °C to 24 °C.
The heat pump is therefore not simply a summer air conditioner with a heating function added.
It is designed as a four-season heating and cooling system.
In Lacolle, this feature is particularly significant: the difference between summer and winter temperatures is considerable.
A 1/4 in. – 3/8 in. line set for the Orion XLTH+ range
Another important technical detail concerns the refrigerant lines.
For the three capacities in this series, Fujitsu specifies:
- 1/4 in. for the liquid line;
- 3/8 in. for the gas line.
The specified minimum length is 10 feet, while the maximum length can reach 66 feet. The maximum published vertical difference is 49 feet.
This flexibility can be very useful when it is not possible to install the compressor immediately behind the indoor unit.
However, the objective in this project remains the same as for all our installations: choose a logical route, properly protect the lines, and avoid unnecessary lengths when a more direct solution is possible.
Why clearance in front of the fan is essential
In the photo, the large grille of the outdoor unit remains completely unobstructed.
This is essential.
The unit must draw in and discharge a large volume of air. The front of the heat pump must therefore not be blocked by:
- a fence that is too close;
- an outdoor cabinet;
- storage bins;
- snow accumulation;
- dense vegetation;
- another piece of equipment placed directly in front.
We sometimes encounter installations where the owner adds a fence or shed a few years later without considering the needs of the HVAC system.
The result may be insufficient airflow and degraded performance.
Our advice is simple: the space around a heat pump is part of its installation.
The wall-mounted support: a solution that must be adapted to the building
Installing a heat pump on a wall-mounted support does not simply mean using two metal brackets.
The mount must be suited to the weight of the equipment and properly secured to a structure capable of supporting it.
We must also consider the type of foundation, the exterior cladding, and the location of openings.
The Lacolle photo notably shows a basement window nearby. The mount was therefore positioned to keep the equipment elevated while taking the existing architecture into account.
For some projects, a ground base will be preferable. In others, a wall-mounted installation will be the best solution.
We always adapt the method to the building.
Beware of vibrations during a wall-mounted installation
When an outdoor unit is attached to the building, vibration management also deserves particular attention.
Even a modern heat pump with an Inverter compressor produces some mechanical vibration.
An improperly installed mount can transmit more noise to the structure.
We must therefore seek a stable, properly secured assembly while using a configuration suited to the support and the unit.
This aspect becomes even more important if the heat pump is located near:
- a bedroom;
- an office;
- a lightweight wall;
- a resting area;
- a window.
A good HVAC installation should consider indoor acoustic comfort as well as the outdoor operation of the unit.
Indoor operation as low as 23 dB(A)
The Orion XLTH+ range is also designed to operate quietly indoors.
FUJITSU specifies a sound level as low as 23 dB(A) in quiet mode for the 09KTAP1 and 12KTAP1 models, and as low as 26 dB(A) for the 15KTAP1.
The indoor unit has several fan speeds, including automatic, high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, low, and quiet modes.
For customers who use their heat pump practically all year round, this feature may be just as important as energy performance.
High energy efficiency
The technical data indicate a TRÈS2 of:
- 33,5 for the 09KTAP1;
- 31,5 for the 12KTAP1;
- 28,7 for the 15KTAP1.
The models are also identified in the FUJITSU specifications with the ENERGY STAR classifications applicable to this range.
For a homeowner comparing a FUJITSU heat pump in Lacolle with other systems available in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore, or on the South Shore, these figures provide an excellent basis for comparison.
Performance, however, is only one factor.
You must also consider:
- low-temperature capacity;
- noise level;
- installation quality;
- service access;
- sizing;
- the indoor location;
- the outdoor location.
A costly mistake: choosing the machine without thinking about winter
A heat pump is often purchased during the summer.
It is warm, the yard is clear, and no snowbank is visible.
That is precisely when we need to imagine the work site in the middle of February.
We must ask ourselves:
- Where will the snow be shoveled?
- How high can the natural accumulation become?
- Will defrost water be able to drain away?
- Will the fan remain unobstructed?
- Will the homeowner be able to access the unit easily?
- Will a roof or eave dump snow or ice nearby?
In the photograph of this installation, a black structure is also visible above the equipment. Without attributing a function to this structure that the photo alone cannot confirm, its presence is a reminder of the importance of analyzing everything above and around an outdoor unit.
The importance of not burying the unit during winter
After an installation like this, we recommend that homeowners periodically check their heat pump during heavy snowfalls.
There is no need to disassemble anything.
Generally, simply make sure that:
- the sides remain clear;
- the front of the coil is not blocked;
- snow does not accumulate under the unit;
- no unusual layer of ice is advancing toward the unit.
Obviously, avoid hitting the coil with a shovel or metal tool.
When snow is removed around a heat pump, the work must be done carefully.
This Lacolle project sums up our approach at AirGreen.
This installation illustrates a philosophy we apply to all our wall-mounted heat pump projects.
We never consider only the machine model.
We consider the entire context.
In Lacolle, we had a narrow outdoor area, several existing pieces of equipment, a foundation, a basement window, exterior cladding, and the need to position the new unit securely and appropriately for winter conditions.
The elevated wall bracket directly addresses several of these constraints.
Next comes the equipment itself: a FUJITSU AIRSTAGE Orion XLTH+, designed to heat down to -30 °C, operating with R-32, equipped with Inverter technology and a base pan heater for cold climates.
It is this combination of the right equipment and the right installation that makes the difference.
What we recommend before a similar installation
For homeowners planning to install a heat pump in Lacolle or elsewhere in Greater Montreal, we recommend not choosing the outdoor unit's location too quickly.
Before the work begins, it is useful to identify:
- the usual snow depth around the house;
- the direction in which snow is blown or shoveled;
- the presence of windows;
- the proximity of neighbors;
- the location of the bedrooms;
- the other mechanical equipment;
- the access required for maintenance;
- the possible route of the lines to the indoor unit.
This information allows us to choose between a ground base, a wall bracket, or another suitable configuration.
An HVAC installation designed to remain functional year after year
A FUJITSU Orion XLTH+ wall-mounted heat pump is a long-term investment.
The goal, therefore, is not simply for it to operate perfectly on the day of installation.
We want it to remain accessible and properly positioned after several winters.
In Lacolle, this project demonstrates why the mechanical details visible in a photo — unit height, support, level, clearance, and placement relative to other equipment — are just as important as the performance data listed on the technical specifications sheet.
At AirGreen, we apply this same level of care to installations carried out in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and the South Shore.
An efficient heat pump deserves an installation that truly allows it to make the most of its capabilities.