At Pointe-Fortune, we transformed a difficult-to-use space into a strategic location for a MIDEA28
In some homes, choosing the location of a wall-mounted heat pump is almost obvious: a large, unobstructed exterior wall, sufficient space near the ceiling, and a straightforward route for the lines. This installation carried out by AirGreen in Pointe-Fortune presented a different situation.
The construction-site photograph shows a MIDEA MIDEA28 wall-mounted heat pump installed in a narrow passage, immediately above an opening. On each side, the walls and door frames greatly limit the available space. Beneath the unit is an opening with a horizontal structure, while the corridor extends toward the other rooms in the residence.
The choice of this location was therefore not a matter of simplicity. The available section of wall had to be used precisely without obstructing passage, eliminating a functional area, or preventing the treated air from spreading to adjacent zones.
Another wall-mounted unit is also visible in a room on the right side of the photo. We cannot determine from the image whether it belongs to the same system, but this detail illustrates a common reality in homes with several distinct spaces: a single airflow outlet is not always sufficient to achieve exactly the same temperature everywhere.
The MIDEA28 belongs to Midea’s ductless wall-mounted system family, which also includes the MIDEA35, MIDEA25, and MIDEA22 series.
Why the location above an opening was particularly interesting
In a narrow corridor, installing a unit on a side wall can create several difficulties.
The unit may end up too close to a door, direct its air straight at occupants as they move through the space, or occupy a section of wall needed for the layout. The unit’s depth must also be taken into account: even a compact wall-mounted heat pump extends several inches into the room.
In this Pointe-Fortune installation, we instead made use of the upper part of the opening.
This solution offers several advantages:
- it uses a section of wall that would otherwise have very little function;
- it keeps the circulation area completely clear;
- it allows the airflow to follow the corridor’s axis;
- it preserves the available side walls;
- it visually integrates the unit into the existing architecture;
- it places the heat pump in an area that can connect with several spaces.
However, this installation requires precise measurements. A few inches can determine whether the unit actually has the necessary clearance above, on the sides, and in front of the airflow flap.
An installation where every available inch matters
The photo clearly shows that the MIDEA28 is located in a relatively tight space near the ceiling.
Before installing a heat pump in this manner, we must check several elements at the same time:
The available height. The unit must not merely fit physically in the space. It must retain the clearance needed to draw in air and allow its panel to be opened for servicing.
The opening width. The mounting plate must be installed on a suitable surface, and the unit must remain properly centered or positioned according to the route of the lines.
The lower flap. When it opens in cooling or heating mode, nothing should obstruct its movement.
The airflow path. In a corridor, it is particularly important to ensure that a wall a few feet away does not immediately block the airflow.
Future access. The filters will need to be removed regularly, and the unit may eventually require deep cleaning.
Therefore, the best location is not necessarily the one with the largest wall. It is the one that combines the best overall technical and practical conditions.
The MIDEA28 series: five capacities for very different needs
The MIDEA28 is presented by Midea as a premium wall-mounted series and a heat pump designed for cold climates. The range uses R-454B refrigerant and is rated to operate in heating mode down to -30 °C.
Unlike the MIDEA35, which is limited to three capacities in the brochure, the MIDEA28 offers a particularly wide selection:
- 9,000 BTU/h in cooling;
- 12,000 BTU/h;
- 18,000 BTU/h;
- 24,000 BTU/h;
- 33,000 BTU/h.
The corresponding nominal heating capacities are 12,000, 12,000, 18,000, 29,000, and 36,000 BTU/h.
This variety is important to our work at AirGreen.
A small room or relatively compact area does not require the same unit as a large open area. Conversely, deliberately installing excessive capacity “to be sure” is not a sound sizing method.
The exact capacity of the MIDEA28 shown in this photo from Pointe-Fortune cannot be confirmed based on the image alone. We therefore avoid assigning it a BTU rating without the complete nameplate for the installed combination.
Up to 27.4 SEER2, with efficiency that actually varies according to capacity
The MIDEA28 can reach 27.4 SEER2, but this value corresponds to a particular configuration.
Midea documentation states:
- 9,000 BTU: 27.4 SEER2;
- 12,000 BTU: 25.4 SEER2;
- 18,000 BTU: 21.4 SEER2;
- 24,000 BTU: 21.0 SEER2;
- 33,000 BTU: 19.5 SEER2.
The Region IV HSPF2 values are, respectively, 12.5, 10.5, 11.0, 13.5, and 10.5.
This shows why, when a homeowner compares different heat pumps in Pointe-Fortuneyou need to look at the specifications for the capacity actually offered.
The maximum figure highlighted for a series does not necessarily represent the performance of every model in that range.
Heating down to -30 °C: a relevant feature in Pointe-Fortune
All MIDEA28 capacities presented by Midea show a heating operating range from -30 °C to 24 °C.
For Quebec’s climate, this feature is obviously important.
A wall-mounted heat pump is no longer merely an air conditioner with a heating function added for autumn. An appliance designed for cold weather can contribute to heating during a much greater portion of the winter.
However, at AirGreen, we never size a system solely by looking at its minimum operating temperature.
You also need to know its available capacity when the temperature actually drops.
Performance at -15 °C provides much more concrete information
The Midea brochure provides the rated capacities at -15 °C for the entire MIDEA28 range:
- 9,000 BTU: 11,500 BTU/h;
- 12,000 BTU: 11,500 BTU/h;
- 18,000 BTU: 18,000 BTU/h;
- 24,000 BTU: 24,200 BTU/h;
- 33,000 BTU: 35,000 BTU/h.
The COPs indicated under this condition are, respectively, 1.80, 1.80, 1.92, 2.34, and 1.98.
For a Pointe-Fortune homeowner, this data helps provide a better understanding of actual winter performance.
The question is not simply: “Does the heat pump work at -30 °C?”
Instead, you need to know how much heat the chosen model can still provide when temperatures drop.
Installation, airflow, and maintenance: why this Pointe-Fortune project required a customized approach
The corridor visible in our photo is probably the most interesting feature of this installation. It demonstrates that an HVAC system must be adapted to the building’s actual layout rather than installed according to the same formula from one house to another.
In a corridor, airflow direction becomes crucial
The lower louver of the MIDEA28 is open in the photograph. The air is therefore projected directly along the path of circulation.
In this type of environment, we must avoid two opposing situations.
If the airflow is directed too much toward the ceiling, some of the cooling may remain concentrated in the upper part of the passageway. If the louver directs the air too strongly downward, occupants may feel a draft when they pass beneath the unit.
The goal, therefore, is to use louver orientation and fan speed to promote circulation toward the areas to be treated.
Up to 100 air delivery levels
Midea indicates that its wall-mounted units can offer up to 100 air-volume adjustment levels. The brochure also mentions access to control via SmartHome and Wi-Fi, depending on the configuration.
For the MIDEA35, MIDEA28, and MIDEA25 series, several functions are available, including:
- fan speed adjustment from 1% to 100%;
- Turbo mode;
- sleep mode;
- timer;
- horizontal swing;
- vertical swing;
- function Follow Me;
- silent mode;
- automatic cleaning;
- 8 °C heating;
- ECO mode;
- Wi-Fi control;
- smart sensor;
- humidity control.
In a narrow passage like the one in this Pointe-Fortune house, being able to adjust the airflow precisely is preferable to ventilation limited to only three speeds that are very far apart.
The display visible in the photograph and the choice between °C and °F
The unit’s front display visible in the photograph shows 60 when the image was taken.
It would be imprudent to interpret this number as 60 °C. The range specifically allows the display to be switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit, and the series documentation explicitly lists this function.
A setpoint of 60 °F corresponds to approximately 15.6 °C, which is plausible during commissioning or an air-conditioning test. The photograph alone does not allow us to confirm the precise mode used when it was taken; we simply conclude that the unit was powered and operating.
The Follow Me function is particularly useful when a heat pump is installed in a passageway
A unit located in a corridor may measure a slightly different temperature from that of an adjacent room where occupants spend more time.
The function Follow Me uses the remote control’s built-in sensor to measure the temperature near it. Midea indicates that this measurement can allow the unit to regulate comfort more precisely where the remote control is located.
In a configuration like the one in Pointe-Fortune, this function may be useful if the remote control is kept in an occupied area rather than directly beneath the heat pump.
A relatively quiet unit, important in a corridor near rooms
The MIDEA28’s sound levels vary according to capacity.
The brochure presents minimum indoor levels of approximately:
- 19.5 dB(A) for the 9,000 BTU;
- 19.5 dB(A) for the 12,000 BTU;
- 19.5 dB(A) for the 18,000 BTU;
- 16 dB(A) for the 24,000 BTU;
- 29.5 dB(A) for the 33,000 BTU,
according to the ratings indicated for each unit.
In a corridor that possibly serves several rooms, noise level is important. A noisy unit in this location could be noticeable from several areas of the house simultaneously.
The ducts must be selected according to the model, not according to what is already in the wall
The MIDEA28 range clearly illustrates why you should never assume that all wall-mounted heat pumps use the same piping.
Depending on the capacity, Midea requires:
- 9,000 BTU: 1/4 in. and 3/8 in.;
- 12,000 BTU: 1/4 in. and 3/8 in.;
- 18,000 BTU: 1/4 in. and 1/2 in.;
- 24,000 BTU: 3/8 in. and 5/8 in.;
- 33,000 BTU: 3/8 in. and 3/4 in..
The maximum lengths range from 82 to 164 feet, depending on the model, with maximum elevation differences ranging from 49.2 to 82 feet.
This is an essential point when replacing a system.
An older wall-mounted air conditioner may already have copper lines running through the building, but their presence does not guarantee compatibility with a new MIDEA28.
Drainage deserves even more attention above an opening
The heat pump shown in the photograph is installed directly above a passageway.
This means that a condensate leak would be immediately problematic.
In cooling mode, moisture in the air condenses on the indoor unit’s evaporator. This water must reach the drain without flowing back toward the appliance.
We therefore pay particular attention to:
- the drain slope;
- the absence of back-pitches;
- the strength of the connections;
- the outdoor outlet;
- drainage during commissioning;
- protection of the route.
An HVAC installation can be highly attractive and cool perfectly while still being deficient if its drain is poorly designed.
R-454B and A2L technology: a new generation of equipment
The MIDEA28 operates with R-454BMidea’s documentation also identifies an A2L leak detection sensor and an A2L dispersion system among this family’s features.
This development requires working with the appropriate practices for this type of refrigerant.
Tools, service procedures, and inspections must not be improvised.
For homeowners, this makes choosing a qualified HVAC contractor even more important when replacing an older system operating with a different generation of refrigerant.
The AHRI references for the MIDEA28
For the five capacities presented in Midea’s documentation, the references are:
- AHRI 215471380 — 9,000 BTU;
- AHRI 215471381 — 12,000 BTU;
- AHRI 215471382 — 18,000 BTU;
- AHRI 215471383 — 24,000 BTU;
- AHRI 215471384 — 33,000 BTU.
When a homeowner searches for heat pump grant in QuebecIt is the actual combination of the indoor and outdoor units, along with its AHRI number, that must be verified.
Because programs and their criteria may change, we avoid automatically associating a grant amount with the mere mention of “MIDEA28.”
Maintenance: the compact installation must still allow the appliance to be opened
In the photo, the unit occupies almost exactly the available space above the opening.
This compact integration makes planning for future maintenance even more important.
The front panel must be able to open. The filters must remain accessible. And if a thorough cleaning becomes necessary after several years, the technician must be able to access the inside of the unit.
Midea specifically indicates that the blower wheel in this product family can be removed to facilitate deep cleaning of the indoor unit.
At AirGreen, we prefer to think about this maintenance before drilling the first hole rather than several years later, when the unit needs to be cleaned.
Residential warranty and documentation to keep
The Midea brochure states that residential installations come with a limited warranty of 12 years on the compressor, 12 years on parts, and 10 years on labor, subject to the manufacturer's applicable terms.
We therefore recommend that the homeowner keep:
- the installation invoice;
- the exact references for the indoor and outdoor units;
- the serial numbers;
- the AHRI reference;
- the registration documents;
- the warranty terms.
A heat pump can remain in a home for many years. Being able to quickly find this information makes any future service request much easier.
In Pointe-Fortune, an installation that demonstrates the importance of working with the existing architecture
This MIDEA MIDEA28 wall-mounted heat pump installation in Pointe-Fortune is a good example of a project where the location was an integral part of the solution.
We had a narrow corridor, several openings, and relatively little usable wall space. Rather than occupying a side area or placing the unit where it would have obstructed traffic, we used the space above the passageway.
The result is an indoor unit integrated high up, aligned with the opening and able to project its air along the corridor.
But behind this apparent simplicity lie several decisions: machine dimensions, clearances, airflow, mounting, drainage, refrigerant lines, accessibility, and choosing the appropriate capacity.
This is precisely what sets a professional heat pump installation more than a simple mechanical installation.
At AirGreen, we apply this approach in Pointe-Fortune as we do in our projects in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore : we adapt the equipment to the building, rather than adapting the building to a one-size-fits-all installation method.
The MIDEA28 offers a wide range of capacities, heating operation down to -30 °C, precise airflow modulation, and features suited to next-generation HVAC systems. Our role is to ensure that these technical capabilities are supported by a location and installation that make sense in the actual home where the unit will operate every day.