In Terrasse-Vaudreuil, the spirit level placed on the MIDEA28 perfectly sums up our method: install, adjust, check
In this MIDEA MIDEA28 wall-mounted heat pump installation in Terrasse-Vaudreuil, a small orange tool placed on top of the outdoor unit immediately draws attention: a spirit level.
This detail photographed during our work illustrates a very concrete step in our work at AirGreen. Before considering the outdoor installation complete, we check that the equipment is properly positioned and stable on its support. This check may seem simple, but it contributes to several important aspects: mechanical stability, vibration management, drainage of the water produced during defrost cycles, and overall finish quality.
The project also featured a distinctive outdoor configuration. The Midea heat pump was installed in front of a painted masonry façade, in a space framed by a door on the left and the electrical connections on the right. The refrigerant lines rise vertically inside a brown line-hide cover that follows the wall and blends visually with the masonry’s color.
The electrical disconnect box is clearly accessible to the right of the unit. At the front, the large horizontal-discharge fan remains completely unobstructed, allowing the heat pump to move the volume of air required for its operation.
This work in Terrasse-Vaudreuil illustrates a reality of our trade: a heat pump’s performance does not depend solely on its specifications. It also depends on how its outdoor unit is positioned, connected, and prepared to withstand Quebec’s seasons.
The MIDEA28 is part of Midea’s ductless wall-mounted system range, along with the MIDEA35, MIDEA25, and MIDEA22 series.
Why check the outdoor unit’s level before completing the installation
In the photo taken by our team, the level is placed directly on top of the heat pump. It is not an accessory left there by chance.
We want the machine to rest properly on its support points and not be installed with unnecessary tilting.
An improperly seated outdoor unit may contribute to:
- additional vibrations;
- noise transmitted to the support;
- poor distribution of mechanical load;
- less favorable water accumulation under certain conditions;
- a less professional-looking finish;
- of unnecessary strain on the lines connected to the unit.
Checking that it is level is therefore one of the small checks that takes little time but makes it possible to complete an HVAC installation correctly.
The importance becomes even more obvious in winter
In heating mode, a heat pump uses its outdoor coil to extract heat from the air. When conditions promote frost formation, the system periodically performs a defrost cycle.
Water may then collect beneath the unit.
The outdoor installation must therefore provide space for this water to drain rather than gradually creating a mass of ice around the base of the heat pump.
In Terrasse-Vaudreuil, this consideration is far from theoretical. The MIDEA28 is specifically a heat pump designed for cold climates, and Midea indicates that the entire range has a heating operating range extending down to -30°C.
A compact outdoor location between a door and electrical equipment
The site conditions are particularly interesting.
The photograph shows that the outdoor unit had to be integrated into a limited section of the façade. A door is immediately to the left. To the right are the electrical disconnect and the cable routing.
In this type of space, we must consider several constraints simultaneously:
The front fan must remain unobstructed. A side-discharge heat pump moves a significant amount of air. Therefore, no obstacle should be placed directly in front of its fan.
The connections must remain accessible. A future technician must be able to reach the service components without having to dismantle part of the building.
The disconnect switch must remain easily accessible. The power supply must be capable of being disconnected before servicing the unit.
The lines must be protected. The copper piping, communication wiring, and other connections should not be left unnecessarily exposed.
The area near the door must remain clear. The equipment must not become an obstacle in the passageway.
This is where the format of Midea’s side-discharge outdoor units becomes interesting. Midea notably highlights their compact design, as well as the option of installing them on a bracket or base.
The brown line-set cover: an aesthetic detail that also protects the refrigerant lines
Another visible element in the photograph is the long vertical line-set cover installed behind the unit.
Its copper-brown color blends far better with the red façade than a standard white trim would have.
For us, this type of finish serves two purposes.
The first is aesthetic. The lines of a wall-mounted heat pump can run several feet along a façade. Even a highly effective installation may nevertheless look neglected if pipes, cables, and insulation remain exposed in all directions.
The second function is mechanical. The line-set cover helps protect the route from impacts, weather, and certain types of insulation damage.
Midea’s documentation also notes that the principle of a ductless system is based on a relatively compact connection between the indoor and outdoor units, without requiring the construction of a complete air-duct network in the home.
The MIDEA28 offers five different capacities
The MIDEA28 is an especially flexible range because it is offered in five nominal cooling capacities:
- 9,000 BTU/h;
- 12,000 BTU/h;
- 18,000 BTU/h;
- 24,000 BTU/h;
- 33,000 BTU/h.
The nominal heating capacities specified by Midea are, respectively, 12,000, 12,000, 18,000, 29,000, and 36,000 BTU/h.
This variety makes it possible to select a unit suited to very different buildings.
The exact capacity of the MIDEA28 photographed in Terrasse-Vaudreuil is not sufficiently legible in the image for us to state it with certainty. We therefore prefer not to assign this installation a BTU rating based solely on the apparent size of the outdoor cabinet.
At AirGreen, heat pump sizing must be based on the building’s heating needs, its configuration, and the exact characteristics of the proposed combination.
Efficiency: up to 27.4 SEER2 for the MIDEA28 series
Performance varies by capacity.
For cooling, Midea publishes the following efficiency ratings:
- 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.
For heating, the listed Region IV HSPF2 values are 12.5, 10.5, 11.0, 13.5, and 10.5 respectively.
This also helps explain the EnergyGuide that we see on the front of the outdoor unit in our installation.
We always recommend checking the value associated with the exact combination of indoor and outdoor units, not just the best figure advertised for the entire range.
Winter performance deserves more attention than simply mentioning “-30°C”
Operation down to -30°C is important, but it is not the only relevant figure for a home in Terrasse-Vaudreuil.
It is also important to know how much heating capacity the heat pump retains as the outdoor temperature drops.
At -15°C, Midea specifies the following nominal capacities for the MIDEA28:
- 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 the same conditions are, respectively, 1.80, 1.80, 1.92, 2.34, and 1.98.
For us, this table is much more useful for analyzing a project than the simple minimum temperature printed in an advertisement.
Behind this very clean outdoor installation: copper, R-454B, electrical power supply, and commissioning
Once the line cover is closed and the outdoor unit aligned, most of the technical work becomes invisible.
Yet this is precisely the part that can determine the heat pump’s long-term reliability.
Line diameters change considerably depending on capacity
The MIDEA28 range is an excellent example.
The liquid/gas line sizes specified by the manufacturer are:
- 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 feet for the smaller capacities to 164 feet for the 24,000 and 33,000 BTU models.
This means that replacing a heat pump should never begin with the assumption that the old lines can automatically be reused.
We check their dimensions, condition, routing, and compatibility with the intended model.
Electrical requirements also vary
The MIDEA28 does not use the same electrical protection for all capacities.
The manufacturer specifies a minimum permissible amperage of:
- 15 A for the 9,000 BTU unit;
- 15 A for the 12,000 BTU unit;
- 19 A for the 18,000 BTU unit;
- 24.9 A for the 24,000 BTU unit;
- 34 A for the 33,000 BTU unit.
The maximum protection ratings indicated are, respectively, 15, 15, 20, 25, and 35 A.
The disconnect switch visible in the photo is therefore part of an electrical assembly that must be adapted to the installed combination.
We do not choose a circuit breaker size based on habit or on the heat pump that was previously installed on-site. We refer to the specifications of the new equipment.
R-454B and an A2L system
The MIDEA28 operates with R-454B.
Midea documentation also indicates an A2L refrigerant leak detection sensor and an A2L dispersion system among the features of the MIDEA35, MIDEA28, and MIDEA25 series.
This means that installation, servicing, and handling procedures must be adapted to this generation of refrigerants.
The refrigeration connections, evacuation of the circuit, and commissioning must be carried out methodically. An excellent unit installed on a contaminated or improperly prepared circuit will not be able to provide the expected level of reliability.
Why support stability and leveling are related to noise
Depending on the capacity, the MIDEA28 has a specified outdoor sound level of 56 to 63.5 dB(A) at high speed.
These levels are those of the unit under the conditions specified by the manufacturer. A vibrating structure or poorly adjusted support can add noises that do not come directly from the fan or compressor.
That is why we place importance on the installation's mechanical aspects.
The orange level visible in the photograph therefore represents more than an aesthetic concern: we want a stable unit before final tightening and commissioning.
Front clearance: never build a box around the heat pump
The large fan visible on the MIDEA28 in Terrasse-Vaudreuil immediately shows the amount of surface devoted to moving air.
This space must remain clear.
It can sometimes be tempting to conceal an outdoor heat pump with a decorative fence or enclosure. The problem arises when such a structure is installed too close to the unit.
The expelled air could then be recirculated, which would hinder heat exchange.
In this installation, the front discharge is open and unobstructed.
If aesthetic or winter protection is added later, it must comply with the required clearances and never enclose the unit.
A masonry façade requires a different finish from a simple vinyl wall.
The red wall visible behind the heat pump has an irregular masonry surface.
This type of façade requires careful work around the penetrations and fasteners, because the lines do not rest on a perfectly flat surface like modern siding.
The vertical line-set cover visible in the photo helps create a clean line despite this texture.
For us, the final appearance matters. A heat pump installation in Terrasse-Vaudreuil becomes part of the building for many years. The outdoor route should therefore be planned from the outset rather than improvised after the unit is connected.
The indoor features complement the work carried out outdoors
Although this photograph focuses on the condenser, the MIDEA28 also offers several indoor control options.
Midea specifically indicates:
- fan speed from 1% to 100%;
- ECO mode;
- Turbo mode;
- timer;
- night mode;
- function Follow Me;
- automatic cleaning;
- quiet mode;
- 8°C heating;
- horizontal and vertical oscillation;
- Wi-Fi control;
- smart sensor;
- humidity control.
The range may also offer up to 100 air-volume adjustment levels, with remote control via SmartHome and Wi-Fi depending on the configuration.
These features allow the heat pump to be used as a true everyday comfort system rather than simply as an air conditioner activated only during a few very hot days.
MIDEA28 AHRI numbers and rebate verification
The five MIDEA28 configurations listed by Midea have the following references:
- 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.
To verify eligibility for a Quebec heat pump rebate, we must use the reference that exactly matches the installed combination.
Since the criteria and amounts may change, we always recommend verifying them when planning the project rather than relying on an outdated amount found online.
Warranty: keep the exact references after installation
For residential applications, the Midea brochure presents a limited warranty of up to 12 years on the compressor, 12 years on parts, and 10 years on labor, according to the conditions of the applicable program.
After installation, it is therefore important to keep:
- the invoice;
- the exact indoor unit model;
- the outdoor unit model;
- the serial numbers;
- the AHRI reference;
- the registration and warranty documents.
In Terrasse-Vaudreuil, an installation where quality is evident in the small checks
This MIDEA MIDEA28 wall-mounted heat pump installation in Terrasse-Vaudreuil can be summed up by the image of a level placed on the unit.
The heat pump is in place. The lines rise neatly inside their cover. The electrical disconnect is accessible. The fan has the necessary clearance in front.
But before finishing, we check once again.
This type of oversight is what transforms a machine that has simply been placed in position into a HVAC installation projects.
At AirGreen, we apply this same level of attention to carefully planned and thoroughly completed heat pumps in Terrasse-Vaudreuil, as well as our installations of Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore : capacity selection, refrigerant circuit, electrical supply, support stability, clearance management, exterior finish, and commissioning.
The MIDEA28 offers features particularly well suited to Quebec, including heating operation down to -30 °C, its many available capacities, and its variable-speed technology.
Our role is to ensure that all this technology rests, literally and technically, on a properly executed installation.