A MIDEA35 installed above a glazed opening: making use of every available inch without compromising comfort
Some installations of wall-mounted heat pump take place on a completely unobstructed wall. Others require greater precision because the available space is limited by doors, windows, ceilings, and the existing layout. Our installation of a MIDEA MIDEA35 in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle clearly belongs to this second category.
In the photo taken after installation, the Midea indoor unit is positioned directly above a large glazed opening, very close to the ceiling. This is an interesting configuration in a room where every usable section of wall matters. The wall-mounted air conditioner therefore occupies neither an area intended for furniture nor a central section of the wall.
The appliance is operating: its display shows a setpoint of 23.0 °C and the icon Wi-Fi is visible to the right of the temperature. The louvers are open and the airflow is directed toward the room. This simple snapshot shows several elements that matter in a HVAC installation successful: choosing the location, air circulation, accessibility, comfort adjustment, and integrating the heat pump into the existing architecture.
At AirGreen, we never look only at where an indoor unit can physically fit. We also assess how it will function once installed.
The visible challenge in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle: working with limited wall height
The space between a door or window and the ceiling is often one of the most practical areas for a wall-mounted heat pump, but it is also an area that requires precise measurements.
In this project, the Midea unit occupies practically the entire available strip of wall above the opening. This arrangement requires us to consider several factors before securing the mounting plate:
- the actual height of the indoor unit;
- the clearance required according to the manufacturer’s instructions;
- the air intake located in the upper part of the appliance;
- full panel opening for maintenance;
- access to the filters;
- the movement of the louvers;
- the drainage slope;
- the route of the refrigerant lines;
- the final position of the air stream.
An appliance may appear perfectly positioned in a photo while becoming difficult to maintain if these parameters are overlooked. That is why we plan the installation with the next cleaning, inspection, and future access to components already in mind.
Why install a heat pump above a door or window
When the building is suitable and the required clearances can be observed, this position offers several advantages.
First, it allows you to preserve usable wall space. In a bedroom, living room, or multifunctional room, the wall surface at normal height can be used to install cabinets, a television, shelves, or furniture.
Next, a unit positioned high up can distribute air over a considerable distance when properly oriented. The goal is not merely to cool or heat the few feet directly in front of the heat pump, but to achieve sufficiently even circulation throughout the area served.
The documentation for Midea wall-mounted systems specifically highlights their installation flexibility and the fact that an indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit through a relatively compact passage for the lines. It also indicates that several capacities are available to suit different rooms.
A 23 °C setpoint: a good example of everyday comfort
The temperature 23.0 °C displayed on the unit in our photo corresponds to a value frequently used to maintain balanced comfort.
However, the interesting point with an inverter heat pump like the MIDEA35 is not simply reaching this temperature. Above all, it must be able to maintain it with as few variations as possible.
Midea uses variable-speed technology which allows the compressor to adjust its operation according to the heating demand rather than operating continuously according to a traditional on-off logic. According to the manufacturer’s documentation, this modulation helps reduce temperature variations and maintain a more stable environment.
In practice, this means that a room that has reached 23 °C does not necessarily require the heat pump to stop completely. The unit can reduce its capacity and continue operating gently to compensate for the building’s heat gains or losses.
This is precisely the kind of operation that makes sizing so important.
MIDEA35: three capacities, each with its own characteristics
The photograph makes it possible to identify the appliance family, but it does not show the rating plate and therefore cannot confirm with certainty the exact installed BTU capacity. We prefer never to turn a visual estimate into technical data.
The series MIDEA35 presented in the documentation includes three capacities: 9,000, 12,000, and 18,000 BTU/h in cooling mode. The exact references are as follows:
MIDEA35 9,000 BTU
- indoor unit: MSESU-H09B-2A;
- outdoor unit: MO1SS-H09B-2A;
- AHRI reference: 215471386;
- rated cooling: 9,000 BTU/h;
- rated heating: 12,000 BTU/h;
- SEER2: 33,3;
- HSPF2 IV: 22,0.
MIDEA35 12,000 BTU
- indoor unit: MSESU-H12B-2A;
- outdoor unit: MO1SS-H12B-2A;
- AHRI reference: 215471387;
- rated cooling: 12,000 BTU/h;
- rated heating: 12,000 BTU/h;
- SEER2: 29,4;
- HSPF2 IV: 14,5.
MIDEA35 18,000 BTU
- indoor unit: MSESU-H18B-2A;
- outdoor unit: MO1SS-H18B-2A;
- AHRI reference: 215471388;
- rated cooling: 18,000 BTU/h;
- rated heating: 20,000 BTU/h;
- SEER2: 25,6;
- HSPF2 IV: 16,2.
This difference in efficiency between the capacities illustrates an important point for homeowners comparing heat pumps: the maximum figure for the product line should not be applied to every model. The 33.3 SEER2 corresponds to a specific combination.
The Right Number of BTUs Is Not Determined by Floor Area Alone
A rough rule based on BTUs per square foot can provide an estimate, but we do not recommend choosing a heat pump in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle using this method alone.
Two rooms with the same floor area can have very different requirements.
We look at, among other things:
- insulation;
- the number and size of windows;
- sun exposure;
- ceiling height;
- the building’s floor;
- the number of walls facing outdoors;
- communication with adjacent rooms;
- how the room is used;
- winter heat loss.
An oversized unit can reach the setpoint quickly and operate for less time than desired. An undersized unit, by contrast, may be called on continuously during periods of intense cold.
With an inverter system, our goal is to allow the heat pump to operate within a range where its modulation is truly put to use.
Heating Down to -30 °C, Wi-Fi, R-454B, and Maintenance: What the MIDEA35 Brings to This Installation
A Heat Pump Designed for Quebec Winters
To Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, cold-weather heating capacity is not a secondary feature. The municipality is located near the U.S. border, in a region where winter temperatures can require a heat pump to operate for long periods.
The MIDEA35 is presented as an “extreme” category heat pump with heating operation down to -30 °C. The manufacturer indicates an operating range of -30 °C to 24 °C in heating mode and -30 °C to 50 °C in cooling mode for the three capacities in this series.
This does not mean that capacity or efficiency remain the same at all temperatures. As with any heat pump, performance must be evaluated based on the outdoor temperature and the building’s actual needs.
The brochure also provides capacities at -15 °C : 13,500 BTU/h for the 9,000 and 12,000 BTU versions, and 22,600 BTU/h for the 18,000 BTU version under the published reference conditions.
This is the type of data we look at when a heat pump must play an important role in heating a residence.
The Wi-Fi icon visible on our installation
In the photo taken in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, a small Wi-Fi symbol appears directly on the indoor unit’s display next to the setpoint.
Connectivity is one of the features offered by this Midea family. The documentation mentions the SmartHome and the ability to control the system remotely through the available Wi-Fi.
For the owner, this function can be used to:
- change the temperature without being in front of the unit;
- adjust operation from a phone;
- prepare the house before returning;
- avoid unnecessarily leaving a setting too high or too low;
- simplify certain daily adjustments.
For a residence used intermittently, the combination of remote control and heating hold mode can be particularly convenient.
Up to 100 fan-speed levels for better airflow management
One of the interesting features of Midea wall-mounted systems is gradual fan control.
The manufacturer indicates up to 100 air-volume adjustment levels, allowing much finer adjustment than simply selecting low, medium, or high.
This is directly relevant to an installation like the one shown in the photo. Since the unit is located above an opening and near the ceiling, the way the airflow is projected becomes important.
A high airflow rate can be useful for quickly changing the temperature in a large area. A lower speed can then be preferred to maintain comfort with less noticeable air movement.
The MIDEA35, 28, and 25 series also offer horizontal and vertical swing, Quiet mode, ECO mode, a timer, air-direction adjustment, and the “Follow Me” function.
“Follow Me”: measuring the temperature closer to occupants
The temperature near the ceiling is not always the same as the temperature felt in the center of a room.
This phenomenon can become more noticeable in heating mode, since warm air naturally tends to rise. A wall-mounted heat pump, however, is generally installed quite high.
The “Follow Me” uses the remote control’s temperature sensor to measure the ambient conditions where the remote is located. The documentation indicates that the unit can thereby adjust room comfort more precisely.
This feature does not replace proper heat pump placement, but it can be useful in certain configurations where the temperature varies significantly from one area to another.
An indoor unit that can operate very quietly
The noise from a heat pump is particularly important when it is installed in a bedroom, living room, or open-concept area.
Depending on the MIDEA35 capacity, the manufacturer publishes indoor noise levels as low as 19 dB(A) for the 9,000 and 12,000 BTU models and up to 16 dB(A) for the 18,000 BTU version in the corresponding modes.
The actual noise level in a home obviously depends on the operating mode, fan speed, thermal load, and the room’s acoustic environment.
For us, a quiet installation also depends on mechanical details: proper mounting, the unit sitting securely on its plate, correctly positioned lines, and no unwanted vibration against the structure.
R-454B: a new generation of refrigerant that changes certain installation practices
The MIDEA35 operates with R-454B, an A2L refrigerant.
The product line documentation also mentions an A2L refrigerant leak detection sensor.
For a homeowner, this mainly means that a modern heat pump must be installed according to the procedures and specifications corresponding to the refrigerant used. An R-454B replacement should not be considered a simple copy of an old R-410A installation.
We must properly check the refrigerant circuit, connections, line diameters, tightness, and commissioning parameters.
The copper diameters are not identical for all MIDEA35 models.
Here is another detail that can be very important when replacing an older unit.
The 9,000 and 12,000 BTU MIDEA35 use lines measuring 1/4 in. liquid and 3/8 in. gas.
The 18,000 BTU instead uses 3/8 in. liquid and 5/8 in. gas.
The published maximum length is 82 ft for the 9,000 and 12,000 BTU models, and 164 ft for the 18,000 BTU model. The maximum height differences are 49.2 ft and 82 ft, respectively.
This is why we always check existing lines before stating that they can be retained.
Even if the old heat pump and the new one are both rated at 12,000 or 18,000 BTU, their technical requirements may differ.
The electrical supply must also be verified before installation
All three MIDEA35 models operate at 208/230 V single-phase, 60 Hz.
For the 9,000 and 12,000 BTU configurations, the documentation indicates a minimum allowable ampacity of 16.0 A and a maximum protection of 20 A. For the 18,000 BTU version, the minimum allowable ampacity increases to 24.9 A, with a maximum protection of 25 A.
This difference explains why inspecting the electrical panel is important when a customer increases their system's capacity.
An adequate power supply for a small wall-mounted air conditioner is not automatically compatible with a new, higher-capacity heat pump.
Maintenance was considered from the unit's design stage
Installation quality must be evaluated over several years, not only on the day we leave the job site.
The MIDEA35 notably features a removable blower wheel, making it easier to access the inside of the unit for a thorough cleaning.
This is an interesting point forHVAC maintenance, because dust can gradually accumulate on the evaporator, fan, louvers, and drain pan.
In an installation located near the ceiling, like the one in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, we must therefore preserve sufficient access to allow for these future interventions.
The mistakes we seek to avoid with this type of project
A wall-mounted heat pump installation may lose some of its quality because of details that initially seemed minor.
Among the mistakes we seek to prevent:
- choose the capacity based solely on the area;
- install the unit without considering the actual airflow path;
- place the heat pump where access to the filters will become difficult;
- reuse refrigerant lines without checking their diameters;
- overlook the electrical requirements;
- forget the slope required for condensate drainage;
- choose the outdoor location based solely on appearance;
- assume that a commercial reference is enough to confirm a rebate.
Our approach is to address these points before commissioning, when they can still be corrected easily.
MIDEA35 and rebates: the AHRI number is essential
The three MIDEA35 combinations presented in the brochure have their own AHRI reference: 215471386, 215471387, and 215471388The documentation also presents them with certification Cold Climate V6.1.
For a financial assistance application such as LogisVert, we always recommend verifying the eligibility of the exact combination installed at the time of the project.
A manufacturer's brochure can confirm the technical specifications, but it should not be considered on its own as final confirmation of the subsidy amount. Programs, criteria, and lists of eligible appliances may be updated.
A residential warranty to consider when making a purchase
The Midea brochure states, for the residential sector, an advertised limited warranty of 12 years on the compressor, 12 years on parts, and 10 years on labor, subject to the terms of the warranty program.
We always recommend keeping the following carefully:
- the purchase and installation invoice;
- the exact references for the indoor and outdoor units;
- the serial numbers;
- the required registration proofs;
- the documents related to commissioning.
These documents become particularly important several years after installation.
What we take away from this AirGreen installation in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle
This installation clearly shows why the work of an HVAC contractor is not simply a matter of hanging a white box on a wall.
In this residence in Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, the space above the window opening had to be used intelligently. The unit had to fit in without taking over an entire wall, while maintaining functional air distribution and adequate access.
The visible result is clean and compact: a MIDEA MIDEA35 wall-mounted heat pump, installed high on the wall, operating at a 23 °C setpoint, and equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity.
Behind this installation are the criteria that we also apply to our heat pumps in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore proper sizing, thoughtful placement, electrical compatibility, refrigeration requirements, drainage, future maintenance, and commissioning suited to the machine.
The MIDEA35 adds particularly interesting performance for Quebec to this approach: heating down to -30 °C, efficiency of up to 33.3 SEER2, inverter technology, R-454B refrigerant, quiet operation, precise fan control, and connected features.
For the homeowner, the best result therefore comes not only from choosing a good heat pump. It comes from the combination of an appliance suited to the building and an HVAC installation designed down to the smallest detail.