Installation of a SHARP ZU1 18,000 BTU Wall-Mounted Heat Pump in Varennes – Comfort and Performance Guaranteed by AirGreen
Installation of a SHARP ZU1 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump in Varennes by AirGreen. Performance down to -27°C, Plasmacluster technology, LogisVert grant eligibility, and optimal thermal comfort on the South Shore.
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The job on one screen
The unit’s data sheet
The range as published on airgreen.ca: pick a size to see its capacity in deep cold.
| Size | Heating at −8 °C | Heating at −15 °C | Coldest certified point | COP at −15 °C | SEER | HSPF | Indicative LogisVert aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sharp ZU1 12 000 | 14,500 | 12,000 | −27 °C: 7,200 | 2.11 | 22.0 | 11.0 | $1,740 |
| Sharp ZU1 15 000 | 18,100 | 15,300 | −27 °C: 10,100 | 2.1 | 24.0 | 11.0 | $2,172 |
| Sharp ZU1 18 000 | 22,000 | 18,000 | −27 °C: 11,500 | 2.2 | 24.0 | 11.0 | $2,640 |
| Sharp ZU1 24 000 | 22,400 | 19,000 | −27 °C: 12,300 | 2.2 | 22.0 | 11.0 | $2,688 |
According to NEEP, it delivers 14,500 BTU/h at −8 °C (17 °F), more than at 8 °C (14,000 BTU/h). It heats as hard in moderate cold as in mild weather.
According to NEEP, its certified maximum capacity at −27 °C (−17 °F) is 7,200 BTU/h, 60% of its nominal 12,000 BTU size.
At 8 °C, its certified maximum capacity reaches 17,100 BTU/h, 42% more than its nominal 12,000 BTU size.
According to NEEP, it delivers 18,100 BTU/h at −8 °C (17 °F), more than at 8 °C (18,000 BTU/h). It heats as hard in moderate cold as in mild weather.
According to NEEP, its certified maximum capacity at −27 °C (−17 °F) is 10,100 BTU/h, 67% of its nominal 15,000 BTU size.
At 8 °C, its certified maximum capacity reaches 21,800 BTU/h, 45% more than its nominal 15,000 BTU size.
According to NEEP, it delivers 22,000 BTU/h at −8 °C (17 °F), more than at 8 °C (21,600 BTU/h). It heats as hard in moderate cold as in mild weather.
According to NEEP, its COP at −27 °C is 1.88: the highest of the ZU1 line, which ranges from 1.79 to 1.82 at that temperature.
According to NEEP, its certified maximum capacity at −27 °C (−17 °F) is 11,500 BTU/h, 64% of its nominal 18,000 BTU size.
At −27 °C, its certified minimum capacity is 3,200 BTU/h (5,500 at 8 °C). It slows down instead of cycling on and off.
According to NEEP, its certified heating capacity at −15 °C (5 °F) is 19,000 BTU/h, 79% of its nominal 24,000 BTU size. Its COP there is 2.20.
Data read live from the airgreen.ca page of each size (NEEP / AHRI certified performance). When the title names the installed size, it is highlighted; otherwise the whole range is shown. The aid shown is today’s, using Hydro-Québec’s rule ($120 per 1,000 BTU/h at −8 °C); amounts quoted in the article date from its publication. Only Hydro-Québec confirms the assistance granted.
The article, chapter by chapter
A high-end heating and cooling solution, professionally installed by AirGreen in Varennes
At AirGreen, we put our expertise to work for families in Varennes, on the South Shore of Montreal, by offering HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) solutions that are sustainable, high-performing, and perfectly adapted to the harsh Quebec winters. In this project, our team completed the installation of a SHARP ZU1 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump, a unit known for its energy efficiency and solid performance in extreme cold.
Installation context in Varennes
Located in a residential neighborhood of Varennes, this project aimed to modernize the heating and cooling system of a single-family home. The client was looking for a high-performance, low-impact environmental solution that could provide excellent year-round thermal comfort—even during intense cold spells.
We recommended the SHARP ZU1 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump, which combines cutting-edge Japanese technology, low energy consumption, and proven reliability. With optimal performance down to -27°C, it’s an excellent fit for the climate in Greater Montreal.
Why choose the SHARP ZU1 heat pump?
Outstanding energy performance
The SHARP ZU1 18,000 BTU runs on R32 refrigerant, known for its low global warming potential (GWP), and delivers impressive performance metrics:
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SEER: 24 (cooling)
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HSPF IV: 13 / HSPF V: 10 (heating)
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Heating capacity up to 21,600 BTU
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Heating maintained even at -27°C: up to 11,500 BTU
Quiet and discreet
This unit operates remarkably quietly, with indoor noise levels as low as 25 dB. Perfect for residential use, even near bedrooms.
Exclusive Plasmacluster Technology
The ZU1 series features Plasmacluster Technology, a SHARP-exclusive innovation that purifies indoor air by releasing positive and negative ions. It neutralizes viruses, bacteria, mold, and odors, creating a healthier indoor environment.
Designed for the Quebec climate
Thanks to the patented Hot Gas Pipe system, the ZU1 prevents ice buildup in the drain pan and maintains optimal heating performance—even during extreme cold. This feature is essential for our clients in Varennes, Montreal, Laval, and Longueuil.
Technical installation details by AirGreen
Strategic placement of the compressor
We installed the outdoor unit on a galvanized steel wall bracket, elevated from the ground to prevent obstruction from snow buildup in winter. The brick wall offered a solid base, and our team reinforced the mounts for maximum stability.
Line set and conduit protection
The refrigerant and electrical lines were carefully protected using a powder-coated line cover in brick color, ensuring aesthetic integration with the building and shielding the lines from weather exposure.
Optimized indoor configuration
The indoor unit was installed in a central living area, ensuring even distribution of warm and cool air thanks to the unit’s adjustable airflow feature. The Coanda effect allows air to gently flow along walls and ceilings to avoid direct drafts on occupants.
LogisVert Hydro-Québec Grant and long-term savings
This model is eligible for Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert grant, offering up to $1,704 depending on the home's specifics. Additionally, its superior energy efficiency helps the client significantly reduce their annual electricity bill.
Technical challenges successfully handled
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Winter access: The installation was completed despite challenging winter conditions, with professional snow clearing and meticulous site prep.
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Preserving the brick façade: We drilled using specialized tools to avoid any cracking or moisture infiltration.
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Perfect conduit slope: Our team took care to calibrate the slope of the lines to ensure optimal drainage of condensate, a detail often overlooked by less experienced installers.
Why trust AirGreen?
At AirGreen, we don’t just sell and install HVAC systems. We provide personalized support, from model selection to system startup, including a full explanation of how it works and available grant programs.
Our certified installers follow the industry’s strictest standards and are thoroughly familiar with the specific features of SHARP units, including their unique Plasmacluster technology.
Final outcome: immediate and lasting comfort
At the end of the installation, the Varennes client immediately noticed:
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Better temperature control throughout the home
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Exceptionally quiet operation
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Improved indoor air quality
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Expected reductions in energy consumption
This project is yet another example of our ability to deliver high-quality installations, tailored for the Quebec climate, while respecting both timelines and budget.
The job tools
Two quick checks with real numbers: what heat costs, and what your current heaters add up to in BTU/h.
Baseboards and electric furnaces turn 1 kWh of electricity into 1 kWh of heat. A heat pump delivers more: that is its COP. At Hydro-Québec’s rate D (11.142¢/kWh above 40 kWh a day, since 1 April 2026):
Hydro-Québec: a heat pump can be up to three times more efficient than baseboards for heating in the colder months.
Estimate per kWh of heat, at the chosen temperature, using the certified COP from the product page. Taxes, access charge and backup heat not included.
Conversion: 1 W = 3.412 BTU/h. An indication, not a load calculation: baseboards and furnaces are often stronger than the real need, and they can stay as backup. AirGreen confirms the capacity on site.
How the job unfolds
The main steps of this kind of job at AirGreen. Every house has its quirks: the estimate brings them out.
We look at the room, the outside wall, the line route and where the outdoor unit will go. That is where the capacity gets chosen.
Model, capacity and price, in writing. We also check whether the model qualifies for assistance programs.
Floors and furniture protected, wall plate position marked level, wall opening located.
A single opening, with the slope the drain needs to flow outside.
Set on a stand raised above the snow, with the clearances the manufacturer requires.
Connected, insulated and protected. The opening is then sealed against water, cold air and insects.
A dedicated circuit and an accessible disconnect near the outdoor unit.
Leak test, vacuum, then start-up and a check of heating and cooling.
Remote, modes, filters: we show you the essentials before we leave.
- The on-site estimateWe look at the room, the outside wall, the line route and where the outdoor unit will go. That is where the capacity gets chosen.
- The quoteModel, capacity and price, in writing. We also check whether the model qualifies for assistance programs.
- Getting readyFloors and furniture protected, wall plate position marked level, wall opening located.
- The wall openingA single opening, with the slope the drain needs to flow outside.
- The outdoor unitSet on a stand raised above the snow, with the clearances the manufacturer requires.
- Lines, cable and drainConnected, insulated and protected. The opening is then sealed against water, cold air and insects.
- The electrical workA dedicated circuit and an accessible disconnect near the outdoor unit.
- Tests and start-upLeak test, vacuum, then start-up and a check of heating and cooling.
- The walkthroughRemote, modes, filters: we show you the essentials before we leave.
What we check on a job like this one
Each number is a point we check on site. Switch between summer and winter to watch air and heat move.
In summer, the outdoor unit rejects the house's heat outside.
Generic illustration of this type of installation, not a survey of this job site. Tap a number.
Mounted level on a wall plate, high enough for the air to reach the whole room, with enough space around it to slide the filters out easily.
The refrigerant lines, the communication cable and the drain go through the wall in a single opening, sealed against water, cold air and insects.
Two insulated copper pipes connect the two units. Outside, a line cover can protect them from sun, knocks and weather.
A shut-off switch near the outdoor unit isolates it safely for service. It must stay accessible at all times.
The compressor and the fan. In heating mode it captures heat from the outdoor air, even in winter, and moves it inside.
On the ground or on the wall, it keeps the unit above accumulated snow. The unit stays clear and defrost water can drain away.
The fan needs to blow freely. Storage, a fence or a wall too close, and efficiency drops while noise goes up.
Is your home ready?
Check what applies at your place. A "no" is not a refusal: it is what we sort out during the estimate.
Good habits, once the unit is in place
Six simple habits that keep the unit going. Your list stays on this device.
What to do, season by season
Three habits per season for this unit. They take a few minutes and prevent many calls.
- Clean the indoor unit's filters.
- Clear leaves and debris left on the outdoor unit by winter.
- Test cooling before the first hot days.
- Clean the filters more often when the unit runs a lot.
- Keep plants away from the outdoor unit.
- Check that no water drips from the indoor unit.
- Rake the leaves around the outdoor unit.
- Test heating before the first cold days.
- Book periodic maintenance before winter.
- Keep snow away from the stand and the front of the unit.
- Let the unit defrost: it is normal.
- Never hit the ice on the fins; call us if the unit stays iced up.
The right pages, at the right time
Four statements: true or false?
It all comes down to details you have just seen.
1. In heating mode, the outdoor unit can produce water.
During defrost cycles. That water must drain away without forming ice.
2. You pick the capacity with a simple square-footage rule.
Windows, insulation, orientation and how the room is used all count. Capacity is chosen on site.
3. A multi-zone connects several indoor heads to a single condenser.
One head per room, all on the same condenser. Each room keeps its own temperature.
4. The disconnect can sit behind the patio furniture.
It must stay accessible: it is what shuts the unit off for service.
0 / 4 right answers
What people ask us about this kind of work
Does a wall-mounted heat pump heat in winter?
Wall-mounted or multi-zone: how do I choose?
Where does the outdoor unit go?
Are there grants?
Do I need a permit?
How cold can it heat?
How much can I save?
How is the LogisVert assistance calculated?
Is it noisy?
The outdoor unit is covered in ice: is that normal?
Does AirGreen hold the required licences?
Is the estimate free?
No question matches. Write to us: we answer.
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Text and photo: a real AirGreen Climatisation & Chauffage job. The diagrams are generic illustrations of the type of installation, not a survey of this job site. Sources of the added figures: airgreen.ca product pages (NEEP / AHRI performance), Hydro-Québec (Heat pumps page, LogisVert, read on 13 October 2026), Régie de l’énergie (rate D as of 1 April 2026).