The component no one looks at that determines all the comfort
Homeowners assess a heat pump based on the outdoor unit: the brand on the casing, the capacity, the efficiency rating. Yet in everyday life, everything happens indoors. It is the wall-mounted head that distributes the air, makes noise or operates quietly, dries out a room or leaves it damp. A flawless outdoor unit connected to a poorly positioned head results in a disappointing system.
At Saint-Valentin, in Haut-Richelieu, we installed a GREE FreeMatch R32 2-head heat pump in a building undergoing renovation. The construction site gave us something we rarely get: the opportunity to run the piping before the ceilings were closed.
Take advantage of an open construction site: the best time for an HVAC installation
In the photo, the ceiling soffit is still open and the framing is exposed. This is exactly when an HVAC installation costs the least and delivers the best result.
When we work in a finished home, every metre of piping becomes a compromise: exposed conduit on the exterior wall, drilling into a corner of the room, a route longer than necessary. When we work during construction, we place the head where it belongs, not where the route happens to allow.
The tangible benefits on this project:
- Fully concealed piping in the soffit, with no exposed conduit indoors or visible raceway in the room.
- Shorter run between the outdoor unit and the indoor head, meaning less pressure loss and less additional refrigerant.
- Condensate drain with a pronounced, continuous slope, with the route planned before the drywall dictates its terms.
- Inspection possible of all connections before closing.
The advice that follows applies to any project in Montréal, Laval, or on the South Shore: if you are renovating and considering a heat pump within the next five years, have the piping installed now, even if the unit comes later. The marginal cost is negligible; retrofitting it later is not.
Where to place a wall-mounted head, and why
Height
The head is installed near the ceiling. This is not for aesthetic reasons: in cooling mode, the cold air produced is denser than the ambient air and naturally descends, circulating throughout the room. A head installed too low cools your ankles while leaving the upper part of the room warm.
However, the clearance required by the manufacturer above the unit must be maintained. A head installed tight against the ceiling restricts its own air intake and loses capacity, in addition to becoming noisy.
Side clearance
Here, the head is installed away from the corner where the walls meet. When placed too close to a perpendicular wall, the blower sends its airflow directly against the surface: the air bounces back toward the unit, and the internal thermostat reads a temperature that is not the room temperature. The result is always the same—the unit shuts off too soon, and the rest of the room never reaches the setpoint.
Airflow direction
A head should blow along the length of the room, never toward a nearby partition and never directly above a bed or work chair. Perceived comfort depends as much on the air speed you feel as on the temperature.
Heating mode changes the logic
In heating mode, warm air rises. A head installed high on the wall must therefore direct its louvers downward to push heat toward floor level. This is an adjustment we configure during commissioning, and one many homeowners overlook—they receive heat that stagnates at the ceiling and conclude that “the heat pump doesn't heat.”
The indoor installation mistakes we correct most often
The mounting plate fastened to drywall alone
The head and its mounting plate must be anchored to the framing. A plate held only by drywall anchors eventually starts to move, putting stress on the plumbing connections and the drain line. This is a common cause of indoor water leaks occurring two years after installation.
The drain’s back slope
The condensate drain works by gravity. It requires a continuous downward slope, without a single high point. A two-centimeter rise hidden above a ceiling soffit is enough to create a collection point where biological deposits form. The day it clogs, water flows out through the indoor unit’s drain pan and onto the wall. We check the slope every meter, not just at the ends.
The wall penetration without an outward slope
The wall penetration must be slightly sloped toward the outside and sealed. A level opening, or worse, one sloped inward, directs rainwater and runoff straight into the wall structure.
The forgotten caulking behind the wall plate
The area around the piping must be sealed on both the interior and exterior sides. An untreated air leak in this location creates condensation inside the wall cavity in winter—a form of damage that may not become apparent for several seasons.
The installed system
The dual-zone configuration of the GREE FreeMatch R32 can power two indoor units from a single outdoor unit. The unit’s reference data:
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Rated capacity | 24,000 BTU/h in both cooling and heating |
| Modulation | 7,500 to 31,400 BTU/h |
| Power supply | 208/230 V, MCA 19.5 A, MOP 25 A |
| Refrigerant | R32, outdoor unit A2L |
| SEER2 / HSPF2 / EER2 | 21 / 10 / 12 |
| Heating down to | -30 °C |
| Total piping | up to 60 m, elevation difference 15 m |
| Certifications | AHRI, ENERGY STAR Cold Climate, ETL |
| Warranty | 10 years on parts and compressor, +2 years with registration |
The R32 imposes a specific requirement inside the building, and this is what we systematically verify before choosing the location of an indoor unit: this refrigerant is classified as A2L, slightly flammable, which means there is a minimum room area based on the refrigerant charge served and the unit’s mounting height. A high-capacity indoor unit in a small, enclosed room is not always permissible. An installer who does not perform this calculation may install a non-compliant system without even realizing it.
Commissioning: the step too many contractors skip
Once the two heads are connected, we perform a deep vacuum evacuation, leak test, pressure and temperature checks in cooling and then heating mode, and record the parameters for each zone. We document these values. Without initial readings, no serious diagnosis is possible three years later—the technician servicing your system then has no reference point for determining whether it has drifted.
We also take the time to explain two settings that make a difference on your energy bill: maintaining a stable heating setpoint instead of making significant overnight setbacks, and cleaning the head filters every four to six weeks. A clogged filter reduces airflow, then capacity, then efficiency—and it is the most common cause of the service calls we receive.
Rebates and eligibility
The FreeMatch R32 is certified ENERGY STAR, Cold Climate, and AHRI, making it eligible for the categories covered by Quebec programs that provide assistance for efficient heating systems. The rule to remember: the AHRI number applies to the combination of the outdoor unit and indoor heads, never to the outdoor unit alone. We verify this combination and eligibility for the applicable program before signing, because financial assistance cannot be claimed retroactively when the application was put together incorrectly.
Our service area
At AirGreen, we handle HVAC installation from start to finish: load calculation, selection of the certified combination, indoor and outdoor installation, documented commissioning, and annual HVAC maintenance. We serve Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, the South Shore, and Montérégie, including small municipalities such as Saint-Valentin. A properly installed heat pump is noticeable because you forget it's there: no noise, no water, no cold drafts, and a lower energy bill.