Replacing a Wall-Mounted Heat Pump in Montréal: What You Absolutely Must Avoid for a Successful Project
In a climate where summers are increasingly hot and winters consistently harsh in Montréal, replacing a wall-mounted heat pump is not just about upgrading equipment. It’s a strategic investment to improve comfort, achieve energy savings, and ensure the long-term reliability of your HVAC system at home or in your building. Yet many property owners fall into costly traps due to lack of information or poor planning.
At AirGreen, we’ve handled hundreds of wall-mounted heat pump replacements in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore and South Shore, giving us firsthand experience of the six most common—and most expensive—mistakes we see on the ground. Avoiding these means maximizing your new unit’s performance and optimizing your return on investment.
Skipping a Full Evaluation of the Building and its Heating/Cooling Needs
Many clients mistakenly assume that a replacement simply means reinstalling the same model or the same capacity as the old equipment. That’s a major mistake. Every building evolves over time: insulation, room usage, air infiltration, window type, and more.
At AirGreen, we always perform a full thermal evaluation before recommending any unit. We assess:
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The actual livable area that needs cooling or heating
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The building’s orientation
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Heat loss through walls and windows
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Changes in your consumption habits
For example, in a recent project in Ahuntsic, a client wanted to replace a 9,000 BTU heat pump. After our analysis, we recommended a 12,000 BTU FUJITSU KZAH model, better suited for their poorly insulated north-facing windows. The result: improved comfort and reduced utility bills.
Choosing a Unit that Doesn’t Meet Energy Standards or Qualify for Rebates
Many Montréal homeowners don’t realize that significant government rebates like Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert are available for heat pump replacements—provided the new unit meets specific performance criteria (SEER, HSPF, etc.).
Choosing a non-compliant model means losing out on $1,000 to $5,000 in available financial aid. At AirGreen, we always verify eligibility for rebates as part of the product selection process. We work directly with government programs to ensure our clients receive every dollar they’re entitled to.
Hiring a Non-Certified Installer or Someone Without HVAC Wall-Mount Expertise
Sadly, it’s all too common: to save a few hundred dollars, some people hire installers without specialized training. The results?
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Refrigerant leaks within months
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Poorly positioned drainage
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Excessive noise
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Premature compressor wear
An improper installation often voids the manufacturer’s warranty. At AirGreen, our technicians are certified, factory-trained, and follow a strict protocol for every job. For example, when replacing a 24,000 BTU SHARP ZU1 wall-mounted heat pump in Rosemont, we had to fix a misaligned previous drill hole before mounting the new unit. That kind of attention to detail makes all the difference.
Failing to Clean or Inspect the Old System Before Installing the New One
Replacement doesn’t just mean “unplug and plug in.” Drain lines, wall brackets, and even electrical wiring must be inspected, cleaned, and often replaced. It’s not unusual to find mold buildup in old drains or cracked wiring in poorly maintained installations.
We recently replaced a 24,000 BTU SHARP ZU1 wall-mounted heat pump in Villeray. Before installation, our team thoroughly cleaned the old wall bracket and replaced a drain clogged with calcium buildup. The result: a clean, quiet, and long-lasting installation.
Underestimating the Importance of the Unit’s Placement and Location
The placement of a wall-mounted unit directly affects:
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Heat and air distribution
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Energy efficiency
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Noise levels in the room
Bad positioning—too close to the ceiling, facing a curtain, in a poorly ventilated corner—can reduce the unit’s efficiency by up to 30%. At AirGreen, we always reassess the room’s configuration and often suggest a strategic repositioning of the indoor unit, like we did in a Plateau Mont-Royal condo, where a new 15,000 BTU FUJITSU KZAH was moved 80 cm to optimize airflow in an open space.
Choosing a Unit That’s Too Small or Too Large
Proper sizing is the most overlooked technical detail by homeowners. An undersized unit will overwork and break prematurely. An oversized unit will cycle on and off too frequently, shortening its lifespan and reducing efficiency.
Our experts use specialized software and thermal load calculation methods to recommend the most appropriate unit. That’s what we did recently in Longueuil for a commercial client, where we replaced one large system with two 12,000 BTU Gree Lomo+ units, better suited to the space layout.
The AirGreen Advantage: Your Protection Against These Costly Mistakes
By choosing AirGreen to replace your wall-mounted heat pump in Montréal or nearby, you’re teaming up with certified specialists who are experienced, transparent, and committed to the performance of your HVAC installation. We guide you from thermal evaluation to final installation, including rebate applications, cleaning of old components, and post-installation support.
Practical Tips Before Replacing Your Wall-Mounted Heat Pump
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Always request a professional thermal evaluation.
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Check for eligibility with government rebate programs.
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Choose a contractor specialized in wall-mounted heat pumps.
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Clean or replace secondary components (drain lines, wiring).
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Review the placement of the indoor unit.
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Demand precise sizing of the unit based on your needs.
At AirGreen, we put our HVAC expertise to work for homes and businesses in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore, ensuring optimal comfort, maximum energy efficiency, and long-term peace of mind.