A booming industry, but not always transparent
In the residential HVAC sector, particularly that of wall-mounted heat pumps, we’re seeing an explosion of brands in the Québec market. At first glance, this seems beneficial for consumers: more choice, more competition, potentially better prices. But at AirGreen, we’ve noticed a major downside. Some brands—often lesser known or overly aggressive on pricing—use low-quality components in their wall-mounted heat pumps, to the detriment of durability, efficiency and, ultimately, the comfort of our clients.
The signs of poor quality: what we see on the ground
Over the past few years, our specialized technicians have been called out to diagnose or replace faulty wall-mounted units throughout Greater Montréal. A troubling pattern has emerged: the same brands consistently come up in service calls for early breakdowns, refrigerant leaks, burnt circuit boards, worn fans or communication issues between indoor and outdoor units.
Among the most commonly failing parts:
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Circuit boards: some brands use PCBs that are sensitive to humidity or poorly protected against power surges.
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Fan motors: many low-end units come with generic motors with a short lifespan, often noisy.
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Heat exchangers: inferior copper quality, low corrosion resistance, poorly designed fins.
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Sensors: we’ve seen units with inaccurate or unstable temperature sensors, leading to inconsistent temperature control.
The real impact for consumers
A poorly built wall-mounted heat pump won’t last more than 3 to 5 years, sometimes less in harsher environments like Montréal’s duplexes or triplexes, where units are exposed to strong winds, water infiltration or urban dust. The result: frequent service calls, loss of energy efficiency, increasing noise, hard-to-replace parts… and a much higher total bill than expected.
Real-life cases in Greater Montréal
At AirGreen, we had to replace more than 40 wall-mounted units from generic brands in 2024 alone, in neighborhoods like Ahuntsic, Laval-des-Rapides, Saint-Hubert or Blainville. In all these cases, clients had been lured by a tempting price, without realizing that the brand in question offered neither solid warranty nor accessible replacement parts in Québec.
In a recent project in Longueuil, a homeowner had three heat pumps installed from a little-known Asian brand. After 18 months, two of them had completely failed, and no parts were available in any Canadian warehouse. He eventually opted for a full replacement with three FUJITSU KZAH R-32 12,000 BTU units, which we installed with meticulous care. Today, the system works flawlessly, silently, and provides significant energy savings.
Why some brands can sell so cheaply
Costs are cut at every level:
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Use of outsourced low-end components.
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High-speed assembly lines with minimal quality control.
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Virtually nonexistent technical support or after-sales service.
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No logistics hub in Québec, so no local part availability.
This business model relies on the customer often having to replace instead of repair.
How we choose our brands at AirGreen
We work only with trusted brands known for reliability, part availability, and technical support: Fujitsu, Gree, Lennox, Bosch, Tosot, Midea. Each of these brands has been tested in the harsh Québec climate and comes with solid warranties, often backed by subsidy programs like Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert.
When we recommend a model, like the Fujitsu KZAH R-32, the Gree Extreme, or the Midea25 9,000 BTU, it’s because it has already proven itself under real conditions, in homes just like yours.
Practical tips before choosing a wall-mounted heat pump
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Check the origin of parts: some brands "assembled in Canada" actually use low-grade Asian parts.
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Make sure the manufacturer has a replacement part network in Québec.
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Consult a certified installer, like AirGreen, who can advise you based on the specifics of your home.
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Request a precise quote, including warranty, installation, and after-sales support.
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Be wary of unknown brands or ones that seem too cheap.
Grants and technical support: another pitfall of questionable brands
Wall-mounted heat pumps eligible for LogisVert subsidies must meet specific performance criteria (SEER, HSPF, etc.). Many budget units simply aren’t eligible, and don’t appear on official lists. That means you’re not only getting lower quality, but also missing out on government financial support, which could amount to up to $1,800 in lost savings.
Conclusion: a smart choice today to avoid regret tomorrow
At AirGreen, we operate daily in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore to recommend, install and service wall-mounted heat pumps that are durable, quiet, and high-performing. Our goal is simple: to guarantee your long-term comfort, with no unpleasant surprises.
Don’t settle for a low-quality wall-mounted heat pump just to save a few hundred dollars. Make the right choice from the start, by choosing trusted brands installed by certified professionals.