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HITACHI airCore 700 HEATFORCE and FUJITSU AIRSTAGE CENTAURI XLTH R32, from the basement to extreme cold
Two 3-ton central heat pumps on R-32, each with its own air handler, certified ENERGY STAR cold climate and offered by AirGreen. They share the same Region IV HSPF2. How they deliver heat, and the room they need in the basement, are another story.
airCore 700 HEATFORCE · 3 tons
JPE36B3XD2HS1A / PAS-36BLFASDQ1 · AHRI 216439113
See the product page
CENTAURI XLTH R32 · 36,000 BTU
AMUH36KUAS / AOUH36KUAH1 · AHRI 217895717
See the product pageWhat the electricity costs, in dollars, winter and summer
AirGreen estimate for the same 36,000 BTU/h (3-ton) house in Montréal, at Hydro-Québec Rate D, taxes included. Both heat pumps are calculated exactly the same way, with the same method as on all our comparison pages; only their certified efficiencies change. Both certificates give 36,000 BTU/h of cooling at 35 °C. Electric baseboards serve as the reference.
How this amount is calculated
- Heat needed over the winter. A house whose heat loss reaches 36,000 BTU/h ( kW) at −23.1 °C, Montréal’s design temperature: kW × 24 h × 4,167 degree-days ÷ (18 − (−23.1)) = kWh of heat for round-the-clock heating, all winter. Heating degree-days (base 18 °C) and design temperature: Natural Resources Canada, HOT2000 climate data, Montréal Intl station. With fewer hours a day (“Heating” slider), the heat is reduced in the same proportion, for the heat pump and the baseboards alike: a simplification that ignores the recovery after a setback.
- Electricity for heating. Heat pump: heat × 3.412 ÷ HSPF2 Region V, the AHRI certificate value published by NEEP. Region V is the coldest in the standard, and its calculation includes the electric backup planned for when the heat pump is no longer enough. Electric baseboards: 1 kWh of electricity for 1 kWh of heat.
- Electricity for cooling. 36,000 BTU/h ÷ SEER2 × hours per day × 60 days ÷ 1,000: the method of Hydro-Québec’s air-conditioning calculator, with the SEER2 seasonal efficiency from the AHRI certificate. The number of hours is a scenario, adjustable above from 1 to 24 h. At 24 h, the calculation assumes rated capacity all day: that is a maximum, since a variable-speed unit slows down once the room is at the right temperature.
- Price. Hydro-Québec Rate D in effect April 1, 2026: 7.065¢ per kWh up to 40 kWh a day, 11.142¢ beyond; the average price, 9.104¢, is the one Hydro-Québec’s calculators use. GST and QST included. The network access fee, the same with or without a heat pump, is not counted.
AirGreen method v1.1, November 9, 2026. An estimate is for comparing units under the same conditions. The actual bill depends on the house, insulation, settings and use; this amount is not a promise.
Your basement space, with both air handlers to scale
Enter the width, depth and height of the planned spot. Each air handler is drawn in it to scale, with the service space its manufacturer asks for in front of it. Dimensions are taken from the HITACHI and FUJITSU AIRSTAGE documents.
airCore 700 HEATFORCE HITACHI JPE36B3XD2HS1A · 17 1/2 × 48 3/8 × 21 7/16 in
CENTAURI XLTH R32 FUJITSU AIRSTAGE AMUH36KUAS · 21 × 48 × 21 in
Scale drawing: elevation on the left, top view on the right, back wall at the top. Only the air handler dimensions and each manufacturer’s published minimums are checked; the plenum, ducts, filter base and electric backup add height or depth depending on the installation. Sources: HITACHI installation manual for the airCore 700 air handlers (no. 6554123, “Providing the required clearances”, tables 8 and 9); FUJITSU AIRSTAGE technical manual DR_AR109ES_02, section 2-2. The building code and the manual of the unit installed always have the final say.
Three figures per temperature, and why they matter
For each test temperature, NEEP publishes a minimum, a rated and a maximum capacity. The rated capacity comes from the certification test; the maximum is what the unit delivers at its compressor’s highest speed. So a low rated capacity does not mean a low reserve.
What each name means, in each manufacturer’s own words
HEATFORCE and XLTH are series names. Here is what HITACHI and FUJITSU AIRSTAGE write under those names. The percentages are the manufacturers’ own: they do not say which capacity they are calculated on, and they do not replace the certified values in the “Extreme cold” section.
- Published percentages 100% heating capacity at −15 °C (5 °F) and more than 70% at −25 °C (−13 °F); 85% at −20 °C on the chart. Outdoor air temperatures are wet-bulb; 25 ft of piping, fan on high, frost and defrost losses not included.
- What makes it possible, per HITACHI a new R-32 DC inverter compressor, a new heat exchanger, a revised refrigerant circuit and fins; the compressor is preheated by multi-pulse control, with no external crankcase heater.
- Published range heating down to −25 °C (−13 °F).
- Published percentages more than 100% of heating capacity at −17.8 °C (0 °F) and 80% at −26.1 °C (−15 °F).
- What the sheet specifies no low-temperature cutout: the system keeps running below its stated range, but its capacity is not measured there; built-in heated base pan.
- Published range heating down to −26 °C (−15 °F).
Sources: HITACHI airCore 700 brochure (“Product features, HeatForce series”); HITACHI technical catalogue HC2024583B, section 1.4; FUJITSU AIRSTAGE 36KUAH1M submittal sheet, version 20260123A. Neither manufacturer states the base of its percentages: they do not compare with each other.
Below −15 °C: every certified figure, at its own temperature
NEEP tests both systems at the same temperatures down to −15 °C. Below that, each has its own test point: −25 °C for the airCore 700 HEATFORCE, −26.1 °C for the CENTAURI XLTH. Those two points are not at the same temperature: they are shown on two separate rows.
What each manufacturer writes, row by row
HITACHI airCore 700 technical catalogue, brochure and installation manual; FUJITSU AIRSTAGE 36KUAH1M submittal sheet, technical manual and Centauri brochure. Each card repeats what the manufacturer writes, nothing more.
airCore 700: heating stated down to −25 °C; defrost triggered by the amount of frost estimated over the previous cycle, to lengthen heating between defrosts; multi-pulse compressor preheating.
CENTAURI XLTH: heating stated down to −26 °C; no low-temperature cutout; built-in heated base pan.
airCore 700: down to −18 °C (0 °F) outdoors.
CENTAURI XLTH: down to −21 °C (−5 °F) outdoors.
airCore 700: five-speed ECM motor with taps; airflow published from 0.1 to 1.0 in w.c. (table 17 of the manual).
CENTAURI XLTH: Auto and four speeds; static pressure from 0.2 to 0.8 in w.c.
airCore 700: CIW03-H wired controller and five-wire thermostat adapter, described in the air handler installation manual.
CENTAURI XLTH: third-party 24 V thermostat through the UTY-TTRXZ1 interface; UTY-LBTUM remote kit and UTY-TFSXJ4 Wi-Fi adapter, all optional.
airCore 700: 8HK kits from 2.4 to 19.2 kW nominal at 240 V for the JPE36 (tables 11 and 14 of the manual).
CENTAURI XLTH: optional electric kits, UTZ-EU series (Centauri brochure).
airCore 700: A2L sensor in the air handler; on alarm, the outdoor unit stops and the fan switches to high speed (test described in the manual).
CENTAURI XLTH: leak sensor built into the air handler.
airCore 700: supplied by the installer, in the return duct; 20 × 20 × 1 in, disposable or cleanable.
CENTAURI XLTH: 20 × 20 in filter base available as an option (86ET0001).
airCore 700: shipped ready for upflow or horizontal-left; combustible floor base available for downflow.
CENTAURI XLTH: four orientations described, two of them after reversing the heat exchanger (technical manual).
airCore 700: per the manual, not CSA listed for a mobile home or a HUD modular home.
CENTAURI XLTH: designed for zero-clearance installations, such as mobile homes, per the submittal sheet.
How loud each one is, per its manufacturer
FUJITSU AIRSTAGE publishes the air handler’s sound level at each speed, and the outdoor unit’s. HITACHI publishes the outdoor unit’s in its technical catalogue; the documents consulted do not give one for the JPE36 air handler.
How to read these numbers. dB(A) measures noise level as the ear perceives it: the lower the number, the quieter the unit. Each point is a value published by the manufacturer. An air handler usually sits in the basement or a closet: what you hear in the rooms also depends on the ducts.
Why this is not a ranking. FUJITSU AIRSTAGE measures in its own anechoic chamber; the HITACHI catalogue gives a sound pressure figure without enough detail to compare the methods. Different method: not comparable.
Air handler
Cooling, published values
airCore 700 HEATFORCE: the HITACHI technical catalogue and installation manual do not give the sound level of the JPE36B3XD2HS1A air handler.
Outdoor unit, outside
Published values
Measurements taken by each manufacturer with its own method: read them separately, not as a ranking.
Outdoors, the difference shows from afar
The two outdoor units have almost the same width and depth. The HITACHI PAS-36BLFASDQ1 unit is 15 in taller and 91 lb heavier than the FUJITSU AIRSTAGE AOUH36KUAH1 unit: plan its stand and its clearance above the snow accordingly.
Silhouettes to scale, from the published dimensions (width × height × depth); these are not photos. HITACHI technical catalogue HC2024583B and FUJITSU AIRSTAGE 36KUAH1M submittal sheet.
| Installation | airCore 700 HEATFORCE | CENTAURI XLTH |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum piping length | 246 ft | 246 ft |
| Minimum piping length | Not published in the HITACHI documents consulted | 17 ft |
| Precharged length | 98.4 ft | 98 ft |
| Refrigerant added beyond the precharged length | 0.376 oz/ft | 0.43 oz/ft |
| Maximum height difference | 98.4 ft | 98 ft |
| Liquid – gas line diameters | 3/8 – 3/4 inWith a transition fitting at the outdoor unit valve, per the catalogue (section 2.5). | 3/8 – 5/8 in |
| Outdoor unit W × H × D, weight | 37 13/32 × 54 21/64 × 12 19/32 in, 250.2 lb | 37 × 39 5/16 × 12 5/8 in, 159 lb |
| Indoor unit W × H × D, weight | 17 1/2 × 48 3/8 × 21 7/16 in, 100 lb | 21 × 48 × 21 in, 137 lb |
| Clearance in front of the air handler | 36 in, to replace the motor or the coil | 30 in in an alcove; 6 in up to a closet door |
| Fan: indoor airflow, highest published speed | 1,200 CFM (medium-high, catalogue) | 1,200 CFM (high) |
| Electrical protectionPer the manufacturer | Outdoor: MOP 35 A (MCA 22.2 A); air handler: MOP 15 A (MCA 4.8 A) | Max. breaker 35 A (MCA 33.9 A) |
| Factory refrigerant charge | 7.50 lb of R-32 | 5 lb 15 oz of R-32 |
| Stated heating / cooling range | −25 to 24 °C / −18 to 46 °C | −26 to 24 °C / −21 to 50 °C |
Sources: HITACHI airCore 700 technical catalogue HC2024583B (sections 2.1 and 2.5) and air handler installation manual (no. 6554123); FUJITSU AIRSTAGE 36KUAH1M submittal sheet (version 20260123A) and technical manual DR_AR109ES_02. The HITACHI brochure gives 5/8 in for the series gas line; the catalogue specifies 3/4 in for the air-handler combination.
What people ask about these two systems
Why is one certified at 25,200 BTU/h at −8.3 °C and the other at 35,000?
Those are the rated capacities, from the certification test. At the same temperature, NEEP gives a maximum capacity of 41,600 BTU/h for the CENTAURI XLTH and 35,000 BTU/h for the airCore 700 HEATFORCE. The “Rated and maximum” section shows all three figures at each temperature.
What does HEATFORCE mean?
It is the name HITACHI gives to the airCore 700 series designed for low-temperature heating (“Low Ambient Heating Series” in the technical catalogue). The brochure links it to a new compressor, a new heat exchanger and 100% heating capacity at −15 °C, without stating the base of the percentage. The certified values are in “Extreme cold”.
Why is one tested at −25 °C and the other at −26.1 °C?
Each manufacturer has its system tested at the bottom of its stated range: −13 °F (−25 °C) for HITACHI, −15 °F (−26.1 °C) for FUJITSU AIRSTAGE. Those are two different temperatures: the 27,100 BTU/h of one and the 32,000 BTU/h of the other do not compare directly.
Which one takes less room?
In the basement, the HITACHI air handler is narrower (17 1/2 in versus 21 in), but its manual asks for 36 in in front of it, versus 30 in in an alcove for the FUJITSU AIRSTAGE air handler, or 6 in up to a closet door. Outdoors, the HITACHI unit stands 54 21/64 in tall and the FUJITSU AIRSTAGE unit 39 5/16 in. The closet test above does the math for your space.
Is the operating cost very different?
This page’s calculation uses Region V HSPF2, 8.4 and 8.2, and SEER2, 16.5 and 18.3. The airCore 700 HEATFORCE has the lowest winter estimate, the CENTAURI XLTH the lowest summer one; the yearly gap shown above follows from that, under the same calculation conditions.
Is a thermostat supplied?
Both manufacturers’ documents describe controls and thermostat interfaces; neither lists a thermostat among the parts supplied with the air handler. At FUJITSU AIRSTAGE, the thermostat interface, the remote and the Wi-Fi are optional accessories. What is included in an AirGreen quote is confirmed in the quote.
Are they eligible for rebates?
Per NEEP, both combinations are ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR cold climate. Eligibility depends on the official list in force on the date of purchase; this page promises no amount.
All AHRI and NEEP values
| Certified value | airCore 700 HEATFORCE | CENTAURI XLTH |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | ||
| Rated capacity at 35 °C | 36,000 BTU/h | 36,000 BTU/h |
| SEER2 | 16.5 | 18.3 |
| EER2 | 12.0 | 11.4 |
| Heating, same conditions | ||
| HSPF2 Region IV | 10.2 | 10.2 |
| HSPF2 Region V | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| 8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 14,200 / 38,000 / 47,000 | 9,200 / 38,000 / 43,000 |
| 8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 4.78 / 3.40 / 3.22 | 3.80 / 3.89 / 3.28 |
| −8.3 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 13,000 / 35,000 / 35,000 | 8,300 / 25,200 / 41,600 |
| −8.3 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 2.91 / 2.30 / 2.30 | 3.86 / 2.90 / 2.25 |
| −15 °C: min. / rated / max.BTU/h | 12,300 / 36,600 / 36,600 | 7,900 / 41,000 / 41,000 |
| −15 °C: COP min. / rated / max. | 2.37 / 2.00 / 2.00 | 3.86 / 1.98 / 1.98 |
| Coldest point — different temperatures, not highlighted | ||
| Test temperature | −25 °C (−13 °F) | −26.1 °C (−15 °F) |
| Min. / max. capacity | 10,000 / 27,100 BTU/h | 6,000 / 32,000 BTU/h |
| COP at maximum capacity | 1.70 | 1.82 |
| Listings and refrigerant | ||
| ENERGY STAR / cold climate (NEEP) | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes |
| AHRI certificate · NEEP record | 216439113 · 508939 | 217895717 · 306746 |
| RefrigerantGWP per the IPCC (AR4); ASHRAE 34 class | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L | R-32 · GWP 675 · A2L |
higher marks the higher value of the same measure, under the same conditions. It is not a recommendation. Capacities and COPs at each point are not highlighted: the order changes depending on the point. The HITACHI technical catalogue prints a SEER2 of 19.5, an EER2 of 12.5 and an HSPF2 of 9.7 for this combination; this page follows AHRI certificate 216439113.
Both are on the AirGreen website.
To choose for your home, talk it over with our team: bring the heated floor area, the condition of your ducts, the space planned in the basement and your current heating.
Where every figure comes from
Data verified on November 9, 2026. Performance: AHRI certificates and the NEEP database. Dimensions, sound, piping, clearances and features: per the manufacturer. When a source contradicts the AHRI certificate, the certificate prevails.
Trademarks. HITACHI, airCore, HeatForce, FUJITSU AIRSTAGE and CENTAURI are trademarks of their respective owners. Logos are used only to identify the products compared. AirGreen is a dealer for both brands; this page is not produced, sponsored or endorsed by the manufacturers. The FUJITSU AIRSTAGE system is also sold under the GENERAL AIRSTAGE name.
Photos: AirGreen, for identification; they show the units of each series.
Does a figure look wrong to you? Write to us: every reported figure is checked again.