TCL APEX XS Central Heat Pump (Black) | 2 Tons - 24000 BTU
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)
EER2 (Instant Cooling Efficiency)
COP at -8 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -15 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
Operating temperature down to -30 °C (MAX)
Performance Airflow (Airflow Rate)
When the Outdoor Unit Is Visible: Basalt Grey Changes the Conversation
No one buys a heat pump for its appearance. But many of our clients in Old Longueuil, Westmount, Outremont, or the heritage areas of Le Plateau ask us the same question when choosing a location: is there any way to avoid that large beige box visible from the street?
The 2-ton TCL APEX XS central heat pump in Basalt Grey meets this constraint without technical compromise. The unit is mechanically identical to the light-colored version — same components, same certified ratings, same certification. Only the surface treatment of the outdoor unit differs.
What the dark finish actually solves
A basalt-gray cabinet visually blends into a concrete foundation, dark brick wall, gray aluminum siding, or dense landscaping. In the real-world situations we encounter:
- A narrow backyard visible from the alley, where the unit cannot be concealed behind a screen;
- A side of the house exposed to the street, when no other location meets the required clearances;
- A rooftop terrace or condo balcony, where the unit remains permanently within the occupants' field of view;
- A zoning or condominium regulation requiring discreet integration of mechanical equipment — common in central boroughs and newer condominium corporations.
There is also a practical benefit: a dark finish better hides limescale marks, splashes, and the gray film that street dust deposits on any outdoor unit in an urban environment. After three winters of salt and slush, the difference in appearance is clear.
To be clear about what the finish does not change: it has no measurable effect on heat-exchanger performance or energy consumption. The choice is aesthetic, and it is legitimate as such; we will not claim otherwise.
Performance identical to the light-colored version
Data from the NEEP cold-climate heat pump directory, based on AHRI-certified testing:
- 24,000 BTU/h at 8.3°C — COP 3.80
- 24,000 BTU/h at -8°C — COP 2.50
- 24,000 BTU/h at -15°C — COP 1.85
- 13,300 BTU/h at -30°C at maximum capacity — COP 1.20
With 19.0 SEER2, 12.0 EER2, and 10.0 HSPF2, this capacity offers the best seasonal heating efficiency in the entire APEX XS series. Its full capacity remains available down to -15°C.
Technical specifications
- Air handler: H24APH20UDE — Outdoor unit: H24SDH20XQC
- AHRI certificate: 218453815 — ENERGY STAR number: 4622454
- Refrigerant: R-32, 68.1 oz charge
- Airflow: 835 CFM — static pressure: 0.58 / 0.8 in.
- Outdoor power supply: 220 V — MCA 19 A, MOP 30 A
- Refrigerant piping: 3/8 in. liquid, 3/4 in. gas
- Sound level: 45 dB(A) indoors, 53 dB(A) outdoors
- Air-handler dimensions: 21.00 x 21.00 x 46.44 in. — filter 18 x 20
- Outdoor-unit dimensions: 38.50 x 16.56 x 31.63 in.
- LogisVert rebate: $2,880 in an existing home
The air handler's 45 dB(A) matters just as much as appearance when the unit is installed near a living space — in a mechanical room adjacent to a basement bedroom, for example. It is the quietest level in the series.
Choosing the outdoor location: the method, in order
When appearance enters the equation, the temptation is to first choose where the unit will be least visible and then check whether it is feasible. We do the opposite, because starting with appearance leads to rework.
- Technical clearances first. The manufacturer requires a minimum of 12 in. in front of the air return and 40 in. on the discharge side. A discreet but cramped location causes the unit to recirculate its own air, and capacity collapses.
- Snow and condensate management next. The unit is raised above the area's typical snow depth, and defrost water must drain somewhere other than beneath its own feet.
- Property lines and neighbors. Several municipalities in Greater Montreal regulate the noise of mechanical equipment near property lines. This check is done beforehand, not after a complaint.
- Piping length and routing. Every foot added beyond the factory charge requires a charge adjustment and affects efficiency.
- Aesthetics last, among the locations that meet the first four criteria. This is where the Basalt Grey finish truly expands the options.
What the dark finish does not eliminate
A discreet unit is still a unit that must be maintained. Decorative screens that some homeowners add afterward are the most common cause of capacity loss we see during service visits: a slatted fence installed ten inches from the air discharge, a hedge that has grown three feet in two seasons, or a shelter designed to hide the unit that ends up suffocating it.
If a screen is desired, it should be designed as part of the installation, while respecting the clearances, not added the following summer.
The air handler and its three positions
The indoor unit can be installed in upflow vertical, left horizontal, or right horizontal configuration, covering nearly all basement and mechanical-room layouts. Right-horizontal installation only requires repositioning the condensate pan.
The system is compatible with standard 24 VAC thermostats through RS485 communication; Wi-Fi connectivity is available as an option through the XK-120D4 module. An R-32 leak detector, drain-pan heater, and compressor heater are included as standard.
Why AirGreen
We install HVAC systems in areas where visual integration matters as much as performance — central boroughs, condominiums, and heritage buildings. A unit's finish never replaces a proper installation, but it can sometimes make it possible to keep the technically optimal location instead of settling for a compromise.
Our job is to prioritize these criteria correctly: first what makes the system work, then what makes it acceptable to look at.
Contact AirGreen for a technical visit and a complete quote for the 2-ton TCL APEX XS in Basalt Grey, in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore, and on the South Shore.