2-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 48,000 BTU - R454B
The Arcoaire D5CMHA 48 000 multi-zone heat pump heats and cools 2 rooms with a single outdoor unit. ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, it delivers 45,000 BTU/h at −8 °C, heats down to −30 °C and qualifies for a $5,400 LogisVert grant. Installed by AirGreen in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore.
2 rooms, one outdoor unit.
Figures come from the manufacturer’s data and the AHRI certification.
The parts that make a multi-zone system.
Tap a part to learn more.
Outdoor unit
One compressor for the whole house. It supplies up to 5 heads.
Base pan heater
A heater keeps the outdoor unit’s base pan free of ice below 1 °C and during defrost (NEEP).
Refrigerant lines
One pair of lines per head.
Indoor heads
One head per room, each with its own remote and temperature. The combination is chosen in the “Zones” menu.
Control
Each zone is set separately.
Turn rooms on and off. Watch the power being shared.
One outdoor unit supplies every head: when several rooms call at once, they share its capacity. Pick an outdoor temperature.
Tell us your rooms. We tell you if this size is enough.
Pick the number of rooms and their size. The estimate targets a −15 °C day; it is a guide, the real calculation is done room by room at your home.
The whole series at a glance: find the box that fits you.
Each box is a product: the outdoor unit’s size, and the number of heads.
At −15 °C, it still delivers 97 % of its rated capacity.
Tap a temperature: capacity, efficiency and the cost of one hour of heating.
At every temperature, cheaper than baseboards.
Cost of one hour at full output, for the same heat delivered. Hydro-Québec Rate D, second tier: 11.142 ¢/kWh.
The official ratings, on the same scales as before.
SEER2, HSPF2 and EER2 come from the AHRI certification.
A grant you can calculate, not guess.
The capacity at −8 °C. $120 per 1,000 BTU/h is the rate for ENERGY STAR cold-climate heat pumps (guide v1.10).
One multi-zone or several wall units? Both sides, honestly.
We compare both options on your floor plan during the estimate.
What to know before installing a multi-zone system.
Dimensions, wiring and lines, drawn. Then our six steps.
What is particular about this machine.
Only facts published by ENERGY STAR, NEEP or the manufacturer.
Every number, and where it comes from.
Each line carries its source; a line with no published value is not shown.
The manufacturer’s documentation, as PDF.
Everything we have written about this system.
Two large living zones, each with its own set point
A home that houses two generations, or two very large spaces that no mid-size head can cover, needs few zones but a lot of capacity per zone. The 2-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 48,000 BTU - R454B is built for that case. Its 4-ton D5CMHAH48FAK condenser serves 2 zones and accepts up to 5 at most. It is built with the D5FSHAH09XAK, D5FSHAH12XAK and D5FSHAH24XAK wall-mounted heat pump heads, the last being the largest head on the list.
Its ratings are 23.0 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 11.3 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3556880. The certificate still lists its capacity at -30 °C, and the system qualifies for a $5,400 LogisVert grant.
An intergenerational suite, two ways of living with temperature
In a home with an intergenerational suite, the parents living on the garden level or in the annex have neither the schedule nor the temperature of the family on the main floor. They often prefer a warmer room, are home all day and do not want to depend on someone else's thermostat. With this system, each dwelling has its own head, remote and set point, while a single condenser works outside. The facade carries only one unit, and outdoor maintenance is done in a single visit.
Two very large rooms: when the D5FSHAH24XAK head is the answer
The same reasoning applies to a home where two spaces dominate: a large open area with a high ceiling and a basement finished over the full footprint of the house, for example. The D5FSHAH24XAK head suits these volumes, because it must push air over long distances; we mount it on a wall from which the airflow runs along the room, avoiding beams, soffits and islands that would cut it off. In a more moderate space, a D5FSHAH12XAK or D5FSHAH09XAK will be a better fit. The total of connected heads must stay within the combinations the manufacturer allows for this condenser, and it is the load calculation for each zone that decides the size.
A word of caution: a very large space that is poorly insulated or heavily glazed can exceed what a single head covers comfortably, even a large one. In that case, two heads in the same room or another configuration will give a better result; we say so during the visit rather than after installation.
4 tons on a single circuit: the electrical question
A 4-ton condenser is a significant load for a home's electrical panel. Before proposing this size, we check the available space and capacity, taking into account the other loads already installed: range, dryer, water heater, EV charger. The condenser is connected to a dedicated circuit with an outdoor disconnect. When the panel is not sufficient, we flag it in the quote rather than on installation day.
Three free ports for what comes next
The D5CMHAH48FAK accepts up to five heads. With two zones in service, three ports remain available for bedrooms, an office or a room added later, provided the full set of heads stays within the allowed combinations. If these additions are likely, we take them into account now in the size of the first two heads, the condenser location and the planned line route.
The published cold-weather points
The certificate lists 45,000 BTU/h at -8 °C and 47,000 BTU/h at -15 °C. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. In both cases, the published capacity stays close to the nominal 48,000 BTU size.
- COP of 2.60 at the -8 °C point (17 °F)
- COP of 2.00 at the -15 °C point (5 °F)
- Maximum capacity at -30 °C: 24,600 BTU/h, COP of 1.27
- Heating certified down to -30 °C
For two large zones in the Montreal area, these values let the heat pump carry most of the heating through the usual cold. During extreme cold snaps, the published capacity drops; backup heat remains a prudent choice in the most exposed rooms. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215357152, published by NEEP.
The 11.3 HSPF2 and the other ratings
HSPF2 measures seasonal heating efficiency, and it is the rating that matters most in Quebec: at 11.3, this system draws much more heat from each kilowatt-hour than a resistance appliance. The 23.0 SEER2 does the same for cooling, and the 12.0 EER2 measures efficiency in the hottest condition. COP gives a snapshot at a specific temperature: 2.60 at -8 °C means the heat pump delivers as heat more than two and a half times the electricity it consumes.
Cooling large volumes
In summer, a large open area or a complete dwelling builds up a lot of heat. The inverter compressor speeds up to meet the demand of both zones, then slows down and holds the set points at low speed, which gives the coils time to remove humidity. Each head's dehumidification mode takes over on muggy days, an asset in a basement. Both heads work in the same mode at any given time, heating or cooling, each at its own temperature. The new-generation R-454B refrigerant has a global warming potential markedly lower than the fluids it replaces.
The $5,400 LogisVert grant
The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $5,400 for the owner of an existing home, according to the list in effect on the installation date. We confirm eligibility before signing and prepare the detailed invoice, model numbers and proof of payment. Our page on the efficient heat pump grant summarizes the program's conditions.
Installation and follow-up
Installation
The in-home assessment sets the size of both heads, the condenser location and the available electrical capacity. The condenser, larger at this size, goes on a solid stand or a suitable wall bracket, above the snow line and away from snow falling off the roof. Each head gets its refrigerant line set, communication cable and drain. For a garden-level or basement suite, the lines usually pass through the rim joist, and a condensate pump replaces the gravity drain when the head is below ground level. Since R-454B is mildly flammable, each connection follows its rules. Commissioning includes the leak test, the vacuum, a check of both zones and programming the remotes with each of the occupants.
Maintenance
Rinse the filters of both heads every two weeks in season; a large head in an open area with a kitchen clogs faster. Keep the condenser clear of snow, ice and leaves, without covering it in winter. An annual HVAC maintenance visit cleans the coils and blower wheels, checks the drains and the condensate pump, and tightens the electrical connections. In winter, white vapour during defrost and a short pause in heating are normal. Our cleaning service takes over when you prefer to hand off the annual visit.
AirGreen, for the life of the installation
A family business active for more than fifteen years in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore, we hold RBQ licences for ventilation, refrigeration and electrical work and carry $5,000,000 in liability insurance. The in-home assessment is free, the quote is in writing, and our financing options let you choose the right unit rather than the cheapest one.
Request your free estimate for the 2-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 48,000 BTU - R454B. We assess your two large zones and your electrical panel, and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.
Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.
What people ask us about multi-zone systems.
Can I heat one room and cool another at the same time?
No. On a multi-zone system like this one, every head works in the same mode, heating or cooling. Each room still keeps its own set temperature.
What happens when every room calls for heat?
They share the outdoor unit’s capacity: 45,000 BTU/h at −8 °C, 47,000 at −15 °C and 24,600 at −30 °C.
How many heads can I connect?
Up to 5 on this outdoor unit. This product is configured for 2 heads.
How much is the LogisVert grant?
$5,400. The grant never exceeds 100 % of the cost before taxes; apply within 9 months of installation.
Is it ENERGY STAR certified?
Yes, cold climate, ID 3556880.
Down to what temperature does it heat?
Down to −30 °C. At −30 °C, it still delivers 24,600 BTU/h with a COP of 1.27.
Why a multi-zone instead of several wall units?
One outdoor unit on the wall and one circuit. In return, the rooms share the capacity, and if the outdoor unit stops, every zone stops.
What does the warranty cover?
Our sheet lists 10 years on the compressor and 10 years on parts. AirGreen extended warranty: possible.
A multi-zone system is planned room by room. At your home.
We measure every room, draw the line route and choose the right head for each zone. The on-site estimate is free and the quote arrives within 24 h.