3-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 55,000 BTU - R454B

Three large zones, one condenser instead of three

Many large homes were fitted over the years with a wall-mounted heat pump in the living room, another in the basement and a third upstairs, each with its own outdoor unit. When these systems age, the 3-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 55,000 BTU - R454B lets you replace them with a single condenser. That 4.5-ton D5CMHAH55FAK condenser serves 3 zones (up to 5 at most) and is built with the D5FSHAH09XAK, D5FSHAH12XAK, D5FSHAH18XAK, D5FSHAH24XAK and D5FSHAH30XAK wall-mounted heat pump heads.

Its ratings are 22.3 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 10.5 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3556883. The certificate still lists its capacity at -30 °C, and the system qualifies for a $5,640 LogisVert grant.

Replacing several aging wall-mounted heat pumps

Three independent units means three condensers on the lot or on the walls, three stands to clear of snow, three circuits at the panel and three units aging each at their own pace. When the first one fails, the other two are often not far behind. Grouping them on a single multi-zone condenser simplifies the facade and outdoor maintenance, frees up space on the lot and puts all three zones on new equipment at the same time. Each room keeps its head and its remote; only the outdoor part is shared.

The trade-off to know: in a multi-zone system, the heads work in the same mode at any given time, heating or cooling. With three independent units, one room could heat while another cooled; here, you choose the mode of the season and each head keeps its own temperature.

Old lines, old brackets: what stays and what is replaced

The move to R-454B, a new-generation refrigerant with a markedly lower global warming potential, changes the rules. Old refrigerant lines are reused only if their diameter, condition and cleanliness allow it; new lines are often the safest solution. Old wall penetrations can sometimes be used again, which limits the work. The old condensers are removed and unneeded brackets taken down. We take this inventory during the visit, so the quote describes exactly what is kept and what is replaced.

Three large zones, five head sizes

Each head's code indicates its size, from the D5FSHAH09XAK to the D5FSHAH30XAK, the largest on the list. For three large zones, a common combination pairs a D5FSHAH30XAK or D5FSHAH24XAK with the open ground-floor area, a D5FSHAH24XAK or D5FSHAH18XAK with the finished basement, and a D5FSHAH18XAK or D5FSHAH12XAK with the upstairs primary suite. The old heads do not dictate the new ones: we redo the load calculation, since the insulation, windows and use of the rooms have often changed since the first installation. The total of the three heads must stay within the combinations the manufacturer allows.

Sharing 4.5 tons among three zones, with room for two more

The three heads share the condenser's capacity, which meters the refrigerant sent to each one according to its demand. The inverter compressor speeds up when all three zones call together and slows down as soon as the set points are reached. The D5CMHAH55FAK also accepts up to five heads: two ports remain free for bedrooms or an office that the old units did not serve, provided the combination remains allowed.

Winter: steady capacity between -8 °C and -15 °C

The certificate lists 47,000 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.

• 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: 26,400 BTU/h, COP of 1.39
• Heating certified down to -30 °C

The published capacity stays the same at the two most frequent cold points of a Quebec winter, below the nominal 55,000 BTU size, as is normal in deep cold. For large zones, this steadiness matters: a good part of the heating season in the Montreal area plays out between these two temperatures. Near -30 °C, it drops, and the baseboards you keep serve as backup. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215357158, published by NEEP.

What the ratings say

The 22.3 SEER2 measures seasonal cooling efficiency, and the 12.0 EER2 the efficiency on the hottest days. The 10.5 HSPF2 sums up the heating season, the one that counts most in Quebec. COP expresses efficiency at a specific temperature: 2.00 at -15 °C means two units of heat for one unit of electricity. Older units, designed before current standards, generally show lower ratings; that is one of the gains of a complete replacement.

Summer and dehumidification

In summer, the variable-speed compressor runs for long periods at low speed once the set points are reached, which gives the coils time to remove humidity. If your old units were fixed-speed, you will feel the difference: instead of constantly starting and stopping, the compressor adjusts its speed, and both temperature and humidity stay steadier from one hour to the next. Each head's dehumidification mode takes over on muggy days, especially in the basement. In a large open area, the head is placed to push air along the full length of the room, with its louvers aimed toward the ceiling in cooling.

The $5,640 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $5,640 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.

The replacement, then the maintenance

The replacement, step by step

• In-home assessment: inventory of the old units, load calculation for the three zones, check of the electrical panel.
• Recovery of the old systems' refrigerant according to the rules, then removal of the old condensers and the heads being replaced.
• Installation of the new condenser on a solid stand or a wall bracket, above the snow line and out of the path of snow falling from the roof.
• Refrigerant lines, communication cables and drains for each head, grouped under a finishing cover; condensate pump for a basement head.
• Connection to a properly sized dedicated circuit, then leak test, vacuum, commissioning of the three zones and programming the remotes with you.

Maintenance

Rinse the three filters every two weeks in season. Keep the condenser clear of snow, ice and leaves, without covering it in winter. One condenser also means a single outdoor visit: the annual HVAC maintenance visit cleans the coils and blower wheels of the three heads, checks the drains 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 3-Zone Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5CMHA | 55,000 BTU - R454B. We take inventory of your old units, choose the three new heads and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.

Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.