Central Heat Pump ADD-ON ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 17.5 in.) - R410A
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
HSPF2 (Seasonal Heating Efficiency)
EER2 (Instantaneous cooling efficiency)
COP at -8 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -15 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -30 °C (MAX)
Replace the central air conditioner with a heat pump and keep the electric furnace
When the central air conditioner installed on an electric furnace reaches the end of its life, you have two choices: replace it with another air conditioner, which will only work in summer, or install in its place a heat pump that cools in summer and heats the house for most of the winter. The Central Heat Pump ADD-ON ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 17.5 in.) - R410A is the second choice. The DLCURAH24ABK outdoor unit takes the air conditioner's place, and the DLFULAH24XBX coil replaces the old coil on the furnace, which stays in place and whose elements serve as backup.
Its certified ratings are 16.5 SEER2, 10.7 EER2 and 9.5 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 2841439, its certificate still lists capacity at -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $2,520 LogisVert grant.
An air conditioner only works one season
A central air conditioner and a heat pump look very much alike: an outdoor unit, a coil on the furnace, a line set between the two. The difference lies in a reversing valve that lets the heat pump move refrigerant in both directions. The air conditioner rejects the home's heat outdoors in summer, then sits idle for months. The heat pump does the same in summer and, in winter, captures heat from the outdoor air and brings it into the house.
When replacing an air conditioner, the gap between the two options lies mostly in what happens in winter: with a heat pump, the electric furnace's elements only heat during deep cold. That is the principle of the ADD-ON approach.
What changes on the furnace
The old air conditioner coil is removed and replaced with the heat pump coil, which goes in the same place, on the furnace's air outlet. Its width, 17.5 in., must match the furnace's so that all the air passes through it; we measure it on site. The plenum is adjusted if the new coil's height requires it, and the condensate drain is connected.
The furnace blower keeps moving air through the ducts. We check that it can deliver the airflow the heat pump requires, in heating as in cooling, and that the filter and air return are adequate.
What changes outside
An air conditioner often sits on a pad on the ground, since it never runs in winter. A heat pump works under snow and produces defrost water in cold weather. It must therefore be installed above the snow line, on a wall bracket or a stand, away from roof drip, with room for defrost water to drain without freezing on a walkway.
The air conditioner's old location is often a starting point, but we validate it against these winter requirements before keeping it.
Which homes it suits
The 2-ton size, or 24,000 BTU/h, often matches a bungalow with a basement, a modest cottage or a semi-detached house in Longueuil, Laval or on the South Shore, heated by an electric furnace. The old air conditioner's size gives a hint, but not an answer: it was chosen for summer only. The room-by-room load calculation accounts for heating as well as cooling.
Winter according to the certificate
- At -8 °C (17 °F): 21,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.58, about 88% of the nominal size.
- At -15 °C (5 °F): 20,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.95.
- At -30 °C: 16,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.52.
The -8 °C and -15 °C points are measured separately; we report each one as published. These figures come from certificate AHRI 213372118, published by NEEP. COP compares the heat delivered with the energy used: an electric furnace's elements never deliver more heat than the electricity they receive, whereas this heat pump delivers more at each of these temperatures.
Sharing the winter between the heat pump and the electric backup
A compatible thermostat decides what heats. As long as the heat pump holds the set point, it heats alone. When it is no longer enough, in deep cold, the thermostat brings in the electric furnace's elements as auxiliary heat, then takes them out as soon as the heat pump is enough again.
The moment the backup comes in is set according to the heat pump's capacity, the home's heat loss and your comfort preferences. For most of a Montreal winter, the heat pump heats on its own; the furnace's elements join in during cold snaps. We set this during commissioning.
The ratings, compared with an air conditioner
The SEER2 of 16.5 measures cooling efficiency over a typical summer; it is the rating that lets you compare the heat pump directly with a central air conditioner. The EER2 of 10.7 measures full-load efficiency on a hot day. Finally, the HSPF2 of 9.5 measures heating efficiency over the whole season: that is what an air conditioner does not offer.
The variable-speed (inverter) compressor adjusts its speed to demand instead of the full-power starts of most older air conditioners. In summer, it runs for long periods at low speed and removes moisture better. The system runs on R-410A, a refrigerant that refrigeration technicians know well.
The $2,520 LogisVert grant
The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $2,520 for the owner of an existing home, according to the list in effect on the installation date. The amount corresponds to the certified pairing of the DLCURAH24ABK outdoor unit and the DLFULAH24XBX coil.
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 on the existing furnace
The replacement steps
- Visit: condition of the electric furnace, its elements and its blower, measurement of its width, ducts, air return, outdoor location, load calculation.
- Removal of the old air conditioner: recovery of the refrigerant, as regulations require, then removal of the outdoor unit and the old coil.
- Coil: installation on the furnace, plenum adjustment, condensate drain connection.
- Outdoor unit: wall bracket or stand, above the snow line, away from roof drip.
- Refrigerant circuit: insulated copper line set, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical and thermostat: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, thermostat that manages the heat pump and the furnace's electric backup.
- Commissioning: charge, airflow, defrost, backup setting, then an explanation of the settings.
Maintenance
An air conditioner was serviced in the spring; a heat pump works all year. The furnace filter serves both units: check it every month in season and replace it according to its format. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, without covering it in winter. Annual HVAC maintenance covers the heat pump's coil, condensate drain and electrical connections, in addition to a check of the electric furnace and its elements. The white vapour during defrost is normal.
Warranty
Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.
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 Central Heat Pump ADD-ON ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 17.5 in.) - R410A. We check your furnace and the location of your current air conditioner, and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.