Central Heat Pump ADD-ON ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 21 in.) - R410A

A 3-ton heat pump on a panel that already carries an electric furnace

A home heated by an electric furnace already asks a lot of its electrical service. The ADD-ON approach adds no new heating elements to it: the furnace stays in place, its elements serve as backup, and the heat pump is added to it. The Central Heat Pump ADD-ON ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 21 in.) - R410A pairs the DLCURAH36ABK outdoor unit with the DLFULAH36XCX coil, mounted on the existing furnace; the heat pump heats and cools through the same ducts.

Its certified ratings are 15.2 SEER2, 10.0 EER2 and 10.0 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 2841442, its certificate still lists capacity at -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $3,960 LogisVert grant.

Why the ADD-ON approach spares the electrical panel

In a home heated by an electric furnace, the furnace's heating elements are already connected to the panel, and they are among the largest loads in the house, alongside the range, the water heater and the dryer. A heat pump of this size adds the load of its outdoor unit to that set. Before proposing the size, we therefore have to make sure the panel and the electrical service can carry the heat pump in addition to the furnace.

With the ADD-ON approach, the backup is the existing electric furnace's elements. There are no heating elements to add: only the outdoor unit needs a new dedicated circuit. The furnace blower pushes air through the heat pump coil, which warms it in winter and cools it in summer, and the furnace's elements take over during deep cold. Over the winter, the heat pump takes on most of the heating, and those elements run far less often. We check the space and capacity in the panel during the visit; if the panel is not enough, we tell you before the quote.

A 3-ton family home

The 3-ton size, or 36,000 BTU/h, often matches a two-storey cottage with a basement, a large bungalow or an older home with many rooms in Laval, Longueuil or on the North Shore, heated by an electric furnace in good condition, often without central air conditioning.

The size is confirmed by a room-by-room load calculation that accounts for insulation, windows and orientation. In an ADD-ON system, we choose it first for cooling, then assess the share of heating the heat pump will be able to take on before the furnace's elements take over.

The 21 in. coil

For all the furnace's air to pass through the coil, the coil's width must match that of the furnace's air outlet. The 21 in. coil is meant for wide furnaces, common in family homes. The same outdoor unit is also available with a narrower coil for smaller furnaces; we measure your unit on site before confirming the model. The coil fits between the furnace and the plenum, which is adjusted as needed, and a condensate drain is connected to it.

The certificate, from -8 °C to -30 °C

• At -8 °C (17 °F): 33,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.40, about 92% of the nominal size.
• At -15 °C (5 °F): 32,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.00.
• At -30 °C: 24,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.42.

The -8 °C and -15 °C points are measured separately; we report each one as published. These figures come from certificate AHRI 213372121, published by NEEP. The heat pump keeps most of its capacity down to -15 °C, which hands it the larger part of a Montreal winter; the furnace's elements step in mainly during deep cold snaps.

The 10.0 HSPF2 rating and COP

HSPF2 measures the heat pump's efficiency over the whole heating season, accounting for mild days, cold days and defrost cycles. At 10.0 HSPF2, each kilowatt-hour the heat pump uses turns, over the season, into much more heat than with ordinary electric heating.

COP measures it at a specific temperature: at -15 °C, this system delivers twice as much heat as the electricity it uses. The elements of an electric furnace, for their part, never deliver more heat than the electricity they receive.

Electric auxiliary heat, only when needed

A compatible thermostat manages the heat pump and the furnace's elements. The heat pump heats first; when it can no longer hold the set point, the thermostat brings in the electric elements as auxiliary heat. During defrost, those elements can also heat for a few minutes so that the air from the grilles stays warm.

The moment auxiliary heat comes in is set according to the heat pump's capacity, the home's heat loss and your comfort preferences. We set it during commissioning and adjust it as needed.

Summer

In summer, the heat pump cools every room served by the ducts, with 15.2 SEER2 over a typical summer and 10.0 EER2 at full load on a hot day. Its variable-speed (inverter) compressor slows down as it approaches the set point and runs for long periods at low speed, which removes moisture from the air. The furnace blower is set to deliver the airflow that cooling requires. The system runs on R-410A, a refrigerant that refrigeration technicians know well.

The $3,960 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $3,960 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 DLCURAH36ABK outdoor unit and the DLFULAH36XCX 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

From the visit to commissioning

The visit is used to check the furnace's condition, its age, its blower and the airflow it can deliver, its heating elements, the filter, the ducts and the air return, as well as the electrical panel and what it already carries. If the furnace is nearing the end of its life, we tell you and present the other options.

On installation day, the coil is mounted on the furnace and connected to the condensate drain. The outdoor unit goes on a wall bracket or a stand, above the snow line, away from roof drip. The insulated copper line set is brazed, pressure-tested and put under vacuum. The outdoor unit is connected on its dedicated circuit, with an outdoor disconnect, and the thermostat is replaced with a model that manages the heat pump and electric auxiliary heat. Commissioning checks the charge, airflow, defrost and the elements coming in; we then explain the settings to you.

Maintenance

The furnace filter now 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. A yearly check of the electric furnace, its elements and its blower is still worthwhile, and annual HVAC maintenance of the heat pump covers the coil, the condensate drain and the electrical connections. In winter, 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 | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Coil DLFULA 21 in.) - R410A. We check your electric furnace and your panel, assess the home room by room and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.