Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B

Full capacity at -15 °C and R-454B refrigerant for a small ducted home

The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B replaces the old furnace in a home with ductwork with a system that heats and cools through the same network. The D5CUHAH18AAK outdoor unit is paired with the D5FUAAH18XAK cabinet, a matching-size air handler that houses the indoor coil and the blower, and pushes air through the existing ducts.

The certified ratings are 19.0 SEER2, 12.5 EER2 and 9.8 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation (ENERGY STAR ID 3560725), its certificate lists capacity down to -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $1,800 LogisVert grant. Two traits set it apart: according to the certificate, it keeps its full nominal capacity at -15 °C, and it runs on R-454B, the new-generation refrigerant.

What the certificate lists for winter

At -8 °C (17 °F), the certificate lists 15,000 BTU/h with a COP of 2.60. At -15 °C (5 °F), it lists 18,000 BTU/h with a COP of 2.00, which is 100% of the unit's nominal size. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.

At -30 °C, the certificate still lists 12,000 BTU/h with a COP of 1.41. In a properly sized home, the heat pump therefore provides most of the heating for most of the winter in Laval as in Longueuil, and keeps contributing during cold snaps. When the home's demand exceeds what the outdoor unit supplies, electric backup takes over; we size it from the load calculation and list it in the quote.

R-454B, the new generation of refrigerant

R-454B is gradually replacing the previous-generation refrigerant in new central heat pumps. If it leaks, its effect on global warming is much lower, and manufacturers have adopted it for their new product lines. For the homeowner, this means a system designed for current standards rather than an older-generation unit.

This refrigerant belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable. Its installation follows specific requirements, especially for circuit tightness and for the safety of the indoor unit. Our refrigeration technicians apply these requirements during the connection, the pressure test and commissioning.

A small home, a small size

The 1.5-ton size, or 18,000 BTU/h, is meant for compact homes: a single-storey house with a basement, a row house, a small suburban home on the South Shore or the North Shore whose electric furnace is reaching the end of its life and that never had central air conditioning. A single heat pump takes care of both seasons.

This size assumes a reasonable building envelope. If the attic is poorly insulated or the windows are original in an older house, heat loss may justify the next size up. Conversely, going too big in a small home leads to short cycles, temperature differences and poor dehumidification in summer. A room-by-room load calculation lets us decide on facts rather than on an estimate.

The D5FUAA cabinet and air distribution

The D5FUAAH18XAK cabinet is the system's indoor unit: it contains the coil, where the refrigerant releases or absorbs heat, and the blower that moves air through the house. It is installed where the old furnace stood, usually in the basement, and connects to the existing supply plenum and air return.

A heat pump delivers its heat at a gentler temperature than a furnace; it makes up for it by circulating air longer. The quality of the duct system therefore matters as much as the unit. We check that the main ducts are neither crushed nor poorly connected, that each room has a supply register and that the air return is sufficient. When a correction is needed, it is included in the quote.

Variable speed in everyday life

The variable-speed (inverter) compressor adapts its speed to demand. On a mild spring day, it runs slowly; on a January morning, it speeds up. You feel the result in the house: a steady temperature, without the bursts of hot air followed by long pauses of a conventional furnace, and quieter operation, since a unit running slowly makes less noise than one that starts at full power.

Variable speed also serves efficiency: most of the time, the heat pump runs at part load, where its efficiency is at its best. That explains the gap between a seasonal rating such as SEER2 and a full-load rating such as EER2.

Reading the certified ratings

• 19.0 SEER2: seasonal cooling efficiency, calculated over a typical summer in which the unit runs mostly at part load.
• 12.5 EER2: cooling efficiency at full load, on a hot day.
• 9.8 HSPF2: seasonal heating efficiency, the rating that weighs most on the annual bill of an electrically heated home.
• COP: heat delivered divided by electricity used, at a specific temperature. An electric baseboard has a COP of 1. At -15 °C, this system shows a COP of 2.00: it delivers twice as much heat as the electricity it uses.

Summer: cool air and humidity

In cooling mode, the system cools the whole house through the same ducts. The compressor slows down as it approaches the set point and air spends more time over a cold coil, which removes moisture instead of only cooling. During the humid weeks of July, that is often what separates a cool house from a comfortable one.

The water removed from the air drains through the indoor unit's drain, which we connect to a floor drain or, if there is none nearby, to a condensate pump.

The $1,800 LogisVert grant

This pairing is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $1,800 for the owner of an existing home, according to the list in effect on the installation date. The amount corresponds to certificate AHRI 215318887, published by NEEP, which covers the D5CUHAH18AAK outdoor unit with the D5FUAAH18XAK cabinet; a different cabinet would mean a different certificate and possibly a different amount.

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 by AirGreen

How the job unfolds

Everything starts with a home visit. We do the load calculation, examine the duct system and choose the location of both units. The written quote specifies the size, the electric backup and any corrections to the duct system.

On installation day, the old furnace is disconnected and removed, then the D5FUAA cabinet is installed and connected to the plenum and air return, with its condensate drain. The outdoor unit goes on a wall bracket or a stand, above the snow line and away from roof drip. The insulated copper line set links the two units; we braze the joints, perform the pressure test and pull a vacuum before opening the valves. The electrical connection is made on a dedicated circuit, with an outdoor disconnect.

Commissioning completes the job: check of the charge, airflow, defrost and thermostat. We then take the time to explain the settings and filter care.

Maintenance

Three habits are enough day to day: check the indoor unit's filter every month in season and replace it according to its format, keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, and never cover it in winter. Once a year, professional HVAC maintenance cleans the coils, checks the condensate drain and electrical connections, and tests operation in both modes.

In cold, damp weather, the outdoor unit defrosts from time to time and releases a cloud of white vapour. This is normal: the system melts the frost off its coil to maintain its efficiency.

Warranty

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

These warranties apply to the installed pairing. Keep the invoice and the commissioning report, which list the serial numbers of both units.

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.

A central heat pump involves ventilation, refrigeration and electrical work: our licences cover all three.

Request your free estimate for the Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B. We assess the home room by room and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.