Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B

One system to replace both the central air conditioner and the furnace

In many homes with ductwork, the central air conditioner and the furnace were installed around the same time and are aging together. Replacing them separately means paying for two units that each work only one season. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B replaces both: the D5CUHAH24AAK outdoor unit heats and cools, and the matching-size D5FUAAH24XAK cabinet takes the furnace's place and pushes air through the existing duct system.

Its certified ratings are 18.4 SEER2, 11.7 EER2 and 10.0 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3560726, its certificate lists capacity down to -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $2,496 LogisVert grant. It runs on R-454B, the new-generation refrigerant.

When the air conditioner and the furnace age together

A central air conditioner is, at heart, a heat pump that can only work in one direction. It removes heat from the house in summer, then sits idle for months while the furnace takes over. When it is time to replace one or the other, it makes sense to install a single unit that does both.

The central heat pump takes over the air conditioner's role in summer and the furnace's role for most of the winter. All that remains in the house is one outdoor unit, one indoor cabinet and one thermostat. The duct system stays: it is the home's most valuable asset in this project, and we check it carefully.

What a heat pump does that an air conditioner cannot

A reversing valve lets the refrigerant flow in both directions. In summer, it captures heat from the house and rejects it outdoors; in winter, it captures heat from the outdoor air, even cold air, and brings it to the cabinet's coil. The variable-speed (inverter) compressor adjusts its speed to demand instead of starting at full power, as most older air conditioners do.

You feel this modulated operation in the house: fewer on-off cycles, a steadier temperature, and cooling that removes moisture better because it runs for long periods at low speed instead of cooling the air in bursts.

An air conditioner lives in summer, a heat pump all year

The old air conditioner's location is often a starting point, but it does not always work as is. An air conditioner can sit 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 forming ice on a walkway.

During the visit, we choose the location with these constraints in mind, along with the distance to the cabinet and the neighbours.

The 2-ton size and your home

The 2-ton size, or 24,000 BTU/h, often suits a bungalow with a basement, a modest cottage or a two-storey semi-detached house. The old air conditioner's size gives a hint, but not an answer: an air conditioner was sized for summer, whereas a heat pump must also meet winter heating needs.

We therefore do a complete room-by-room load calculation, for both heating and cooling. Insulation, windows, orientation and the basement all go into that calculation. In an older, poorly insulated house, it may point to the next size up; in a renovated home, this one is often enough.

The certificate's winter data

The certificate lists 20,800 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) with a COP of 2.42, and 21,600 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F) with a COP of 1.87, about 90% of the nominal size. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. At -30 °C, it still lists 12,000 BTU/h with a COP of 1.43.

During cold snaps, when the house loses more heat than the heat pump supplies, electric backup, usually housed in the cabinet, supplements the heating. We size it from the load calculation and specify it in the quote. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215318888, published by NEEP.

What 18.4 SEER2, 11.7 EER2 and 10.0 HSPF2 mean

• SEER2: cooling efficiency over a typical summer. This is the rating that lets you compare the new system with the old central air conditioner.
• EER2: cooling efficiency at full load, on a hot day; useful for judging behaviour during a heat wave.
• HSPF2: efficiency over the whole heating season. This is the rating that matters most in Quebec, since it covers the months when the home uses the most energy.
• COP: heat delivered divided by electricity used at a given temperature. An electric furnace has a COP of 1; at -8 °C, this system shows 2.42.

R-454B refrigerant

R-454B is the refrigerant manufacturers have adopted for their new central heat pumps; if it leaks, its effect on global warming is much lower than that of the older-generation refrigerant, the one your current air conditioner probably contains. It belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable, and its installation follows specific requirements that our refrigeration technicians apply.

The $2,496 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $2,496 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 D5CUHAH24AAK outdoor unit and the D5FUAAH24XAK cabinet.

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

Installation day

We first recover the refrigerant from the old air conditioner, as regulations require, then remove the air conditioner, its coil and the furnace. The D5FUAA cabinet is installed in the furnace's place and connected to the plenum, the air return and the condensate drain. The outdoor unit is mounted at the location chosen during the visit.

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, and the thermostat is replaced with a model that manages heating, cooling and backup heat. Commissioning checks the charge, airflow and defrost; we then explain the settings to you.

Maintenance

With an air conditioner, maintenance was done in the spring. A heat pump works twelve months a year, which changes the routine a little. Check the cabinet's filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. In winter, keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice, without ever covering it; in the fall, remove the leaves. Annual HVAC maintenance cleans the coils and checks the drain, the electrical connections and operation in both modes. 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 ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B. We assess the home room by room, choose the outdoor unit's location with you and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.