Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUHA 24 000) - R454B
Even heat from the basement to the top floor, with the ducts you already have
In a multi-level home, comfort depends as much on air distribution as on the unit itself. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUHA 24,000) - R454B pairs the D5CUHAH24AAK outdoor unit with the matching-size D5FUHAH24XAK cabinet, which replaces the furnace and pushes warm or cool air through the existing duct system.
The certified ratings are 18.7 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 10.0 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3560928, its certificate lists capacity down to -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $2,496 LogisVert grant.
The challenge of a three-level home
The 2-ton size, or 24,000 BTU/h, often suits a two-storey cottage with a basement, a semi-detached house in Laval or on the South Shore, or a three-level townhouse. These homes have one thing in common: warm air rises. In winter, the basement stays cool while the upstairs bedrooms overheat; in summer, it is the top floor that becomes hard to cool.
A furnace that blows very hot air in short bursts makes these differences worse. A well-installed heat pump reduces them, provided the duct system is balanced. That is why a load calculation, room by room and level by level, is the first step in our quotes. It also confirms the size: an older, poorly insulated home may need more, while a renovated home often does fine with this one.
Variable speed: air that keeps moving
The variable-speed (inverter) compressor adjusts its speed to demand. In mild weather, it runs slowly and for long periods; in deep cold, it speeds up. Air therefore circulates almost constantly through the ducts, at a gentle temperature, instead of arriving in waves. This continuous mixing is exactly what a three-level home needs to even out its temperatures.
The system runs on R-454B, the refrigerant manufacturers have adopted for their new central heat pumps, whose effect on global warming is much lower than that of the refrigerant it replaces. It belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable, and its installation follows specific requirements.
The D5FUHA cabinet
The D5FUHAH24XAK cabinet is the system's indoor unit. It houses the coil, where the refrigerant releases or absorbs heat, and the blower that distributes air to every level. It is installed in the mechanical room, where the old furnace stood, and connects to the supply plenum, the air return and the condensate drain.
During deep cold, electric backup, usually housed in the cabinet, supplements the heat pump when the home's demand exceeds what it supplies. We size it from the load calculation and specify it in the quote. We also plan easy access to the filter: a filter that is easy to check is a filter that gets replaced on time.
Balancing the system: dampers, returns and thermostat
A duct system is tuned like an instrument. Balancing dampers, the flaps placed in the branch ducts, let you divide the airflow between the basement, the main floor and the upper floor. The air return matters just as much: a home whose only return is on the main floor does a poor job of drawing in the warm air that builds up upstairs. When the duct system allows it, an upstairs return makes a big difference.
The thermostat's location matters too. Placed near a heat source or in a hallway with no air movement, it reads a temperature that does not represent the house. We look at all three elements during the visit and list any useful corrections in the quote.
What the certificate says about winter
The certificate lists 20,800 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) with a COP of 2.40, about 87% of the nominal size, and 20,600 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F) with a COP of 2.14. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. At -30 °C, the certificate still lists 12,100 BTU/h with a COP of 1.40.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 215318889, published by NEEP. They show that the heat pump stays efficient on ordinary winter days in Montreal and keeps heating during cold snaps, with backup heat as reinforcement.
The ratings, plainly
- 18.7 SEER2: cooling efficiency over a typical summer, mostly at part load.
- 12.0 EER2: cooling efficiency at full load, on a hot day, when the top floor demands the most.
- 10.0 HSPF2: efficiency over the whole heating season, the rating that weighs most on the bill of an electrically heated home.
- COP: heat delivered divided by electricity used. An electric baseboard has a COP of 1; at -15 °C, this system shows 2.14.
Summer on the top floor
In summer, the bedrooms under the roof are the hardest to keep cool. A central system brings cool air to them through the existing registers, and variable speed lets it run for long periods at low speed, which removes moisture instead of only cooling. Humid July nights become easier.
During the hot season, the thermostat's continuous fan mode helps bring warm air from the upper floor back to the return and even out the levels. Condensate drains from the cabinet to a floor drain or a pump.
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 D5FUHAH24XAK 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
The steps of the job
- Site visit, level-by-level load calculation and inspection of the duct system: ducts, dampers, returns, thermostat.
- Written quote specifying the size, the backup heat and the corrections to the duct system.
- Removal of the old furnace, installation of the D5FUHA cabinet and connection to the plenum, air return and drain.
- Mounting of the outdoor unit on a wall bracket or a stand, above the snow line, away from roof drip.
- Insulated copper line set, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical connection on a dedicated circuit, with an outdoor disconnect, and thermostat wiring.
- Commissioning: charge, airflow, defrost, damper balancing and an explanation of the settings.
Maintenance
Check the cabinet's filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, without covering it. Annual HVAC maintenance cleans the coils and checks the condensate drain, the electrical connections and operation in both modes. If you adjust the dampers from one season to the next, note their position: it makes it easy to return to the original setting. 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 ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUHA 24,000) - R454B. We assess the home room by room and level by level, and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.