Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B
Certified capacity down to -30 °C that reduces the share of electric backup
In a home heated by a central heat pump, every hour the heat pump manages on its own is an hour the electric backup stays off. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B stands out for the capacity its certificate lists at -30 °C. It pairs the D5CUHAH36AAK outdoor unit with the matching-size D5FUAAH36XAK cabinet, which replaces the furnace and distributes air through the existing ductwork.
Its certified ratings are 17.4 SEER2, 11.7 EER2 and 10.3 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3560728 and qualifies for a $3,816 LogisVert grant. It runs on R-454B, the new-generation refrigerant.
Winter, from mild to coldest
- At -8 °C (17 °F): 31,800 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.54.
- At -15 °C (5 °F): 39,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.90.
- At -30 °C: 27,800 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.59, about 77% of the 36,000 BTU/h nominal size.
The -8 °C and -15 °C points are measured separately; we report each one as published. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215318891, published by NEEP.
The last figure is the one that stands out. On the coldest nights of winter, when many heat pumps supply only a fraction of their size, this one still keeps most of it, with an efficiency that remains higher than ordinary electric heating. The longer the heat pump holds up in the cold, the lower the temperature at which backup heat has to step in, and the fewer backup hours there are in the winter.
Backup heat and the home's electrical capacity
In an all-electric central installation, backup heat usually comes from heating elements housed in the cabinet. Their output is chosen from the load calculation: they must bridge the gap between what the house loses in deep cold and what the heat pump supplies at that moment. When that gap is small, the backup can be small too.
For a home of this size, the difference shows up at the electrical panel. The outdoor unit and the backup heat together require a sufficient electrical service; a more modest backup leaves more headroom for the rest of the house. During the visit, we check the capacity of the service and the space in the panel, and we state in the quote the planned backup output and, where needed, the electrical work required.
A 3-ton family home
The 3-ton size, or 36,000 BTU/h, often suits a two-storey cottage with a finished basement, a large split-level or a spacious semi-detached house on the North Shore, in Laval or in Longueuil. These are homes where several bedrooms, a living room, an open kitchen and a basement share the same duct system.
The examples are only indicative: insulation, windows, airtightness and orientation change the needs from one home to the next. An older home may exceed this size, a renovated one may need less. The room-by-room load calculation done during the visit confirms the size before any quote.
The D5FUAA cabinet and the ductwork
The D5FUAAH36XAK cabinet houses the indoor coil and the blower. It is installed where the old furnace stood and connects to the supply plenum, the air return and the condensate drain. A heat pump delivers air that is less hot than a furnace's, but for longer; the duct system must therefore move air without restriction.
In a multi-storey home, we pay particular attention to the upstairs air return and to balancing the branch ducts, so that the upstairs bedrooms do not overheat in winter and stay cool in summer. Useful corrections are included in the quote.
Variable speed and R-454B refrigerant
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 to full capacity. This wide operating range is what allows the heat pump to cover both mild fall days and January nights.
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 refrigerant it replaces. It belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable, and its installation follows specific requirements that our refrigeration technicians apply.
The certified ratings, plainly
- 10.3 HSPF2: efficiency over the whole heating season, the rating that weighs most on the bill of an electrically heated home.
- 17.4 SEER2: cooling efficiency over a typical summer.
- 11.7 EER2: cooling efficiency at full load, on a hot day.
- COP: heat delivered divided by electricity used at a specific temperature. An electric baseboard has a COP of 1; at -8 °C, this system shows 2.54.
Summer in a large home
In summer, the same system cools every room served by the ducts. The compressor slows down as it approaches the set point and runs for long periods at low speed, which removes moisture from the air instead of only cooling it. The finished basement stays drier and the bedrooms more comfortable on hot nights. Condensate drains from the cabinet to a floor drain or a pump.
The $3,816 LogisVert grant
The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $3,816 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 D5CUHAH36AAK outdoor unit and the D5FUAAH36XAK 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 installation steps
- Visit: room-by-room load calculation, inspection of the ducts and air return, check of the electrical service and panel.
- Written quote: size, backup output, electrical work and corrections to the duct system, where needed.
- Indoor unit: removal of the furnace, installation of the D5FUAA cabinet, connection to the plenum, air return and drain.
- 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: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, wiring of the backup heat and thermostat.
- Commissioning: charge, airflow, defrost, setting of the backup switch-on point, then an explanation of the controls.
Maintenance
Check the cabinet's filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, ice and leaves, without ever covering it: it works all winter. Annual HVAC maintenance cleans the coils and checks the condensate drain, the electrical connections and the backup heat. The white vapour the outdoor unit releases 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 | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B. We assess the home room by room, check the electrical service, and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.