Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 4 Tons - 48,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUHA 60 000) - R454B

Full capacity at -15 °C and a strong summer rating for a large home

A large home needs a system that holds its capacity in January and keeps its efficiency on the hottest days of July. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 4 Tons - 48,000 BTU in its D5FUHA Air Handler version pairs the 4-ton D5CUHAH48AAK outdoor unit with the D5FUHAH60XAK cabinet, an air handler one size larger than the outdoor unit. The cabinet replaces the furnace and supplies the entire existing duct system.

This pairing shows 17.5 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 9.5 HSPF2. It is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3560737, its certificate lists capacity down to -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $4,740 LogisVert grant. It runs on R-454B, the new-generation refrigerant.

A larger cabinet

A central heat pump is certified as a pairing: a specific outdoor unit and a specific indoor unit, under an AHRI number of their own. The same D5CUHAH48AAK outdoor unit can be paired with the matching D5FUAA cabinet or, as here, with the larger D5FUHA cabinet. Each pairing has its own ratings.

As a general rule, a larger indoor coil offers more heat-exchange surface, which favours efficiency. In return, if the airflow is not adjusted, it may remove slightly less moisture in summer; we set that airflow during commissioning. During the visit, we compare the two pairings based on the space available in the mechanical room, the duct system and the certified ratings of each.

Full capacity at -15 °C

The certificate lists 39,500 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) with a COP of 2.56, and 48,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F) with a COP of 2.00, which is 100% of the nominal size. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. At -30 °C, the certificate still lists 27,200 BTU/h with a COP of 1.46. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215318903, published by NEEP.

COP compares the heat delivered with the electricity used. An electric baseboard has a COP of 1; at -15 °C, this system delivers twice as much heat as the electricity it uses, and it stays above a baseboard down to -30 °C. Over the whole heating season, its efficiency is summed up by the HSPF2 of 9.5, the rating that weighs most on the bill of an electrically heated home.

Summer in a large home: 17.5 SEER2 and 12.0 EER2

SEER2 measures cooling efficiency over a typical summer, and EER2 at full load, on a very hot day. In a large sun-exposed home, with big windows and an upper floor under the roof, EER2 is often what matters most: it describes the system's behaviour at the very moment it runs at full power. At 12.0 EER2, this pairing stays efficient during heat waves.

The rest of the summer, the variable-speed (inverter) compressor slows down as it approaches the set point and runs for long periods at low speed. Air spends more time over the cold coil and leaves its moisture there. Condensate drains from the cabinet to a floor drain or a pump.

Large single-storey homes and long air runs

A large extended bungalow, a single-storey home with a vast finished basement: in these homes, air has to travel long distances before reaching the rooms at the end of the duct system. The registers farthest from the indoor unit often receive less air, and those rooms stay cooler in winter and warmer in summer.

During the visit, we follow the main trunk to the last branches, note crushed or poorly connected ducts and check the air returns. Balancing dampers then let us divide the airflow between nearby and distant rooms. Useful corrections are included in the quote, before signing.

Which homes it suits

The 4-ton size, or 48,000 BTU/h, is meant for large homes: a large single-storey house with a finished basement, a spacious two-storey cottage, an enlarged family home in Laval, Longueuil or on the North Shore. The size is confirmed by a room-by-room load calculation: a renovated home may need less than the old unit, an older home with large glazed areas more.

Electrical and backup heat

During deep cold, electric backup, usually housed in the cabinet, supplements the heat pump when the house loses more heat than it supplies. For a home of this size, the backup and the outdoor unit together require a sufficient electrical service. We check the service capacity and the space in the panel during the visit, size the backup from the load calculation and state any necessary electrical work in the quote.

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 refrigerant it replaces. It belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable. Its installation follows specific requirements, especially for circuit tightness and indoor unit safety, which our refrigeration technicians apply.

The $4,740 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $4,740 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 D5CUHAH48AAK outdoor unit and the D5FUHAH60XAK 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

From the visit to commissioning

The visit includes the load calculation, a complete inspection of the duct system, a check of the electrical service and a measurement of the space available for the cabinet in the mechanical room. On installation day, the furnace is removed and the D5FUHA cabinet takes its place, connected to the plenum, the air return and the condensate drain.

The outdoor unit is mounted on a suitable stand or bracket, above the snow line, with enough clearance all around and away from roof drip. The insulated copper line set is brazed, pressure-tested and put under vacuum. The electrical connection is made on a dedicated circuit, with an outdoor disconnect. Commissioning checks the charge, airflow, balancing, defrost and backup heat; we then explain the settings to you.

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 the backup heat. If rooms at the end of the duct system seem less comfortable from one season to the next, mention it during maintenance: adjusting the dampers is often enough. 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 this 4-ton ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort central heat pump with the D5FUHA air handler. We assess the home room by room, follow your duct system to the end, compare the possible pairings and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.