Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B
A large home moves to the new generation of central heat pump
Many large homes are still equipped with a big central air conditioner and a big electric furnace installed long ago, often with an older-generation refrigerant. The day one of them gives out is an opportunity to rethink the whole setup. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Compact Quiet Comfort | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B replaces both units: the D5CUHAH60AAK outdoor unit heats and cools, and the matching-size D5FUAAH60XAK cabinet takes the furnace's place and supplies the existing duct system.
Its certified ratings are 16.0 SEER2, 10.0 EER2 and 9.0 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3560730, its certificate lists capacity down to -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $5,400 LogisVert grant. It runs on R-454B, the new-generation refrigerant.
Re-validating the size before replacing
Faced with an old large system, the first instinct is to replace it with a unit of the same size. That is rarely the right method. Since the original installation, the house has often changed: re-insulated attic, replaced windows, finished basement, an addition. Each of these projects changes the heating and cooling needs, sometimes downward, sometimes upward.
The 5-ton size, or 60,000 BTU/h, is meant for very large homes or homes whose heat loss remains high: a large three-level residence in Laval or on the South Shore, an older Montreal house with many rooms. We only recommend it after a complete room-by-room load calculation. If that calculation points to a smaller size, or to two smaller systems, we tell you.
R-454B in a large installation
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 refrigerants it replaces. It belongs to the A2L class, known as mildly flammable.
Installation requirements for this class take into account the amount of refrigerant in the circuit and the room where the indoor unit is located. In a large system, the refrigerant charge is bigger; circuit tightness, the quality of the brazed joints, the pressure test and the vacuum therefore carry even more weight. Our refrigeration technicians apply these requirements at every step, and during the visit we check that the mechanical room is suitable.
The D5FUAA cabinet and the duct system
The D5FUAAH60XAK cabinet houses the indoor coil and the blower that moves air through the whole house. It connects to the supply plenum, the air returns and the condensate drain. A system of this size moves a large volume of air: the main trunk, the branches and above all the returns must be up to the task, otherwise the blower strains and the registers whistle.
A duct system designed for an old air conditioner of the same size is often close, but not always. We examine it end to end, check that a return serves the upper floor and that the rooms at the end of the duct system get their share, then list useful corrections in the quote.
What the certificate lists for winter
- At -8 °C (17 °F): 45,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.40.
- At -15 °C (5 °F): 52,000 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.80, about 87% of the nominal size.
- At -30 °C: 30,900 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.46.
The -8 °C and -15 °C points are measured separately; we report each one as published. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215318893, published by NEEP. COP compares the heat delivered with the electricity used: an electric baseboard has a COP of 1, and this heat pump stays above it down to -30 °C.
Backup heat and the electrical service
When the house loses more heat than the heat pump supplies, electric backup, usually housed in the cabinet, supplements the heating. In a home of this size, the backup and the outdoor unit form the largest electrical load in the building. Even in a home already heated by an electric furnace, the service and the panel must therefore be checked before the project, since the outdoor unit adds to the backup elements.
During the visit, we check the service capacity and the space in the panel, size the backup from the load calculation and state any necessary electrical work in the quote. The thermostat is set so that backup heat only comes on when needed.
The ratings and summer
The HSPF2 of 9.0 measures efficiency over the whole heating season; it is the rating that weighs most on the bill of an electrically heated home. The SEER2 of 16.0 measures cooling efficiency over a typical summer, and the EER2 of 10.0 measures full-load efficiency on a very hot day.
In summer, the variable-speed (inverter) compressor slows down as it approaches the set point and runs for long periods at low speed, instead of the full-power starts of an old air conditioner. Air spends more time over the cold coil and leaves its moisture there: a large 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 $5,400 LogisVert grant
The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $5,400 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 D5CUHAH60AAK outdoor unit and the D5FUAAH60XAK 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 replacement steps
- Visit: load calculation, inspection of the duct system and returns, check of the mechanical room and the electrical service.
- Written quote: chosen size, backup heat, electrical work and corrections to the duct system.
- Removal of the old units: recovery of the old air conditioner's refrigerant, as regulations require, then removal of the air conditioner, its coil and the electric furnace.
- Indoor unit: installation of the D5FUAA cabinet, connection to the plenum, air returns and drain.
- Outdoor unit: stand or bracket suited to its weight, above the snow line, with enough clearance and away from roof drip.
- Refrigerant circuit: insulated copper line set, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical and commissioning: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, thermostat, then a check of the charge, airflow, defrost and backup heat.
Maintenance
An old air conditioner was serviced in the spring; a heat pump works all year. 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 ever covering it. Annual HVAC maintenance cleans the coils and checks the condensate drain, the electrical connections and the backup heat. The white vapour the 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 | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler D5FUAA) - R454B. We re-validate the size room by room, check the duct system and the electrical service, and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.