Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE H4H5S ION | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
Even comfort from the basement to the bedrooms, with the ducts already in place
In a townhouse or a small two-storey house, comfort often comes down to the levels: a cool basement, a comfortable main floor, bedrooms that are too warm in summer. A central heat pump connected to the existing ducts moves air through the whole house, heats through most of the winter and cools in summer. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE H4H5S ION | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the H4H5S18AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X18L0AB cabinet, which pushes air through the duct system.
Its certified ratings are 14.3 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 7.5 HSPF2, and its certificate publishes heating capacities at -8 °C and -15 °C, which we detail below.
Two-level homes, an air distribution challenge
Warm air rises, cool air sinks. In a two-level home, this simple principle creates differences: in summer, the bedrooms under the roof build up the day's heat; in winter, the basement stays cooler than the rest. With baseboards or window air conditioners, each room fends for itself. With a central system, the blower mixes the air of the whole house and sends it back, filtered, to every grille.
The 1.5-ton size suits townhouses, small well-insulated two-storey houses and two-level condos with their own air handler. It is a small size, chosen so that the system runs long and steadily rather than in bursts. Our load calculation confirms, room by room, that it matches the house; an older, poorly insulated home may need the next size up.
What the ION pairing includes
The pairing brings together two units certified together. The H4H5S18AKAAA outdoor unit captures or releases heat outdoors. The FJMA4X18L0AB cabinet, an air handler, takes the place of the old electric furnace: it houses the indoor coil, the blower and the space provided for backup electric heating elements. An insulated copper refrigerant line and the control wiring link the two.
The thermostat completes the system. It must be designed for a heat pump with backup: it decides when the heat pump is enough and when the backup must help. We choose it and set it up at commissioning.
Balancing the air, room by room
A central system only gives even comfort if the air gets where it is needed. During the visit, we look at each level:
- supplies: each bedroom needs its grille, and the upstairs grilles must get enough air despite the length of the ducts;
- return air: a two-level home needs a return upstairs, otherwise warm air stays trapped there in summer;
- closed doors: a bedroom with no return and the door closed gets less air; a transfer grille or a gap under the door often solves it;
- balancing dampers: they send a little more air upstairs in summer and downstairs in winter.
The thermostat's continuous fan mode also helps: the blower mixes the air between levels even when the heat pump is neither heating nor cooling, which evens out temperature differences.
From cold outside to warmth inside
A heat pump moves heat instead of producing it. The R-410A refrigerant evaporates in the outdoor coil as it absorbs heat from the air, even cold air; the compressor compresses it, which raises its temperature; the refrigerant then releases that heat to the cabinet's coil, where the blower picks it up and distributes it. In summer, a reversing valve turns the path around and the house cools down.
This transfer of heat is what lets the heat pump deliver more energy than it uses. An electric furnace or a baseboard, by contrast, turns electricity into heat one for one.
The certificate's winter figures
The certificate lists 10,200 BTU/h at -8 °C and 7,700 BTU/h at -15 °C, with a COP of 1.90 at -15 °C. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.
- At -8 °C, the listed capacity represents about 57% of the nominal size of 18,000 BTU.
- At -15 °C, it represents about 43% of that size.
- At that same point, the COP of 1.90 means the heat pump delivers almost twice the energy it uses.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 210998717, as published in the AHRI certification directory.
The balance point, simply explained
Every house loses heat, and the colder it is outside, the more it loses. The heat pump, for its part, supplies less and less as the temperature drops. The two curves cross at a temperature called the balance point: above it, the heat pump heats alone; below it, a supplement is needed.
In this system, that supplement comes from the cabinet's backup elements, which take over in deep cold for the missing share. A well-insulated house lowers its balance point: the heat pump heats it alone for longer into the winter. That is why insulation and airtightness are part of our assessment.
The seasonal ratings, plainly
Three ratings sum up efficiency over a year. SEER2, at 14.3, measures cooling over a typical summer. EER2, at 12.0, measures cooling at full demand, on a heat-wave day. HSPF2, at 7.5, measures heating over a full season; it is the one that weighs most on the bill of a Quebec home.
These are the ratings of a conventional system. If you are aiming for higher ratings or a grant, we will show you pairings of comparable size that meet those goals during the visit.
LogisVert
This pairing does not carry an amount on Hydro-Québec's LogisVert list of October 19, 2026. If the grant matters for your project, we will point you to an eligible pairing of comparable size.
Installing a central heat pump in a townhouse
Our method
- In-home assessment: load calculation, inspection of the ducts, returns and electrical panel.
- Outdoor location: in a small yard or along a lane, we choose a clear spot, above the snow line, on a stand or a wall bracket, away from roof drips and the neighbours' bedroom windows. In a condominium, the location may require the syndicate's approval; it is best obtained before the work.
- Cabinet: the FJMA4X replaces the old furnace and connects to the plenum and return air; the condensate drain goes to a floor drain or a pump.
- Refrigerant line: insulated copper, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, power to the backup elements and thermostat.
- Commissioning and balancing: refrigerant charge, airflow, defrost, adjustment of the dampers between levels, then an explanation of how everything works.
Maintenance, season by season
- Fall: change the filter and have the backup heat checked before the first cold spell.
- Winter: clear the outdoor unit after every storm and do not cover it. The white vapour during defrost is normal.
- Spring: remove leaves and debris around the unit and check that the condensate drain flows well.
- Summer: check the filter every month during cooling and keep plants away from the outdoor unit.
One HVAC maintenance visit per year, with coil cleaning and a check of the electrical connections, completes this calendar.
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 H4H5S ION | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A. We assess the home room by room and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.