Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE H4H5S ION | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
A full heating season, from fall to spring, through your ducts
A central heat pump does not work the same way in October as in January. Understanding what it does at each point in the year helps you choose it well, set it up well and know what to expect. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE H4H5S ION | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the H4H5S24AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X24L0BC cabinet, which pushes warm or cool air through the existing duct system.
The pairing is certified at 15.2 SEER2, 12.5 EER2 and 7.5 HSPF2, with heating capacities published at -8 °C and -15 °C.
The 2-ton ION pairing and the homes it serves
The H4H5S24AKAAA outdoor unit captures heat from the air in winter and releases the house's heat in summer. The FJMA4X24L0BC cabinet, an air handler, takes the place of the old electric furnace: it houses the indoor coil, the blower and the backup electric heating elements. The two units are linked by an insulated copper refrigerant line and run on R-410A.
The 2-ton size often suits a single-storey house from the eighties, an end-unit townhouse or a semi-detached two-storey house, when the ducts are already in place. A poorly insulated or heavily glazed house may need more; our room-by-room load calculation decides before any quote.
Fall and spring: the heat pump on its own
During the mild months, the heat pump heats on its own. It captures heat from the outdoor air, the compressor concentrates it and the cabinet's coil passes it to the air of the house. At these temperatures, it delivers far more heat than the electricity it uses, and this is where it does most of its work over a year.
The heat is different from an electric furnace's: the air coming out of the grilles is warm, the cycles are longer, and the house temperature varies less. What you notice most is the absence of those bursts of very hot air followed by cooling.
What the certificate shows for winter
The certificate lists 14,200 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) and 11,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F). The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. At -15 °C, the COP is 2.06: the heat pump delivers about twice the energy it uses.
Compared with the nominal size of 24,000 BTU, the published capacity represents about 59% at -8 °C and 46% at -15 °C.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 210998625, as published in the AHRI certification directory.
The heart of winter: the heat pump and the backup together
When the cold sets in, two things happen at once: the house loses more heat, and the heat pump captures less. Past a certain threshold, specific to each house, it is no longer enough on its own. The cabinet's backup elements then add the missing heat, and switch off when the heat pump is enough again.
This sharing is normal for a conventional central heat pump. What matters is that the backup is properly sized: enough to keep the house comfortable in deep cold, without asking more of the electrical panel than it can deliver. We set it from the load calculation and list it in the quote.
Defrost, without worry
In cold, damp weather, frost forms on the outdoor unit's coil. To remove it, the heat pump briefly reverses its cycle: the outdoor coil warms up, the frost melts, and a cloud of white vapour may rise from the unit. The outdoor fan stops during this time, and you may hear a light whoosh at the moment of reversal.
For those few minutes, the cabinet's backup may come on so that the air blown into the rooms stays comfortable. The meltwater drains under the unit; that is why we set it on a support, above the snow line, so that ice does not build up beneath it.
The thermostat: a few settings that matter
- A thermostat designed for a heat pump: it makes the heat pump work first and only calls on the backup when needed.
- A steady set point: deep setbacks at night force a recovery in the morning, often with the backup, which cancels part of the gain.
- Emergency heat mode: it heats the house with the backup only. It is meant for an outdoor unit breakdown, not for everyday use.
- Continuous fan: useful for mixing the air between levels, to try according to your comfort.
The ratings, plainly
The SEER2 of 15.2 measures cooling efficiency over a full summer; the EER2 of 12.5, cooling efficiency at full demand in hot weather. The HSPF2 of 7.5 measures heating efficiency over a season: it is the rating that best reflects the work described above, from fall to spring. COP is read at a specific temperature; an electric baseboard has a COP of 1.
Summer, the same system in reverse
In summer, the reversing valve turns the circuit around and the cabinet cools the air of the house. The cold coil also removes humidity, which flows out through the condensate drain. Every room served by the ducts is cooled, with no window unit.
The same thermostat manages both seasons. At the right size of 2 tons, cooling cycles are long enough to dry the air on humid July days: the house feels cool without lowering the set point, and the bedrooms stay comfortable at night. An oversized unit, by contrast, would cool quickly, stop and leave the humidity behind.
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.
Installation and follow-up by AirGreen
From the visit to commissioning
- Free visit: load calculation, inspection of the ducts, return air and electrical panel. A central heat pump only delivers its full efficiency if the airflow keeps up.
- Removal of the old equipment: electric furnace and, where applicable, the old air conditioner, with recovery of the refrigerant.
- FJMA4X cabinet: installed where the old furnace stood, connected to the plenum and return air, condensate drain.
- Outdoor unit: on a bracket or a stand, above the snow line, away from roof drips.
- Refrigerant connection: insulated copper, brazing, pressure test, vacuum.
- Electrical: dedicated circuit, disconnect, power to the backup and thermostat.
- Commissioning: charge, airflow, test of the defrost and the backup, thermostat set up with you.
Maintenance and warranty
Check the cabinet filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. Clear the outdoor unit after storms and do not cover it in winter. Plan annual HVAC maintenance, ideally in the fall, to check the coils, the condensate drain, the electrical connections and the backup before the deep cold.
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 | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A. We assess the home room by room and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.