Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE HCH6 2 stages | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
A two-stage central heat pump for steadier comfort, through your ducts
For a home that already has ductwork, the central heat pump handles the cooling and most of the heating, with a single thermostat and no unit in the rooms. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE HCH6 2 stages | 2 Tons - 24,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the HCH624GKA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X24L0BC cabinet, which pushes air through the existing duct system.
Its compressor is two-stage. That is what sets it apart from a conventional single-speed heat pump, and it is the focus of this page: a central system that follows the home's demand more closely.
For a mid-size home with ducts
The 2-ton size is meant for mid-size homes: a bungalow with a basement, a semi-detached house, a compact two-storey house or an end-unit townhouse, when the ducts are already in place and the insulation is reasonable. In this type of home, it often replaces an electric furnace and a central air conditioner that have reached the end of their life.
The size is confirmed with a room-by-room load calculation. Insulation, windows, orientation and how much of the basement is heated matter more than floor area. If the house needs more, we say so during the visit rather than forcing this size.
What "two-stage" means
A single-speed compressor runs at full capacity or not at all. A two-stage compressor can run at a reduced level when demand is low and switch to full capacity when demand rises. The heat pump thus has two levels of operation instead of one.
In a Quebec home, demand changes constantly: a cool October morning, a sunny March afternoon, a January night or a humid July day do not call for the same thing. A system with two levels follows these changes more closely than a single-speed system, with fewer stops and restarts.
This operation is especially useful in homes where demand varies a great deal within a single day, for example a heavily glazed open-concept area that warms up in the afternoon and cools quickly in the evening.
The FJMA4X cabinet and the backup heat
The FJMA4X24L0BC cabinet is an air handler. It houses the indoor coil, the blower that pushes air through the ducts and the space for the backup electric heating elements. It takes the place of the old electric furnace, in the basement or a utility closet, and connects to the existing plenum and return air.
The thermostat must be compatible with a two-stage heat pump and with the backup: it chooses the compressor's level and decides when the backup should help. We supply it, connect it and set it up at commissioning.
System ratings
The pairing of the HCH624GKA outdoor unit and the FJMA4X24L0BC indoor unit is not listed with SEER2 ratings in the AHRI certification directory. We confirm the ratings of the complete system before the quote; they also determine grant eligibility.
In practice, you will know the ratings of the proposed system before you sign anything. If you are comparing several options, we place them side by side on the same basis, with the exact model numbers of each unit.
As a reminder, SEER2 measures cooling efficiency over a season, EER2 cooling efficiency in hot weather, and HSPF2 heating efficiency over a season. The higher these ratings, the less electricity the system uses for the same comfort.
How the heat pump heats the house
A heat pump does not produce heat, it moves it. In winter, the R-410A refrigerant captures heat from the outdoor air in the outdoor unit; the compressor concentrates it; the cabinet's coil releases it to the air that the blower distributes through the ducts. In summer, a reversing valve turns the circuit around and the heat of the house is released outdoors.
The air coming out of the grilles is warm rather than very hot, as it is with an electric furnace. Heat arrives more gently and more continuously, which gives more even temperatures from one room to the next.
Deep cold
Like any air-source heat pump, this one supplies less heat as the outdoor temperature drops, while the house asks for more. In deep cold, the cabinet's backup elements take over the missing share, then switch off when the heat pump is enough again.
We size the backup from the load calculation and the capacity of the electrical panel. A steady set point helps the heat pump do most of the work: deep setbacks at night force a recovery in the morning, often with the backup.
During defrost, the backup may also come on briefly so that the air blown into the rooms stays comfortable. The white vapour rising from the outdoor unit at that moment is normal.
Summer: cooling and humidity
In summer, the cabinet cools the air and removes humidity, which flows out through the condensate drain. Every room served is cooled, with no window unit. On warm, humid days, the compressor's reduced level lets the system run longer without cooling the house too quickly, which gives the coil time to remove humidity.
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 by AirGreen
Ducts and electrical, checked before the quote
The cabinet takes the place of the old furnace and connects to the existing duct system. Before the quote, we check duct sizes and the air return, because a central heat pump only delivers its full efficiency if the airflow keeps up. We also look at the sealing of ducts in unheated spaces and the filter location.
On the electrical side, we check the panel's capacity for the outdoor unit's dedicated circuit and for the power supply to the cabinet and its backup. Any correction needed appears in the written quote.
The job
- Removal of the old furnace and, where applicable, the old air conditioner, with recovery of the refrigerant.
- Installation of the FJMA4X cabinet, connection to the plenum and return air, condensate drain to a floor drain or a pump.
- Outdoor unit on a stand, above the snow line, away from roof drips and dryer vents.
- Refrigerant line in insulated copper, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, power to the backup, thermostat wiring for both stages.
- Commissioning: refrigerant charge, airflow, test of both levels, the defrost and the backup, then an explanation of how everything works.
Maintenance and warranty
Check the filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves and do not cover it in winter. Plan annual HVAC maintenance of the coil, the condensate drain and the electrical connections. In winter, the white vapour during defrost is normal.
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 HCH6 2 stages | 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.