Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE HSH6 Premium | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
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A premium central heat pump, sized for a compact home
For a home that already has ductwork, the central heat pump handles the cooling and most of the heating, with no unit in the rooms and a single thermostat. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE HSH6 Premium | 1.5 Tons - 18,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the HSH618GKA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X18L0AB cabinet, which pushes air through the existing duct system.
This pairing from Arcoaire's premium series is meant for owners of a small home who want to replace central air conditioning and the old electric furnace in one go with a single system that does both.
A compact home that already has ducts
The 1.5-ton size suits homes where heating and cooling needs are modest: a two-level townhouse, a condo with its own air handler, a small bungalow with an insulated attic, or the upper floor of a duplex served by its own duct system. In these homes, a bigger unit adds nothing: it reaches the set point too quickly, stops, starts again, and leaves humidity in the air in summer.
The right size depends on the home's insulation, windows, orientation and airtightness far more than on its floor area. Two neighbouring houses of the same size can have very different needs if one has been renovated and the other has not. We therefore run a room-by-room load calculation before confirming this size; if it does not fit, we say so.
The HSH6 and FJMA4X pairing
The HSH618GKA outdoor unit contains the compressor, the outdoor coil and the fan that draws air across that coil. It sits on a stand or a wall bracket, at the back or side of the house. The FJMA4X18L0AB cabinet is the air handler: it houses the indoor coil and the blower that pushes warm or cool air through the ducts. It replaces the old electric furnace, in the same spot, and connects to the existing plenum and return air.
The two units are linked by an insulated copper refrigerant line and by the control wiring. The cabinet can also receive backup electric heating elements, which supplement the heat pump in deep cold. It is this exact pairing, outdoor unit and cabinet together, that carries the certificate described below; we install it as is.
What the certificate shows
The pairing of the HSH618GKA outdoor unit and the FJMA4X18L0AB indoor unit carries certificate AHRI 210448290, issued under the former test procedure, the one that came before SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings. Its ratings do not compare directly with the SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings of recent equipment, so we do not mix them. We confirm the ratings that apply to the installed system during the visit.
For you, this means one simple thing: if you compare this system with another, do it on the same basis. A rating issued under the former procedure and a SEER2 rating are not read on the same scale. During the visit, we put the options side by side with comparable ratings, and the written quote lists the exact models.
Heat that circulates through the whole house
A heat pump does not produce heat: it draws it from the outdoor air and carries it inside with the R-410A refrigerant. The compressor raises the refrigerant's temperature, the cabinet's coil passes that heat to the air, and the blower distributes it through the ducts to every grille. In summer, a reversing valve turns the cycle around and the heat of the house is released outdoors.
Heat from a heat pump does not feel like heat from an electric furnace. The air coming out of the grilles is warm rather than hot, and the system runs longer at a time. Rooms warm up more evenly, without the bursts of heat followed by cooling that baseboards or an oversized furnace produce.
Deep cold and backup heat
Like any conventional heat pump, this one delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops, while the house asks for more. In deep cold, the cabinet's backup elements take over the share the heat pump can no longer supply. A thermostat designed for a heat pump manages this handover: it makes the heat pump work first and only calls on the backup when necessary.
We size these elements from the load calculation and the capacity of the electrical panel, and list it in the quote. 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, with no unit in the rooms
In summer, the same system cools the entire house through the existing grilles, with no wall unit or window air conditioner. The cabinet's coil cools the air and removes humidity, which flows out through the condensate drain. A properly sized unit runs long enough to dry the air: the house feels cool without lowering the set point.
In a townhouse or a small two-storey house, the upstairs bedrooms are often the warmest. We check that each one has its supply and that there is enough return air upstairs. Where needed, a balancing damper sends a little more air upstairs in summer and a little more downstairs in winter.
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 in a ducted home
Before the quote: ducts, return air and electrical
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 that cross unheated spaces, the filter location and the condition of the plenum.
On the electrical side, we check the panel's capacity, the room available for a dedicated circuit for the outdoor unit and the power supply to the cabinet with its backup elements. When a correction is needed, it appears in the written quote, before signing.
The job, step by step
- 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.
- Installation of the 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 before the valves are opened.
- Electrical connection: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, power to the cabinet and thermostat.
- Commissioning: refrigerant charge, airflow, defrost and settings, then an explanation of how everything works.
Maintenance
Replace the system filter according to its format and check it every month in season: a clogged filter reduces airflow and strains the blower. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, and do not cover it in winter, since it heats the house all season.
Plan annual HVAC maintenance of the coil, the condensate drain and the electrical connections. It is also a chance to check the backup heat before winter and the cooling before summer.
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.
Ventilation, refrigeration, electrical: these are the three trades that installing a central heat pump involves, and we cover all three.
Request your free estimate for the Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE HSH6 Premium | 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.
Available while supplies last.