Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE N4H5S Performance | 2.5 Tons - 30,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
An open-concept area and bedrooms at the same comfort, through a single duct system
Today's homes, or renovated ones, have often lost a few walls: kitchen, dining room and living room form one large room, open to wide windows. A central heat pump connected to the existing ducts heats and cools this large volume along with the bedrooms, with a single thermostat. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE N4H5S Performance | 2.5 Tons - 30,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the N4H5S30AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X30L0BB cabinet, which pushes air through the duct system.
Its certified ratings are 14.3 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
For a mid-size to large home
The 2.5-ton size is meant for roomier homes that already have ducts: an enlarged bungalow, a two-storey house with an open-concept main floor, a two-level house from the two-thousands, a wide semi-detached house with a finished basement. It handles the cooling of every room served and most of the heating.
The exact size is confirmed with a room-by-room load calculation. In an open-concept home, glazing weighs heavily: a large west-facing window can call for more cooling than a whole bedroom. Conversely, a recent, well-insulated home may do with the size below. We decide during the visit, with the numbers in hand.
The open-concept area, an air distribution challenge
One large open room is not heated or cooled like three small ones. The volume is larger, heat from the sun and cooking builds up there at the end of the day, and air tends to stratify under a high ceiling. For the room to be comfortable everywhere, air must arrive in sufficient quantity, in the right places, and be able to leave.
- Supplies are ideally placed under windows, where cold air sinks in winter and the sun heats in summer.
- Return air must be large enough for the room's volume; a single return that is too small limits the whole system.
- Continuous fan, set at the thermostat, mixes the air under a high ceiling and reduces the differences between floor and ceiling.
The N4H5S pairing and the FJMA4X cabinet
The N4H5S30AKAAA outdoor unit holds the compressor, the outdoor coil and its fan. The FJMA4X30L0BB cabinet is an air handler: it houses the indoor coil, the blower that pushes air through the ducts and the backup electric heating elements. It takes the place of the old electric furnace and connects to the existing plenum and return air.
The two units are certified together and linked by an insulated copper refrigerant line. We install this pairing as is, since it is these two units, together, that carry the published ratings.
The heat pump principle
A heat pump moves heat instead of producing it. In winter, the R-410A refrigerant captures heat from the outdoor air, the compressor concentrates it and the cabinet's coil releases it to the air of the house. In summer, a reversing valve turns the cycle around and the heat of the house is released outdoors. This transfer is what lets the heat pump deliver more energy than it uses.
What the certificate shows
The certificate lists 17,300 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) and 13,200 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), with a COP of 2.08 at -15 °C. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.
Compared with the nominal size of 30,000 BTU, the listed capacity represents about 58% at -8 °C and 44% at -15 °C. The heat pump therefore keeps heating as the cold sets in, at about twice the efficiency of an electric furnace at the -15 °C point, but a growing share of the heat must come from the backup in deep cold.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 210998812, as published in the AHRI certification directory.
The backup heat and the electrical panel
The larger the house, the larger the backup must be. The cabinet's heating elements take over when the heat pump is no longer enough, and they are the system's largest electrical load. Their capacity is chosen from the load calculation, but also from what the electrical service and panel can deliver, given the home's other appliances.
We check these points during the visit. If the panel needs a change, it appears in the written quote, before signing. The thermostat, designed for a heat pump with backup, then makes the heat pump work first and only calls on the backup when needed.
The ratings explained
- SEER2 (14.3): seasonal cooling efficiency. The higher it is, the less summer weighs on the bill.
- EER2 (12.0): cooling efficiency at full demand, on a hot day; useful for judging a large glazed room in full sun.
- HSPF2 (7.5): seasonal heating efficiency, the most important rating for a Quebec home.
- COP (2.08 at -15 °C): the heat delivered per unit of electricity used at that temperature; a baseboard is at 1.
Cooling a large glazed room
In summer, the large open room is often the first to warm up: afternoon sun, cooking, appliances. The cabinet cools the air and removes humidity, which flows out through the condensate drain. Blinds or curtains closed during the hot hours help the cooling a great deal, whatever the equipment.
A properly sized system runs in cycles long enough to remove humidity, which makes the air more comfortable at the same temperature. That is one more reason not to oversize, even in a large home.
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
The job
- Visit and load calculation: measurement of the rooms, glazing and insulation; 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 electric furnace and, where applicable, the old air conditioner, with recovery of the refrigerant.
- FJMA4X cabinet: connection to the plenum and return air, condensate drain to a floor drain or a pump.
- Outdoor unit: on a stand or a bracket, above the snow line, away from roof drips and dryer vents.
- Refrigerant line: insulated copper, brazing, pressure test and vacuum.
- Electrical: dedicated circuit, outdoor disconnect, power to the backup and thermostat.
- Commissioning: refrigerant charge, airflow, defrost, balancing between the open area and the bedrooms, then an explanation of how everything works.
Maintenance and warranty
Check the cabinet 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 coils, 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 N4H5S Performance | 2.5 Tons - 30,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A. We assess the home room by room and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.