Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE N4H5S Performance | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
The largest residential size, for homes that truly need it
In a very large home with ductwork, a five-ton central heat pump can handle all the cooling and most of the heating from a single unit. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE N4H5S Performance | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the N4H5S60AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X60L0DB indoor unit, an air handler that pushes air through the existing duct system.
Its ratings are 14.3 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. At this size, three checks decide whether the project succeeds: whether the size is justified, whether the duct system can keep up, and whether the electrical panel has the capacity needed. This page addresses them one by one.
Five tons: the homes it targets
The 5-ton size typically targets the largest single-family homes: a very spacious two-level home with a fully finished basement, a very spread-out single-storey home with large glazed areas, or a home enlarged several times whose duct system serves many rooms. These are typical examples.
Floor area alone never justifies this size. A large, recent, well-insulated and airtight home may need much less. An older home with many windows and a poorly insulated attic may need it with a more modest floor area. The room-by-room load calculation decides.
When five tons is too much
An oversized system runs short cycles: it reaches the setpoint too quickly, stops, starts again. In summer, it cools the air without taking the time to dry it; in winter, it creates gaps between rooms. At this size, the difference between good and poor sizing is even more noticeable.
In some very large homes, two smaller systems, each serving one level, provide better comfort than a single large unit, especially when the duct system was designed in two parts. We look at this option during the visit and present it to you when it is justified. It requires two outdoor units and two indoor units, but it lets each level be set according to how it is used.
What the certificate shows
The certificate lists 35,800 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F) and 28,200 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), with a COP of 2.28 at the -15 °C point. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 210998908, as published in the AHRI certification directory. The certificate covers the complete pairing: the N4H5S60AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X60L0DB indoor unit.
The ratings in plain words
- SEER2 (14.3): seasonal cooling efficiency over a typical summer.
- EER2 (12.0): cooling efficiency on a hot day, at full demand; it is the heat-wave rating.
- HSPF2 (7.5): seasonal heating efficiency over a typical winter.
- COP: the heat delivered divided by the electricity consumed at a given temperature. An electric baseboard has a COP of 1; with a COP of 2.28 at -15 °C, the heat pump delivers more than twice the energy it consumes at that point.
Winter and backup heat
At -8 °C, the listed capacity represents about 60% of the 60,000 BTU nominal size; at -15 °C, about 47%. This pairing is a conventional central heat pump; it is not listed as a cold-climate heat pump. The colder it gets, the less heat it can extract from the outdoor air, while the house loses more.
In deep cold, the air handler's backup heat, or the existing furnace in an installation that keeps it, supplements the heat. In a home that needs five tons, this backup is substantial. We size it from the load calculation and the certificate points, and we list it in the quote.
Electrical capacity, to be checked first
A system of this size, with its backup heat, is one of the largest electrical loads in a home. The heat pump is fed by a dedicated circuit, and the backup heat by its own. The panel and electrical service must be able to supply them at the same time as the rest of the house, on the coldest night of winter.
We check the available capacity, the space in the panel and the cable route from the first visit. If an upgrade is needed, it appears clearly in the written quote, before anything is signed.
A duct system sized for five tons
The bigger the system, the more air it must move. A duct system designed for an ordinary furnace does not always have the main ducts or air returns needed for that airflow. If it chokes the air, the capacity delivered and the efficiency drop, the blower strains and the registers become noisy.
We measure the duct system during the visit: main ducts, branches, number and size of returns. A large home often needs several air returns, on each level. The necessary corrections are listed in the quote.
Cooling and humidity
In summer, a reversing valve flips the cycle: the indoor unit's coil captures heat from the house and the R-410A refrigerant carries it to the outdoor unit, which releases it outside. Cool air goes back through the ducts to the farthest rooms. The coil also removes humidity, which drains through the condensate drain.
In a large home, the rooms farthest from the air handler are often the ones that get the least air. Careful balancing during commissioning, with dampers set for summer and then for winter, corrects most of these gaps. We show you how to make these adjustments from one season to the next.
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
The indoor unit takes the place of the old furnace or air handler 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. The outdoor unit goes on a stand, above the snow line, on a dedicated circuit.
The installation steps
- Visit: load calculation, duct inspection, check of the panel and electrical service.
- Written quote: size, backup heat, duct corrections and electrical work.
- Air handler installed on the plenum and return, with the planned backup heat.
- Outdoor unit on a solid stand, above the snow line, with enough clearance for airflow and maintenance.
- Line set insulated, evacuated and checked; condensate drain connected.
- Commissioning: charge, temperatures, airflow, compatible thermostat and an explanation of the settings.
Maintenance
Replace the system filter according to its format, keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, and plan annual HVAC maintenance of the coil, condensate drain and electrical connections. In winter, white vapour during defrost is normal. At this size, the filter clogs faster: check it every month during the first year.
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 | 5 Tons - 60,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A. We assess the home room by room and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.
Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.