Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE R4H5S Economy | 2.5 Tons - 30,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A
Ducts in good shape for a central heat pump that delivers its full efficiency
A central heat pump is never better than the duct system that distributes its air. In a family home that already has ducts, that is often where comfort is won or lost: a disconnected duct, a return that is too small or a poorly placed filter is enough to lose part of the efficiency. The Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE R4H5S Economy | 2.5 Tons - 30,000 BTU (Air Handler FJMA4X) - R410A pairs the R4H5S30AKAAA outdoor unit with the FJMA4X30L0BB cabinet, which pushes air through that duct system.
Its certified ratings are 14.3 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. The R4H5S series is Arcoaire's Economy series, a conventional pairing to heat and cool the house through its ducts.
A family home that already has ducts
The 2.5-ton size is aimed at good-sized family homes: a two-storey house with a basement, an enlarged bungalow, a detached house from the nineties whose electric furnace and central air conditioner are reaching the end of their life. It handles the cooling of every room served and most of the heating.
The size is confirmed with a room-by-room load calculation. An older or heavily glazed house may need more; a well-insulated one may do with the size below. We decide during the visit, after seeing the house and its ducts.
Why the ducts matter as much as the equipment
An electric furnace pushes a small amount of very hot air. A heat pump delivers milder air, in larger quantity and for longer. It therefore needs the duct system to let air through freely, on the supply side as on the return. A duct system that is too restrictive makes the blower work harder, reduces the capacity delivered to the rooms and can hurt the system's efficiency.
Leaks matter too. A duct that runs through a garage, an attic or a crawl space and leaks at its joints heats or cools a space that does not need it. What does not reach the rooms is lost, whatever the equipment's rating.
What we inspect in the duct system
- Main trunks and branches: size, condition, disconnected or crushed connections.
- Joints: sealing, especially in unheated spaces.
- Insulation of ducts running through a garage, an attic or a crawl space.
- Return air: number and size of grilles, whether there is a return upstairs.
- Filter rack: format, access and sealing, so that air goes through the filter rather than around it.
- Grilles: closed dampers, grilles blocked by furniture or rugs.
A central heat pump only delivers its full efficiency if the airflow keeps up. What we find, and what needs correcting, appears in the written quote.
The R4H5S and FJMA4X pairing
The R4H5S30AKAAA outdoor unit holds the compressor, the outdoor coil and its fan. The FJMA4X30L0BB cabinet is an air handler that 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 certified together, and we install this pairing as is.
How the heat pump heats and cools
With the R-410A refrigerant, the heat pump captures heat from the outdoor air, even cold air, and carries it inside. The compressor concentrates it, the cabinet's coil releases it to the air, and the blower distributes it. In summer, a reversing valve turns the cycle around: the heat of the house is released outdoors and the cold coil removes humidity from the air, which flows out through the condensate drain.
What the certificate shows
The certificate lists 17,300 BTU/h at -8 °C and 13,200 BTU/h at -15 °C. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published. At the -15 °C point, the COP is 2.08.
Compared with the nominal size of 30,000 BTU, the listed capacity represents about 58% at -8 °C and 44% at -15 °C. These figures are measured at the equipment; in the house, the heat delivered also depends on the ducts. That is one more reason to inspect them before the installation.
These figures come from certificate AHRI 210998993, as published in the AHRI certification directory.
The ratings, straight
The SEER2 of 14.3 measures cooling efficiency over a full summer, and the EER2 of 12.0, cooling efficiency at full demand in hot weather. The HSPF2 of 7.5 measures heating efficiency over a season; it is the rating that matters most in a Quebec home. The COP of 2.08 at -15 °C shows that at this temperature, the heat pump delivers about twice the energy it uses, while an electric furnace is at 1.
These are the ratings of a conventional system. If maximum efficiency or a grant is your priority, we will also show you better-rated pairings of comparable size.
In deep cold: the backup heat
As the cold intensifies, the heat pump supplies less heat 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. The thermostat, designed for a heat pump with backup, manages this handover.
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.
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 steps
- Visit: load calculation, inspection of the duct system and the electrical panel.
- Duct corrections, where applicable: sealed joints, ducts reconnected or insulated, return air enlarged, as set out in the quote.
- Removal of the old furnace and the old air conditioner, with recovery of the refrigerant.
- FJMA4X cabinet: connection to the plenum and return air, filter rack, 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 in insulated copper, brazing, pressure test and vacuum; dedicated circuit, disconnect, power to the backup and thermostat.
- Commissioning: refrigerant charge, airflow measurement, defrost, settings, then an explanation of how everything works.
Maintenance and warranty
Keep the grilles open and clear, even in rooms you use little: closing dampers to "save" restricts the air and harms the system. Check the filter every month in season and replace it according to its format. Outside, keep the 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.
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.
The ducts are part of our work just as much as the equipment: we inspect them, correct them where needed and measure the airflow at commissioning.
Request your free estimate for the Central Heat Pump ARCOAIRE R4H5S Economy | 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.