Central Heat Pump CONFORTO MHSD | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU - R410A

Replace an aging electric furnace with a central heat pump

A family home heated by an electric furnace already has the essentials for switching to a heat pump: a duct system that serves every room. The Central Heat Pump CONFORTO MHSD | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU - R410A reuses that duct system. The MHAH136DACFC indoor unit, an air handler, takes the furnace's place, and the MHSD136DACFC outdoor unit draws heat from the outdoor air in winter and cools the house in summer.

Its certified ratings are 16.0 SEER2, 10.0 EER2 and 9.5 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3892548, its certificate still lists capacity at -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $3,648 LogisVert grant.

A 3-ton family home

The 3-ton size, or 36,000 BTU/h, often matches a two-storey cottage with a basement, a large bungalow with a finished basement, or an older home with many rooms in Laval, on the North Shore or on the South Shore. Many of these homes are still heated by their original electric furnace, connected to the ducts for decades.

The size still has to be confirmed home by home. An older house with poorly insulated walls may exceed this size; a renovated home, with a re-insulated attic and recent windows, may need less. The room-by-room load calculation accounts for insulation, windows, orientation and the basement.

What changes when the heat pump replaces the heating elements

An electric furnace makes its heat by running current through heating elements: it gives back as heat exactly the electricity it uses. A central heat pump moves heat instead of producing it. That heat comes from the outdoor air: the R-410A refrigerant captures it outside, the compressor concentrates it and the air handler distributes it through the ducts. In summer, a reversing valve flips the cycle and the same installation provides cooling.

The compressor is variable-speed (inverter): it adjusts its speed to demand instead of switching between off and full power. The air coming out of the registers is less hot than what the electric furnace's elements used to push, but it circulates longer, which gives a steadier temperature from room to room. It is a change of habit; most occupants quickly find it more comfortable.

Electrical: backup heat and service capacity

In a home heated by an electric furnace, the panel already feeds large heating elements. The central heat pump redistributes that load: the outdoor unit needs its own circuit, and the backup heating elements housed in the indoor unit take over from the furnace during deep cold. Together, they have to fit in the panel and on the electrical service, on top of the home's other appliances.

During the visit, we check the capacity of the electrical service and the space available in the panel. If an upgrade is needed, we state it in the written quote, before signing. We also size the backup heat from the load calculation: enough to keep the house comfortable in deep cold, without overloading the installation.

Central heat pump or ADD-ON

There are two ways to add a heat pump to a home heated by an electric furnace. The first, the one on this page, removes the furnace and hands all the heating to the heat pump and the backup elements of its air handler. The second, the ADD-ON approach, keeps the existing electric furnace, if it is in good condition, and adds a heat pump coil on its air outlet; its elements then serve as backup in deep cold.

The right choice depends on the furnace's age and condition, its blower, the space available in the mechanical room and your preferences. A furnace at the end of its life, with a noisy blower or tired elements, points toward the central heat pump; a recent furnace in good condition points toward ADD-ON. We present both options during the visit.

The certificate's winter data

• At -8 °C (17 °F): 30,400 BTU/h, with a COP of 2.46.
• At -15 °C (5 °F): 34,400 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.97, about 96% of the nominal size.
• At -30 °C: 21,500 BTU/h, with a COP of 1.26.

The -8 °C and -15 °C points are measured separately; we report each one as published. These figures come from certificate AHRI 216683751, published by NEEP. Even on the coldest nights of a Montreal winter, the heat pump keeps delivering more heat than the electricity it uses.

What the ratings mean

The HSPF2 of 9.5 measures efficiency over the whole heating season; it is the most useful rating for a home heated today by an electric furnace. The SEER2 of 16.0 measures cooling efficiency over a typical summer, and the EER2 of 10.0 measures full-load efficiency on a hot day.

Finally, the COP compares the heat delivered with the electricity used at a specific temperature. An ordinary electric furnace has a COP of 1; at -8 °C, this system shows 2.46, nearly two and a half times the heat for the same electricity.

Cooling, as a bonus

Many homes heated by an electric furnace never had central air conditioning: their ducts are used only in winter. With the heat pump, every room served by the ducts is cooled, upstairs bedrooms included, with no window units. Variable speed lets the system run for long periods at low speed, which removes moisture from the air and keeps the basement drier in summer. Condensate drains from the indoor unit to a floor drain or a pump.

The $3,648 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $3,648 for the owner of an existing home, according to the list in effect on the installation date. The amount corresponds to the certified pairing of the MHSD136DACFC outdoor unit and the MHAH136DACFC indoor unit.

We confirm eligibility before signing and prepare the detailed invoice, model numbers and proof of payment. Our page on the efficient heat pump grant summarizes the program's conditions.

Installation by AirGreen

The job

After the visit, the load calculation and the electrical check, the written quote specifies the size, the backup heat, the electrical work and the corrections to the duct system. On installation day, the electric furnace is disconnected and removed; the air handler takes its place and connects to the plenum, the air return and the condensate drain.

Outside, the outdoor unit is mounted on a wall bracket or a stand, above the snow line, away from roof drip. The insulated copper line set is brazed, pressure-tested and put under vacuum. The electrical connection is made on a dedicated circuit, with an outdoor disconnect, and the thermostat is replaced with a model suited to the heat pump and its backup. Commissioning checks the charge, airflow, defrost and backup heat, and then we explain the settings to you.

Maintenance

Check the indoor unit's 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: coil cleaning, and a check of the condensate drain, the electrical connections and the backup heat. In winter, the white vapour during defrost is normal.

Warranty

Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.

It covers the pairing as installed. Keep the invoice and the commissioning report, which carry the serial numbers of both units.

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 CONFORTO MHSD | 3 Tons - 36,000 BTU - R410A. We assess the home room by room, check the electrical capacity, and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.