GENERAL AIRSTAGE CENTAURI XLTH R32 Central Heat Pump | -26°C | 2.5 Tons - 30000 BTU
GENERAL AIRSTAGE CENTAURI XLTH 30,000 BTU Central Heat Pump: heating down to −26 °C against the river wind
The GENERAL AIRSTAGE CENTAURI XLTH 30,000 BTU (2.5-ton) system pairs the AMUH30KUAS multi-position air handler with the AOUH30KUAH1 outdoor unit, built for extra-low-temperature heating. Its twin is called Fujitsu AIRSTAGE CENTAURI XLTH, and nothing sets them apart: one manufacturer, renamed GENERAL Inc. on January 1, 2026, one spec sheet, one warranty.
The typical case: a house facing the river, where the winter wind hits the front wall and where people have gotten used to letting the furnace take over as soon as the cold sets in. The XLTH unit changes that habit, since the manufacturer rates it for heating down to −26 °C.
That figure is the right one: it is the limit the manufacturer publishes for this outdoor unit, and if another value is going around elsewhere, this is the one that counts. Below −26 °C, backup heat is still needed, and we plan for it from the quote onward.
GENERAL or Fujitsu AIRSTAGE: the same machine
Founded in 1936, the company turns 90 in 2026, while the GENERAL name has been used as a brand since 1946. Since January 1, 2026, that name also designates the company itself, the former Fujitsu General Limited, bought in August 2025 by Paloma Rheem Holdings. Head office in Kawasaki, factories, model numbers, warranty program: none of it has changed.
The Fujitsu brand is gradually disappearing; in the meantime, this central heat pump is sold under both labels. We keep both pages online, and the table lines them up: no value differs.
| Specification | GENERAL AIRSTAGE | Fujitsu AIRSTAGE |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor unit | AMUH30KUAS | AMUH30KUAS |
| Outdoor unit | AOUH30KUAH1 | AOUH30KUAH1 |
| AHRI certificate | 217895716 | 217895716 |
| Nominal capacity | 30,000 BTU | 30,000 BTU |
| Refrigerant | R-32 | R-32 |
| Power supply | 208/230 V | 208/230 V |
| SEER2 | 18.8 | 18.8 |
| HSPF2 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| EER2 | 12.2 | 12.2 |
| Heating capacity at −8 °C | 21,000 BTU | 21,000 BTU |
| COP at −8 °C | 2.96 | 2.96 |
| Heating capacity at −15 °C | 34,000 BTU | 34,000 BTU |
| COP at −15 °C | 2.10 | 2.10 |
| Heating down to (manufacturer operating range) | −26 °C | −26 °C |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes | Yes |
| Cold climate (ENERGY STAR) | Yes | Yes |
| ENERGY STAR ID | 4511772 | 4511772 |
| Indoor unit dimensions (W × D × H, in) | 21 x 21 x 48 | 21 x 21 x 48 |
| Outdoor unit dimensions (W × D × H, in) | 39.31 x 12.60 x 37.01 | 39.31 x 12.60 x 37.01 |
| Indoor sound level (min / max) | 32 / 43 dB(A) | 32 / 43 dB(A) |
| Outdoor sound level | 57.0 dB(A) | 57.0 dB(A) |
| Airflow | 1,000 CFM | 1,000 CFM |
| Dehumidification | 3.5 pints/h | 3.5 pints/h |
| Wi-Fi | Optional | Optional |
| LogisVert grant (Hydro-Québec, list of October 27, 2026) | $2,520 | $2,520 |
| Warranty (compressor · parts · labour, years) | 12 · 12 · 6 | 12 · 12 · 6 |
| Manufacturer | GENERAL Inc. (Kawasaki, Japan) | GENERAL Inc. (Kawasaki, Japan) |
| Product page | This page | Fujitsu AIRSTAGE CENTAURI 30,000 BTU |
The twin page is here: Fujitsu AIRSTAGE version of this 2.5-ton CENTAURI XLTH.
In practice, the AMUH30KUAS goes where the furnace used to be, in the basement or a mechanical closet, connected to the plenum and the return air of the existing duct system once that system has been checked. Standing 48 in. tall on a 21 × 21 in. footprint, it can be mounted upflow, downflow (UTD-DFMMB1 kit) or flat, left side or right side. Outside, the R-32 AOUH30KUAH1 unit measures 39.31 × 12.60 × 37.01 in.: plan a base to match.
By the river, where this unit goes matters as much as its capacity. We set it on a base or a bracket that keeps it above the snow, sheltered from the prevailing wind when the house allows it. We also think about the water that drains from it in winter, so it doesn't form a sheet of ice on the driveway.
As for the numbers, the unit heats at low temperatures down to −26 °C and cools between −21 °C and 50 °C. Its ENERGY STAR cold climate certification (ID 4511772) comes with SEER2 18.8, HSPF2 10.0 and EER2 12.2, listed on AHRI certificate 217895716. The certification file also gives two separate test points, to be taken as they are: 21,000 BTU (COP 2.96) at −8 °C and 34,000 BTU (COP 2.1) at −15 °C. Detailed efficiencies and dimensioned drawings are in the manufacturer's bilingual spec sheet attached to this page.
The wind changes the math. A house battered by gusts loses its heat faster than a sheltered one, and 2.5 tons may or may not be enough depending on insulation and airtightness. At the visit, we look at the river-side windows, the attic and the condition of the ducts. Sometimes good caulking pays off more than a bigger size, and we will tell you so.
No longer relying on the furnace doesn't mean doing without backup. The unit offers several backup heat logics and takes the manufacturer's compatible electric kits; these are sold separately and connect to a dedicated power supply. The idea: let the heat pump carry the house as long as possible and have the backup step in only as reinforcement. The built-in input/output terminals also accept third-party equipment:
- external backup heat;
- a humidifier;
- an HRV or an ERV;
- a fire alarm and a door switch.
For distribution, the unit pushes up to 1,000 CFM, with external static pressure of 0.2 to 0.8 in. WC; the layout and grille count are settled at the visit. Indoors, the unit ranges between 32 and 43 dB(A); outside, the outdoor unit is rated at 57 dB(A). In summer, its 3.47 pints/h of dehumidification are welcome in waterfront humidity. The unit also integrates its own leak detection system.
On the installation side, an access panel is planned for the filter and maintenance. Between the two units run the cable, the drain and the refrigerant line (3/8 and 5/8 in.), along a route we confirm on site. For the electrical side, you need a dedicated 208/230 V circuit (MCA 21 A, MOP 25 A), separate from the backup kit's circuit. A refrigeration technician takes care of commissioning; the work is entrusted to AirGreen, an AIRSTAGE Elite Plus installer and RBQ-licensed HVAC contractor.
No control comes with the system; you need to add one, your choice: Wi-Fi with the AIRSTAGE Mobile app, one of the KAGAMI wired controllers, UTY-RVRU or UTY-RNRUZ5, a third-party 24 V thermostat linked to the UTY-TTRXZ1 interface or an IR receiver with remote. With the app, you adjust the heating remotely, handy for a house you leave for a few days in January. Compatible controllers also offer service monitoring.
For the filter, a 20 × 20 in. base is available as an option. After a storm, clear the snow around the outdoor unit: it is the simplest maintenance task of the winter.
On the grant side, the LogisVert listing corresponds to $2,520 according to Hydro-Québec's list dated October 27, 2026; the final amount depends on the list in effect when you apply. As for the warranty, it protects the compressor and parts for 12 years, and labour for 6 years.
This system is made for the house with ducts, exposed to the wind, that wants the heat pump to do most of the heating. If your house is well sheltered, the standard CENTAURI, which heats down to −21 °C, may be enough; we compare the two in the quote.
Verchères and the South Shore: a free quote, no runaround
This GENERAL AIRSTAGE central heat pump can be installed at your place in Verchères as elsewhere on the South Shore, and our territory also includes Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and the North Shore. Call 514 316-2973: the quote is free, and we examine the house, its exposure to the wind and its duct system before recommending a size.
Keep your heating bills from the last few winters handy. They help us estimate what the house really needs when the wind blows off the river.