SENVILLE R32 Top Discharge Central Heat Pump | 3 Tons - 36000 BTU

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• Federal Rebate:
• Provincial Rebate: $
• Energy Star®: Non
• WiFi: En Option
• AHRI: 218338224
• Efficiency: 19.3 SEER
• Warranty (Compressor - Parts - Labor): 10-10-0
• Additional Warranty (10-10-10): Possible
• Voltage: 220V
• Sound Pressure Level (Outdoor): 58.0 dB(A)
• Gas (Freon): R-32

A 3-ton Top Discharge central unit: a configuration that deserves to be evaluated as a complete system

The SENVILLE SENTC-36TD is a 3-ton central heat pump designed for properties equipped with a ductwork system. Its outdoor unit features a Top Discharge configuration, with air discharged from the top rather than the sides. Senville documentation specifically identifies this product as a 3-ton central heat pump with top discharge, under the reference SENTC-36TD.

For an installation in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore or the South Shore, this outdoor configuration deserves particular attention. The Top Discharge format can facilitate certain layouts when side clearance is limited, but the final quality of a project depends much more on sizing, airflow, piping, the ductwork system, and the supplemental-heating strategy than on the shape of the outdoor unit.

The configuration presented by AirGreen includes:

• outdoor unit: SENTC-36TD-OG;
• indoor unit: SENTC-36TD-IG;
• nominal capacity: 36,000 BTU;
• AHRI: 218338224;
• R-32 refrigerant;
• maximum indoor airflow: 1,110 CFM;
• 220 V power supply;
• refrigerant piping: 3/8 in – 3/4 in;
• Optional Wi-Fi;
• heating operation indicated down to -20 °C;
• ENERGY STAR: no;
• Cold-climate classification: no.

This last point is important. A heat pump capable of operating at -20 °C is not automatically a heat pump certified as a “cold-climate” model. For a Quebec homeowner, it is therefore necessary to distinguish the minimum operating temperature from the energy certification and, above all, from the actual heating capacity available when temperatures drop.

Efficiency data to be read carefully: SEER, SEER2, HSPF, and HSPF2

The AirGreen technical sheet provided for this model indicates:

• SEER: 19.3
• EER: 11.0
• HSPF: 8.1

The attached Senville documentation, for its part, presents slightly different values for the SENTC-36TD:

• SEER2: 18.6
• EER2: 11.7
• HSPF2 Region 4: 9.0
• Heating COP: 3.20 W/W.

It is important not to automatically mix up SEER and SEER2 ratings, or HSPF and HSPF2. Testing methods have evolved, and the figures are not necessarily directly interchangeable.

At AirGreen, when we prepare a quote or verify equipment eligibility for a specific project, we rely on the exact matching of the units and their AHRI number, here 218338224, rather than on an isolated figure from a commercial page.

This method avoids a common mistake: comparing two heat pumps simply because one displays a higher number, when the rating standards, unit combinations, or test conditions are not identical.

36,000 BTU does not mean that the compressor always operates at 36,000 BTU

The technical documentation indicates a nominal heating capacity of 36,000 BTU/h, with a modulating range from 11,000 to 39,000 BTU/h. In cooling mode, it indicates a nominal capacity of 34,000 BTU/h and a range of 13,000 to 38,000 BTU/h.

The compressor is identified as a Twin-Rotary DC Inverter, model KTM240D57UMT from GMCC.

This modulation is important in a home.

A conventional heat pump with more pronounced on-off operation can quickly reach its setpoint, shut down, and then restart when the temperature deviates sufficiently. With inverter technology, the system can adjust its output more closely to the building's thermal load.

For the homeowner, this can help provide:

• more consistent temperatures;
• longer operating periods at reduced capacity;
• better comfort management between cycles;
• fewer sudden temperature fluctuations;
• better suited to days when the house needs only a fraction of the maximum capacity.

However, the actual benefit depends on the sizing of the central heat pump. A 3-ton system installed in a house that only requires two tons does not automatically become a better solution simply because it has an inverter compressor.

Winter performance must be analyzed before removing an old furnace or reducing supplemental heating.

This is probably the most important point for a homeowner in Greater Montreal.

In the AirGreen information provided for this configuration, we have:

• 21,000 BTU/h at -8 °C
• 22,000 BTU/h at -15 °C
• operating range down to -20 °C

However, the attached brochure presents another set of values. It indicates a heating capacity of:

• 36,000 BTU/h at 47 °F, or approximately 8.3 °C;
• 17,500 BTU/h at 17 °F, or approximately -8.3 °C;
• 27,000 BTU/h at 5 °F, or approximately -15 °C;
• 25,000 BTU/h at -4 °F, or approximately -20 °C.

It also gives a heating operating range down to -4 °F, or approximately -20 °C.

These values therefore do not correspond perfectly to the figures already shown on the AirGreen product page.

Rather than conceal this difference, we consider it a precise illustration of why a professional should never size a central system based on a single line found in commercial documentation. Before installation, we verify the exact equipment combination, the applicable technical documentation, and the AHRI data used for the project.

A difference of several thousand BTUs at -8 °C or -15 °C can change the calculation of the auxiliary heating required during the winter.

This model is not classified as “cold climate”

The AirGreen data clearly indicate:

COLD CLIMATE: No

and:

ENERGY STAR: No

It is therefore important not to present this SENTC-36TD as the direct equivalent of a cold-climate-certified central heat pump simply because it operates down to -20 °C.

A unit may continue operating at a low outdoor temperature while providing capacity that is significantly lower than its rated capacity.

In a Quebec home, the right question is therefore not simply: “Down to what temperature does it operate?”

We focus mainly on:

• low-temperature capacity;
• the home's heat loss;
• backup-heating capacity;
• control logic;
• operating cost;
• available electrical capacity.

This combination determines whether the home will remain comfortable during a cold spell in Montréal, Laval, or Longueuil.

1,110 CFM: airflow suitable for a 3-ton central system, provided the ductwork can carry it

The SENTC-36TD-IG indoor unit provides:

• 1,110 CFM at high speed
• 520 CFM at low speed

The documentation also indicates an indoor sound level of 50 dB(A) at high speed and 38 dB(A) at low speed. For the outdoor unit, the maximum airflow is 2,800 CFM, with a stated sound level of 58 dB(A).

The 1,110 CFM figure deserves particular attention during a replacement.

In several central-system installations we assess at AirGreen, the issue is not necessarily the capacity of the new heat pump. The existing ductwork may be the actual limiting factor.

A unit designed to move approximately 1,100 CFM will not perform at its best if the house has:

• an undersized return-air system;
• a filter that is too restrictive;
• crushed flexible ducts;
• several closed registers;
• a system designed for a much smaller capacity;
• a major restriction at the coil or plenum.

Duct noise is not always heat pump noise

A homeowner can choose a relatively quiet indoor unit and still hear significant airflow from certain grilles.

The reason is often related to the air velocity in the ducts.

Suppose an old system moved significantly less air and a new 3-ton central unit now has to deliver up to 1,110 CFM. If the ducts are not the necessary size, air velocity increases. Noise may then occur at the supply or return grilles.

We therefore check the distribution system before concluding that a 36,000 BTU unit is automatically compatible with a home simply because the old unit was advertised as a three-ton system.

The Top Discharge format really changes how the outdoor location is selected

The SENTC-36TD-OG outdoor unit measures approximately:

29.14 in × 29.14 in × 25 in

and its listed net weight is 143 lb.

The indoor unit measures approximately:

21.03 in × 21.03 in × 49.22 in

with a net weight of 137 lb.

The nearly square shape of the outdoor unit is very different from that of a conventional wall-mounted heat pump with a side-discharge fan.

The fan expels air through the top. This can be an advantage in some spaces where you want to avoid directing a strong airflow horizontally toward a patio, fence, or walkway.

Senville also indicates that this top-discharge design is particularly well suited to installations where available space is more limited.

But “more compact” does not mean that the unit can be enclosed.

The top fan must remain unobstructed. Outside a Quebec home, we must also account for:

• snow accumulation;
• required clearances;
• water produced during defrosting;
• the location of downspouts;
• the proximity of walls;
• the access required for maintenance;
• municipal or condominium restrictions;
• the distance from bedrooms and windows.

An installation that is too low or in an area where snow accumulates quickly can become problematic during the winter.

What we check at AirGreen before installing a SENVILLE SENTC-36TD in Montreal, Laval, or on either shore

A 3/8 in–3/4 in line set that must be checked before replacement

The configuration requires refrigerant connections of:

• 3/8 in for liquid
• 3/4 in for gas

Senville documentation confirms these dimensions and indicates a maximum piping length of up to 246 ft (75 m), as well as a maximum elevation difference of 98.4 ft (30 m).

It also indicates a factory refrigerant charge of 2.9 kg, or 102.3 oz of R-32, as well as a specified additional charge of 0.52 oz/ft (48 g/m) when installation conditions require it.

For us, these figures have a very concrete consequence.

When replacing an old central heat pump, we never assume that an existing line can be reused merely because it appears to be in good condition.

We check:

1. its diameter;
2. its length;
3. its condition;
4. its routing;
5. the new equipment requirements;
6. its compatibility with the refrigerant and the planned installation procedure.

An incorrectly sized line can compromise compressor operation, capacity, and long-term reliability.

R-32 requires installation in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements

The SENTC-36TD uses R-32.

Refrigerant must never be treated as a secondary detail during an HVAC replacement. The refrigerant type affects handling, commissioning, charging, and servicing procedures.

The documentation also specifies a flared refrigerant connection and identifies an expansion system with outdoor-side EXV / indoor-side piston.

At AirGreen, we place as much importance on the quality of commissioning as on the choice of the equipment itself. A properly selected heat pump can be compromised by a poor evacuation procedure, an incorrect charge, or an unbalanced duct network.

Electrical: MCA of 24 A and MOP of 30 A for the outdoor unit

For the outdoor unit, the data indicates:

• power supply: 208/230 V, 60 Hz, single-phase;
• MCA: 24 A;
• MOP: 30 A.

For the indoor unit:

• MCA: 5 A;
• MOP: 15 A.

The documentation also specifies a compressor RLA of 9.45 A, an outdoor motor of 2.3 A / 200 W, and an indoor motor of 3.6 A / 375 W.

The MCA, or minimum circuit ampacity, helps determine the required electrical sizing. The MOP represents the maximum allowable protection specified for the equipment.

These data do not automatically include the full potential load of auxiliary heating added to the system. In a property with a heavily loaded electrical panel, this assessment must be completed before finalizing the configuration.

A scenario we regularly encounter during a central replacement

Let’s consider a typical situation encountered during our assessments on the South Shore.

A home has an old 3-ton central heat pump. The owner wants to replace it with a new 3-ton unit and assumes the project will be a direct swap.

During the inspection, several factors may nevertheless emerge:

• the existing gas line is not 3/4 in.;
• the return air is too small for approximately 1,100 CFM;
• the old indoor unit is shorter;
• the electrical panel is already heavily loaded;
• the outdoor unit is located beneath a downspout;
• the overhead clearance is not suitable for a new Top Discharge unit.

In this context, ordering the heat pump before measuring the installation could create several problems on the job site.

We therefore prefer to treat the system as a whole: heat pump, ductwork, electrical, piping, drainage, thermostat, and outdoor unit location.

An indoor unit nearly 50 inches high: a detail that can change the project

At approximately 49.22 inches in height, the indoor unit must be compared with the available mechanical-room space.

In some basements in Montreal or Longueuil, a few inches can make all the difference when it is necessary to maintain:

• a properly constructed plenum;
• access to the filter;
• the space required for the drain;
• service clearances;
• the transition to the existing ductwork.

Installing a central unit therefore involves more than simply checking its width.

The complete assembly must be considered once the unit is connected to the return and supply air.

Why a 3-ton unit may be too large for some homes

The 36,000 BTU figure should never be chosen based solely on living area.

A newer, well-insulated home may have a significantly lower heating and cooling load than an older home of comparable size.

Among the factors we analyze:

• insulation;
• airtightness;
• the number of floors;
• windows;
• solar exposure;
• ceiling height;
• the basement;
• internal gains;
• the ductwork;
• the calculated heat losses.

Oversizing can result in cycles that are too short under certain conditions, reduce summer dehumidification, and make balancing more difficult.

Conversely, an undersized unit may require auxiliary heating too frequently.

In air conditioning, modulation is also important

The brochure indicates a cooling range of 13,000 to 38,000 BTU/h, with a rated capacity of 34,000 BTU/h.

It also lists a rated cooling consumption of 2,906 W, adjustable between 460 and 3,600 W.

This variable capacity allows the compressor to operate at different levels as needed.

In Montreal, dehumidification is an important aspect of summer comfort. A home at 23 °C can still feel uncomfortable if indoor humidity remains high. Sizing and airflow settings therefore play a role just as important as the temperature displayed on the thermostat.

Wi-Fi as an option: useful, but secondary to the installation

The SENVILLE SENTC-36TD offers optional Wi-Fi according to the AirGreen data.

A connected control can facilitate:

• remote adjustment;
• programming;
• managing a secondary residence;
• adjusting the settings while away.

However, we believe connectivity should remain a secondary criterion compared with sizing, airflow, and installation quality. No smart thermostat can correct an undersized return duct or a poorly selected heat pump.

No ENERGY STAR certification indicated: an important consideration for subsidies

The information provided for this model indicates ENERGY STAR: No and COLD CLIMATE: No.

No specific subsidy is indicated in the data provided for this configuration.

For a customer comparing several central heat pumps in Laval, Montreal, Longueuil, on the North Shore or the South Shore, this factor can be decisive. A system with an attractive initial price does not necessarily represent the lowest net cost if another configuration qualifies for significant financial assistance.

At AirGreen, we therefore prefer to compare projects based on their overall cost and performance rather than simply on the equipment price.

Manufacturer’s Warranty and Additional Warranty

The AirGreen listing indicates a 10-10-0 manufacturer’s warranty for this configuration and specifies that an additional warranty is available.

As with any central heat pump, it is important to confirm the exact applicable terms at the time of purchase:

• parts coverage;
• compressor coverage;
• registration required;
• exclusions;
• labor;
• duration and terms of an additional warranty.

A product warranty and an installation labor warranty should not be confused.

Maintenance: what really helps a 3-ton central system maintain its performance

A properly installed R-32 central heat pump nevertheless requires regular maintenance.

The most useful checks include:

• replace or clean the filter according to its type;
• keep air returns clear;
• avoid unnecessarily blocking multiple registers;
• keep the outdoor unit free of leaves and debris;
• monitor for excessive ice buildup;
• keep the top of the Top Discharge unit clear;
• have the drainage checked;
• have the coil and operating parameters inspected when necessary.

An extremely dirty filter can reduce airflow. In a system capable of delivering 1,110 CFM, this restriction can have a tangible impact on comfort, noise, and system operation.

For what type of project should the SENVILLE SENTC-36TD be considered?

This 36,000 BTU SENVILLE R32 central heat pump may be suitable when:

• a capacity of approximately three tons genuinely meets the building's needs;
• the ductwork can accommodate the required airflow;
• a Top Discharge configuration suits the available space;
• 3/8 in. – 3/4 in. piping can be installed correctly;
• a heat pump operating down to approximately -20 °C suits the chosen heating strategy;
• the property has the necessary electrical supply;
• cold-climate or ENERGY STAR certification is not a project requirement.

However, it should be compared with other solutions if the property owner's main goal is to obtain the highest possible capacity during extreme cold or to benefit from a program requiring a specific certification.

Why entrust the installation to AirGreen

At AirGreen Heating & Air Conditioning, we approach a central installation by evaluating everything surrounding the heat pump.

For the SENVILLE SENTC-36TD, we pay particular attention to its 1,110 CFM, its 3/8 in. – 3/4 in. piping, its 24 A MCA, its 30 A MOP, the dimensions of the indoor unit, and the clearance required around the top-mounted fan.

This is particularly important during a replacement.

A central system can operate for fifteen or twenty years with defects that no one has actually corrected: improperly sized ductwork, insufficient return air, restrictive transitions, or an unsuitable outdoor location. Installing a new unit while leaving these same problems in place is not a complete improvement.

Our goal is for the central heat pump installed in Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, on the North Shore, the South Shore, or in Montérégie to operate under the conditions for which it was selected.

Request an AirGreen quote for your SENVILLE SENTC-36TD

Are you planning to replace an old central heat pump, or are you evaluating the SENVILLE R32 Top Discharge 3 tons – 36,000 BTU for your property?

Contact AirGreen for an assessment of your installation. We can check the required capacity, ductwork, existing piping, electrical supply, outdoor location, and other configurations that may better match your priorities.

We serve Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, the South Shore, and the Greater Metropolitan Area for the installation, replacement, and servicing of central heating and air conditioning systems.