TCL APEX XS Central Heat Pump (White) | 4 Tons - 48000 BTU
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)
EER2 (Instant Cooling Efficiency)
COP at -8 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -15 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
Operating temperature down to -30 °C (MAX)
Performance Airflow (Airflow Rate)
Four tons: the format for large homes and multigenerational households
At 4 tons, a central heat pump no longer serves just a dwelling: it covers an entire building, often spread across several levels, sometimes occupied by two households with different habits. The 4-ton TCL APEX XS central heat pump, in Zinc White finish, is intended for these situations — homes of 2,500 square feet or more, multigenerational homes, cottages with fully finished basements, and small two-unit buildings on a single system.
Switching to this format brings a visible hardware change: the outdoor unit adopts a two-fan vertical configuration, and its installation requirements are entirely different from those of the smaller capacities.
The vertical outdoor unit: an inverted space constraint
At 40.69 x 16.13 x 52.69 in. and approximately 100 kg, the 4-ton outdoor unit is tall and relatively slim. That is good news in tight spaces: it occupies a ground footprint comparable to that of a 3-ton unit while delivering 50% more capacity.
But height creates its own requirements:
- A perfectly level base. A tall unit installed on a slab that shifts with freeze-thaw cycles transmits vibrations and stresses the connections. We favor a stable base isolated from the building.
- Proper air-discharge clearance. The manufacturer requires at least 40 in. on the discharge side. A unit blowing toward a wall two feet away recirculates its own air and loses capacity.
- Wind must be taken into account. A large vertical surface exposed at the corner of a building on the North Shore is subject to real wind loads. Secure mounting matters.
- Access for servicing. Service panels must remain accessible with the unit in place.
Certified performance
NEEP cold-climate heat pump directory values, based on AHRI-certified tests:
- 48,000 BTU/h at 8.3 °C — COP 3.60
- 48,000 BTU/h at -8 °C — COP 2.30
- 48,000 BTU/h at -15 °C — COP 1.85
- 24,000 BTU/h at -30 °C at maximum capacity — COP 1.20
The residual capacity at -30 °C deserves attention: 24,000 BTU/h, equivalent to a complete 2-ton system operating at its rated capacity. Even in the harshest cold experienced in Greater Montreal, the heat pump still handles half the heating load of a large home. The backup supplements rather than replaces it, and the savings show on the bill.
Seasonal performance: 18.0 SEER2, 11.0 EER2, 9.5 HSPF2.
Technical data sheet
- Air handler : H48APH20UDE — Outdoor unit : H48SDH20XQC
- AHRI certificate : 218453819 — ENERGY STAR number : 4622452
- Refrigerant: R-32, 123.5 oz charge
- Airflow: 1,530 CFM — static pressure: 0.58 / 0.8 in.
- Outdoor power supply: 220 V — MCA 36 A, MOP 60 A
- Piping: 3/8 in. liquid, 7/8 in. gas
- Sound level: 52 dB(A) indoors, 53 dB(A) outdoors
- Air handler dimensions: 24.50 x 21.00 x 56.00 in. (D cabinet)
- Filter: 22 x 20 — Supplemental heat kits: 5, 10, 15, or 20 kW
- ENERGY STAR Cold Climate certification: yes
Two elements change compared with the 2- and 3-ton models. Air handling moves to the D cabinet, which is wider and taller: in a basement with a low ceiling or a cramped mechanical room, the 56 in. height must be checked with a tape measure before ordering, including plenums. And the gas piping increases to 7/8 in., a diameter that is difficult to bend and requires a planned route with generous bend radii.
Dual-household: one central system, two different comfort preferences
A dual-household configuration is the one that creates the most disappointment when it is poorly addressed. One system, one thermostat, two households that cannot agree on the temperature: the unit's capacity changes nothing.
The options we consider in these cases:
- Motorized zoning on the ductwork, with separate dampers and thermostats. This is the most advanced solution, and the unit's 0.8 in. static-pressure capacity then becomes critical, since closing dampers increases system resistance.
- Careful balancing with manual dampers adjusted once and for all, when preference differences are moderate.
- A supplemental wall-mounted unit in the secondary dwelling, when the duct network does not allow proper balancing.
We address this issue before the sale. A properly installed 4-ton central system in an unzoned dual-household home produces mixed results, and it is not the machine's fault.
$5,760 in financial assistance
Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert program provides $5,760 for this model to a homeowner in an existing residence, and $6,720 for new construction. At this level, the incentive covers a substantial portion of the equipment cost.
The application must be submitted within nine months of installation, based on the certified indoor-outdoor combination. We verify eligibility before the work, prepare the application, and support the client through submission. Since the amounts are reviewed periodically, we confirm the applicable amount when preparing the quote.
The complete electrical calculation, including supplemental heat
The outdoor unit requires 36 A of minimum ampacity with 60 A protection. Electric supplemental heat must also be considered if a kit is installed: a 20 kW element at 230 V requires a substantial dedicated power supply on its own.
In a large home or a multigenerational house, the question is therefore not simply “does the panel have available space?” but rather “can the building’s electrical service handle the total load?” We perform this verification when preparing the quote, using a load calculation in accordance with the Code, because the answer can significantly change the project budget.
Maintaining a system of this capacity
The 22 x 20 filter needs to be replaced or cleaned more often than most people think: a unit moving 1,530 CFM loads its filter quickly. We recommend a monthly check during the season and annual professional maintenance covering the indoor coil, pan and condensate drain, refrigerant charge, outdoor coil, and airflow balancing.
The condensate drain deserves particular attention on a unit of this size: the amount of water produced during cooling is significant, and a partially clogged drain in a finished basement can have costly consequences.
Why AirGreen
4-ton projects are where constraints add up: electrical capacity, mechanical space, the ductwork network, outdoor placement, and zoning. At AirGreen, we address each one before preparing the estimate and present the client with the necessary corrections rather than an optimistic price.
Contact AirGreen for a complete technical analysis of your building and a detailed quote for the 4-ton TCL APEX XS in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore.