Ducted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5FSDA | 18,000 BTU - R454B
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
HSPF2 (Seasonal Heating Efficiency)
EER2 (Instantaneous cooling efficiency)
COP at -8 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -15 °C (Heating energy efficiency)
COP at -30 °C (MAX)
An entire condo or a whole floor, served by a unit you never see
Equipping every room with a wall-mounted heat pump means multiplying the units on the walls. The Ducted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5FSDA | 18,000 BTU - R454B does the work of several heads with a single hidden unit. The D5FSDAH18XAK indoor unit fits in a ceiling bulkhead, a closet or a mechanical space, and supplies several rooms through short ducts; only discreet grilles remain. It is paired with the D5CSHAH18AAK outdoor unit, with a variable-speed compressor and R-454B refrigerant.
Its certified ratings are 18.0 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 10.8 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3556062, its certificate still lists heating capacity at -30 °C, and it qualifies for a $1,800 LogisVert grant.
One unit for several rooms
The 18,000 BTU size serves a group of medium-sized rooms: a 4 ½ condo whose living area and bedrooms are grouped together, the entire upper floor of a two-storey house with its bedrooms, or a basement apartment. In a recent, well-insulated building, it can carry most of the heating and cooling of these rooms. In an older house, under a poorly insulated roof or with large original windows, it covers less, and the load calculation done during the visit specifies this room by room.
In a condo: comfort without wall heads
In a condo, the ducted unit usually fits in a ceiling bulkhead in the entrance or the hallway, where other ducts often already run. The ducts reach the living room and bedrooms above the doors; the grilles blend into the ceiling. The walls stay free, and the apartment keeps a clean look.
In a condominium, the location of the outdoor unit, on the balcony or on the wall, and the wall opening generally require the syndicate's approval. We provide the technical information useful for your request and schedule the installation once approval is obtained.
On the upper floor of a two-storey house
The upper floor of a two-storey house often groups three bedrooms around a hallway, under a roof that stores heat in summer. The ducted unit is installed at the top of a closet or in a hallway bulkhead, in the middle of the floor, which keeps the ducts short to each bedroom. A storage space under the eaves can also work, provided it is inside the heated envelope: a unit and ducts placed in a cold space lose heat and expose the drain to freezing.
Air distribution and the set point
Each room receives its supply duct and grille, and a damper lets us balance the airflow at commissioning: more air to the large south-facing bedroom, less to the small north-facing office. The air must also get back to the unit, even with the doors closed. Depending on the layout, we provide a central return grille in the hallway with transfer grilles or clearance under the doors, or returns in the main rooms.
The network has to stay in proportion to the unit: a duct that is too long or too narrow reduces airflow and comfort. That is why we design the network before confirming the location.
A ducted unit works with a single set point for all the rooms it serves. Balancing reduces the differences, but each bedroom is not set separately. If a room has very different needs, an exercise room or a heavily glazed room, we recommend treating it separately.
Winter, according to the certificate
The certificate publishes three heating points, measured separately; we report each one as published.
- 15,000 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F), with a COP of 2.40, or 83 % of the nominal capacity.
- 18,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), with a COP of 2.00, or 100 % of the nominal capacity.
- 9,000 BTU/h at -30 °C (-22 °F), with a COP of 1.51, or 50 % of the nominal capacity.
The -15 °C point stands out: the published capacity there equals the unit's nominal size, with a COP of 2.00, that is, two units of heat for each unit of electricity. The first two points come from separate tests and do not form a curve. At -30 °C, the system keeps half of its nominal size and still produces one and a half times as much heat as it uses in electricity. The existing baseboards remain useful as backup on extreme nights.
Summer, upstairs or in a condo
In cooling, the ducted unit removes the heat and the moisture in the air, which condenses on the coil and flows out through the drain. The variable-speed compressor slows down once the rooms are comfortable and holds the set point with long, steady cycles. The SEER2 of 18.0 measures seasonal cooling efficiency, the EER2 of 12.0 full-load efficiency in hot weather.
To be frank: this pairing stands out mainly in heating. If cooling is your top priority, we can compare other options during the visit. For Quebec use, where heating weighs more than cooling over the year, its profile is balanced.
The technology, the refrigerant and the other ratings
A heat pump moves heat instead of producing it with a resistance element: in winter, the refrigerant captures heat from the outdoor air; in summer, the cycle reverses. R-454B is a next-generation refrigerant with a much lower global warming potential than the refrigerants it replaces; classified A2L, mildly flammable, it requires suitable tools and methods, which we apply.
The HSPF2 of 10.8 measures seasonal heating efficiency, calculated for a reference climate milder than Quebec's; it is used to compare models. The COP indicates the heat delivered per unit of electricity at a specific temperature; an electric baseboard is at 1. None of these ratings predicts a bill: insulation, duct tightness and settings make the difference.
The $1,800 LogisVert grant
The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $1,800 for the owner of an existing home, according to the list in effect on the installation date. 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.
Warranty
Warranty: 10 years on the compressor, 10 years on parts and 6 years on labor.
Keep the detailed invoice: it shows the model numbers of the ducted unit and the outdoor unit and serves as the reference throughout the coverage period.
Installation, step by step
- Visit. Room-by-room load calculation, layout of the duct network and return air, choice of the unit's location, check of the electrical panel and, in a condo, of the syndicate's requirements.
- Unit. Installation in an accessible space inside the heated envelope, level, with an access panel to the filter, drain and connections.
- Ducts. Short ducts to each room, insulated where required, supply grilles, balancing dampers, return air.
- Drain. Continuous drainage slope or a small pump if the route requires it.
- Outdoor unit and lines. Wall bracket or ground stand, above the snow line, clear of roof runoff and away from bedroom windows, including the neighbours'; lines through a single sealed opening, line cover if needed.
- Electrical and commissioning. Dedicated circuit, leak test, evacuation, checks in heating and cooling, airflow balancing and explanation of the settings.
Maintenance
The filter is at the return air: rinse it every two weeks in season. Since the unit serves several rooms, a dirty filter is felt everywhere at once. Keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and leaves, and plan annual HVAC maintenance of the coils, drain and electrical connections. In winter, white vapour during defrost and a short pause in heating are normal. Our cleaning service takes over when you prefer to hand off the annual visit.
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 Ducted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE D5FSDA | 18,000 BTU - R454B. We assess each room, design the duct network and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.