Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Duracomfort | 30,000 BTU - R454B

An intergenerational suite with its own comfort, summer and winter

Many families set up an intergenerational suite: a ground floor, a full-height basement or an addition turned into a complete home for parents or an adult child. That suite needs its own heating and its own cooling, set independently from the rest of the house. The Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Duracomfort | 30,000 BTU - R454B can serve the living area of such a suite with a single high-capacity wall head.

Its certified ratings are 20.5 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 9.5 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified under ENERGY STAR ID 3624488, and the certificate still lists its capacity at -25 °C. It qualifies for a $1,020 LogisVert grant.

A home within the house, with needs of its own

The occupants of an intergenerational suite do not always share the rest of the family's preferences: some like a warmer home in winter, others a cooler one in summer. With its own heat pump, the suite has its own set point, with no compromise with the neighbouring floor.

A nominal capacity of 30,000 BTU/h typically suits the open living area of a good-sized suite: kitchen, eating area and living room in one well-insulated space. As elsewhere, a single head does not heat bedrooms whose doors stay closed; they keep their baseboards or get their own small-capacity heads. We discuss this during the visit, with the suite's floor plan in hand.

Winter, certified figures

The certificate lists 20,400 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F), about 68% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 2.52, and 20,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), about 67%, with a COP of 2.03. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.

Capacity stays almost identical between an ordinary cold day and real January cold, with high efficiency. For the living area of a well-insulated suite, the heat pump therefore carries most of the heating for most of the winter. The variable-speed compressor modulates this capacity continuously, and slows down in the shoulder seasons instead of short-cycling.

Down to -25 °C

The certificate publishes the maximum capacity at -25 °C (-13 °F): 11,100 BTU/h, about 37% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 1.12. The heat pump therefore keeps heating at that temperature, but it no longer carries the demand alone. The suite's baseboards stay in place, set a few degrees below the heat pump's set point; they only switch on during cold peaks. This pairing does not have the ENERGY STAR cold-climate designation, and we present it for what it is: an efficient main heat source, backed by the baseboards in the heart of winter.

More even comfort

A baseboard heats in bursts: it switches on, warms the air near the wall, then switches off. The variable-speed heat pump instead holds a steady temperature, at low airflow, with no scorching surface. For occupants who spend a lot of time at home, this stability is noticeable every day. We place the head so the airflow does not aim directly at the armchair or the table, to avoid any feeling of draft.

Summer, without a window air conditioner

In cooling mode, the nominal capacity is 30,000 BTU/h. The 12.0 EER2 rating measures efficiency on a hot day, and the SEER2 rating of 20.5 sums up the full season. During heat waves, when keeping a home cool matters, the heat pump holds the set point without anyone handling a window unit. At low speed, the indoor coil condenses moisture from the air, which drains away: continuous dehumidification makes the suite comfortable at a reasonable set point.

Electrical: one suite, one dedicated circuit

A heat pump of this capacity needs a high-rated dedicated circuit. Depending on the layout, the intergenerational suite is fed by the house's main panel or by its own subpanel. We check the total capacity during the visit, taking both homes into account, before proposing a configuration. We hold the RBQ licence for electrical work, which lets us handle the connection within the same project.

The ratings, explained

• SEER2 of 20.5: cooling efficiency over the whole summer.
• EER2 of 12.0: cooling efficiency at the hottest moment.
• HSPF2 of 9.5: heating efficiency over the whole season.
• COP of 2.52 at -8 °C, 2.03 at -15 °C and 1.12 at -25 °C: heat delivered per unit of electricity, where an electric baseboard delivers one.

These figures come from certificate AHRI 215413215, published by NEEP. The circuit uses R-454B refrigerant, from the new generation, with a much lower global warming potential than the previous one; classified A2L, it requires precise installation methods that we apply on every job.

The $1,020 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $1,020 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.

Installation, step by step

Visit and head location

The visit is free. We measure the suite's living area, note the windows, insulation and bedroom locations, then run the load calculation. The wall head is firmly secured to the framing, up high, on a solid wall from which the airflow covers the whole living area, with a drainage slope for condensate. If the suite is in the basement, we plan condensate drainage by gravity or by a condensate pump, depending on the head's height relative to outdoor ground level.

Outdoor unit, lines and commissioning

The outdoor unit, bulky on a heat pump of this capacity, sits on a sturdy ground stand or on a wall stand designed for its load, above the snow line, away from bedroom windows, including the neighbours' and those of the main home. We plan for defrost water drainage so it does not freeze in front of the suite's entrance. The refrigerant lines, the cable and the drain go through a single sealed opening. At commissioning, the circuit is evacuated and checked for tightness, then we test both modes and the drain, and show the occupants how to use the remote control.

Maintenance and warranty

Rinse the indoor filters every two weeks in season, 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.

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

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 Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Duracomfort | 30,000 BTU - R454B. We assess the intergenerational suite, check the electrical supply and confirm your grant eligibility before signing.