Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Duracomfort | 9,000 BTU - R454B

The cold room in the house, heated through the heart of winter

Almost every house has its cold room: the bedroom above the garage, the addition built at the back, the corner office with two exterior walls and a large north-facing window. The baseboards run non-stop in January, and the room is still uncomfortable. The Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Duracomfort | 9,000 BTU - R454B is designed for this kind of room: a compact size, but a heating capacity that holds when the cold sets in.

Its certified ratings are 27.5 SEER2, 15.5 EER2 and 12.5 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation under ENERGY STAR ID 3556045, and the certificate still lists its capacity at -30 °C.

The rooms central heating forgets

A room built above an unheated garage loses heat through the floor as much as through the walls. An addition often has more surface exposed to the outdoors than the rest of the house. A north-facing corner bedroom never gets the winter sun. In all these cases, the room's heating demand exceeds what its floor area suggests, and a small unit chosen only on the size of the room runs short of breath in January.

This is the situation where the Duracomfort series stands out: a unit rated at 9,000 BTU/h nominal, which keeps a size suited to a closed room and fine modulation in the shoulder seasons, but delivers more heat when the outdoor temperature drops. We still confirm the real need with a load calculation, especially when the floor sits over an unheated space.

More heat at -8 °C than its nominal capacity

The certificate lists 12,000 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F), about 133% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 2.49, and 11,500 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), about 128%, with a COP of 1.80. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.

This behaviour comes from the variable-speed compressor: the nominal capacity describes a reference point, but the compressor can speed up beyond it when demand calls for it. For the cold room in the house, that is exactly what is needed: a heat pump that slows down when it is mild and speeds up when the cold bites, instead of topping out just when you need it most.

Down to -30 °C: what the certificate says

The certificate also publishes the maximum capacity at -30 °C (-22 °F): 5,100 BTU/h, about 57% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 1.11. In other words, the heat pump keeps heating at that temperature and still delivers more heat than the electricity it consumes, but it no longer covers the full demand of an exposed room on its own.

On those nights, the existing baseboard or another backup takes over. The setting is simple: the baseboard thermostat is set a few degrees below the heat pump's set point. It stays cold for most of the winter and only switches on during cold peaks.

How a heat pump heats in deep cold

Even at very low temperatures, outdoor air contains heat. The R-454B refrigerant circulates in the outdoor unit at a temperature even lower than the air, which lets it capture that energy; the compressor then raises it to a useful temperature and the indoor unit releases it into the room. The colder it gets, the harder the compressor has to work, which explains the gradual drop in COP from one measurement point to the next.

In cold, humid weather, frost forms on the outdoor coil. The heat pump then starts a defrost cycle: for a few minutes, it pauses heating, a cloud of white vapour may rise from the outdoor unit, then heating resumes. This behaviour is normal and built into the unit's design.

Summer too, in the room above the garage

Rooms that are cold in winter are often the hottest in summer: a low roof, a west-facing wall, a garage that stores heat. In cooling mode, the nominal capacity is 9,000 BTU/h, and the 15.5 EER2 rating indicates very good efficiency at the peak of the heat. At low speed, the indoor coil condenses moisture from the air, which provides continuous dehumidification and more comfortable sleep.

For a child's room or a guest room above the garage, this dual function avoids installing a window air conditioner in summer and a space heater in winter. A single, discreet wall head covers both seasons, and the window stays free all year.

27.5 SEER2 and 12.5 HSPF2, plainly

• SEER2 of 27.5: cooling efficiency over the whole season. A high rating means less electricity for the same summer comfort.
• EER2 of 15.5: cooling efficiency on the hottest days.
• HSPF2 of 12.5: heating efficiency over the full season. For a room that needs a lot of heating, this is the rating that matters most.
• COP: heat delivered per unit of electricity. A baseboard delivers one unit; this pairing delivers 2.49 at -8 °C, 1.80 at -15 °C and 1.11 at -30 °C according to the certificate.

These figures come from certificate AHRI 215324105, published by NEEP.

LogisVert

This pairing does not carry an amount on Hydro-Québec's LogisVert list of October 19, 2026. If the grant matters for your project, we will point you to an eligible pairing of comparable size.

An installation designed for winter

Visit, load calculation and location

During the visit, we look at what makes the room cold: a floor above a garage, the number of exterior walls, windows, roof insulation. The load calculation then confirms the size is right. The indoor unit is secured to the framing, up high, where the airflow covers the room, with a drainage slope for condensate. In a room above the garage, we aim the louvres so warm air comes down toward the floor.

An outdoor unit sheltered from snow

A heat pump that heats in deep cold must be able to breathe all winter. The outdoor unit goes on a ground or wall stand, above the snow line, sheltered from snow sliding off roofs and away from bedroom windows, including the neighbours'. Defrost water must be able to drain without forming ice on a walkway or a front step: we take this into account when choosing the location.

Connections, electrical and commissioning

The refrigerant lines, the communication cable and the drain go through a single opening, sealed on both sides, and a line cover can finish the run. The system needs a dedicated circuit: we check the panel capacity during the visit. At commissioning, the circuit is evacuated and checked for tightness, then we test heating, cooling and the drain.

In a room above the garage, the lines can sometimes run through the garage itself, which shortens the visible run on the exterior wall and protects the lines from the weather. We propose the cleanest route during the visit, before the quote.

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. A clean outdoor coil defrosts more efficiently. 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 | 9,000 BTU - R454B. We assess the cold room in your house, confirm the right size and give you a written quote before signing.