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

A split-level house, heated and cooled from the main level

The split-level house is common in neighbourhoods built a few decades ago around Montreal, in Laval and on the South Shore. Its layout is distinctive: a main level with the living room, dining room and kitchen, a half-storey up for the bedrooms, a half-storey down for the family room, all connected by short open staircases. The Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Performance | 30,000 BTU - R454B takes advantage of this layout with a single high-capacity wall head installed on the main level.

Its certified ratings are 22.4 SEER2, 12.0 EER2 and 9.0 HSPF2. The system is ENERGY STAR certified under ENERGY STAR ID 3624491. It qualifies for a $1,000 LogisVert grant and carries the Performance range warranty described below.

A layout that keeps air moving

In a split-level house, the levels are separated by only a few steps and wide openings. Air circulates much more freely than in a house with full storeys. In winter, heat produced on the main level naturally rises toward the bedroom half-storey; in summer, cool air flows down toward the lower-level family room. A well-placed high-capacity head can therefore influence more than one level.

A nominal capacity of 30,000 BTU/h typically suits the open main level of a good-sized split-level house, with part of the effect felt on the neighbouring half-levels. The variable-speed compressor avoids the effect of an oversized unit in the shoulder seasons: when demand drops, it slows down instead of stopping and restarting.

What one head covers, and what it does not

To be precise: a single head on the main level does not replace the heating of each bedroom. Bedrooms whose doors stay closed at night get little air, and the lower level, often partly below ground, stays cooler in winter. Those rooms keep their baseboards as backup, or get their own heads later. What the large head brings is comfort in the space where you live during the day, and welcome support to the half-levels.

Winter, certified figures

The certificate lists 20,000 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F), about 67% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 2.40, and 20,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), also about 67%, with a COP of 1.94. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.

Capacity stays stable between an ordinary cold day and real January cold. The heat pump carries most of the main level's heating for most of the winter; the baseboards, set a few degrees below the set point, top up on the coldest days and in closed rooms. This tandem setting is done at commissioning, with you.

Summer: cool air flows down on its own

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 22.4 sums up the full season. In a split-level house, cool air produced on the main level naturally flows down to the family room, which also benefits from the cooling. The bedroom half-storey, being higher, gets less cool air: keeping doors open in the evening and closing the blinds on the sunny side helps a lot.

At low speed, the indoor coil condenses moisture from the air, which drains away. This continuous dehumidification also benefits the lower level, often more humid in summer.

Inverter and defrost

A heat pump moves heat instead of producing it: in winter, it draws it from the outdoor air; in summer, it rejects the house's heat outside. Inverter technology varies the compressor's speed instead of running all-or-nothing, which stabilizes the temperature across the three levels. In cold, humid weather, frost forms on the outdoor unit; the heat pump then starts a short defrost cycle, during which heating pauses for a few minutes and a cloud of white vapour may rise from the unit. This behaviour is normal.

Electrical: planning the capacity

A heat pump of this capacity needs a high-rated dedicated circuit. Split-level houses from that era sometimes have a panel already well filled by baseboards and appliances. We check the capacity of the panel and the electrical service during the visit, and clearly present what the connection requires before preparing the quote.

The ratings, explained

• SEER2 of 22.4: cooling efficiency over the whole summer.
• EER2 of 12.0: cooling efficiency at the hottest moment.
• HSPF2 of 9.0: heating efficiency over the whole season.
• COP of 2.40 at -8 °C and 1.94 at -15 °C: heat delivered per unit of electricity, where an electric baseboard delivers one.

These figures come from certificate AHRI 215413223, 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 $1,000 LogisVert grant

The system is listed in Hydro-Québec's LogisVert program, with $1,000 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, calculation and head location

The visit is free. We walk through all three levels, note the openings between them, the windows and the insulation, then run the load calculation. The wall head goes on the main level, up high, ideally on a wall facing the open staircases, so air can reach the half-levels. It is firmly secured to the framing with a drainage slope for condensate, away from the stove and upper cabinets.

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, sheltered from snow sliding off the roof and away from bedroom windows, including the neighbours'. In a split-level house, lower-level windows are often close to the ground: we take this into account when choosing the location. The refrigerant lines, the cable and the drain go through a single sealed opening, and a line cover can finish the run. At commissioning, the circuit is evacuated and checked for tightness, then we test both modes and the drain, and set the baseboards as backup.

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 Performance | 30,000 BTU - R454B. We assess your split-level house level by level, and confirm the right size and your grant eligibility before signing.