Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Performance | 36,000 BTU - R454B

A very large open area, a single head: when that choice is the right one

Some houses have an almost entirely open ground floor: a kitchen with an island, a dining room, a living room under a high ceiling, an office corner, all in one large volume. To cool and heat such a space without ducts, there are two approaches: a single very-high-capacity wall head, or several smaller heads. The Wall-Mounted Heat Pump ARCOAIRE Performance | 36,000 BTU - R454B represents the first, and this page helps you decide whether it suits your home.

Its certified ratings are 19.5 SEER2, 9.4 EER2 and 9.1 HSPF2. The certificate still lists its capacity at -25 °C. It runs on R-454B refrigerant, with a variable-speed compressor, and carries the Performance range warranty described below.

The case of a very large open area

A nominal capacity of 36,000 BTU/h typically suits a very large, single-span open space: the ground floor of a large recent house, a living area enlarged during a major renovation, or a double-height room with a lot of glass. These are spaces where the cooling load is high in summer, because of the glass area and the volume, and where heating demand is significant in winter.

The variable-speed compressor makes such a capacity usable all year: in the shoulder seasons or on a mild day, it slows down instead of short-cycling, which avoids the effect of an oversized unit. Without this modulation, a head this size would be uncomfortable for much of the year.

One head or several: the criteria

A single large head has real advantages: one indoor unit to maintain, one outdoor unit to place, one opening in the wall, and simple operation. It is the right choice when the space is truly open, the airflow can cross it without obstruction, and you want a uniform temperature throughout the volume.

Several smaller heads, connected to one or more outdoor units, do better in other cases: an L-shaped space where part of it is out of reach of the airflow, zones with very different exposures, such as a north-facing kitchen and a glazed south-facing living room, or the need to set different temperatures from one corner to another. They are also required as soon as closed rooms need to be served.

We do not settle this question in advance. During the visit, we look at the floor plan, the openings, the windows and your habits, then present the most suitable option and explain why.

Winter heating, certified figures

The certificate lists 25,600 BTU/h at -8 °C (17 °F), about 71% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 2.30, and 24,000 BTU/h at -15 °C (5 °F), about 67%, with a COP of 2.02. The two points are measured separately; we report each one as published.

For a very large, well-insulated space, the heat pump handles most of the heating through the fall, the spring and most winter days, with high efficiency. At -15 °C, it still delivers a little more than two units of heat for each unit of electricity, according to the certificate.

Down to -25 °C, with backup

The certificate also publishes the maximum capacity at -25 °C (-13 °F): 15,100 BTU/h, about 42% of nominal capacity, with a COP of 1.61. The heat pump therefore keeps heating at that temperature, but it no longer carries the demand of a large volume on its own. The existing heating, baseboards or convectors, stays in place, set a few degrees below the heat pump's set point; it only switches on during cold peaks. In cold, humid weather, short defrost cycles pause heating for a few minutes; the white vapour rising from the outdoor unit is normal.

Summer in a large space

In cooling mode, the nominal capacity is 36,000 BTU/h. The 9.4 EER2 rating measures efficiency on a hot day, when the sun hits the large windows; the SEER2 rating of 19.5 sums up the full season. In a large volume, cool air tends to stay low: the head, aimed upward in cooling, lets the air settle through the whole space. At low speed, the indoor coil condenses moisture from the air, which drains away; this continuous dehumidification keeps the large space comfortable on humid days.

Electrical: planning the capacity

A heat pump of this capacity needs a high-rated dedicated circuit, and the total capacity of the panel and electrical service must allow it, taking into account the baseboards, the appliances and, if applicable, an EV charger. We hold the RBQ licence for electrical work: we check these points during the visit and clearly present what the connection requires, before preparing the quote.

The ratings, plainly

• SEER2 of 19.5: cooling efficiency over the whole summer.
• EER2 of 9.4: cooling efficiency at the hottest moment.
• HSPF2 of 9.1: heating efficiency over the whole season.
• COP of 2.30 at -8 °C, 2.02 at -15 °C and 1.61 at -25 °C: heat delivered per unit of electricity, where an electric baseboard delivers one.

These figures come from certificate AHRI 215413224, published by NEEP. R-454B is the new-generation refrigerant, with a much lower global warming potential than the previous one; classified A2L, it requires precise installation methods that we apply on every job.

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.

Installation, step by step

Locating the head and the outdoor unit

The visit is free. We measure the space, the ceiling height, the windows and their orientation, then run the load calculation. The wall head is firmly secured to the framing, up high, on a solid wall from which the airflow can cross the space along its greatest length, away from the stove and without aiming directly at the sofa or the table. It is installed with a drainage slope for condensate.

The outdoor unit of a heat pump this size is bulky and heavy. It 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'. We plan for defrost water drainage so it does not freeze on a walkway or a deck.

Commissioning, maintenance and warranty

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 heating, cooling and the drain, adjust the louvre direction and set the backup heating. After that, 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. 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 | 36,000 BTU - R454B. We assess your large space, compare a single head and a multi-head solution with you, and give you a written quote before signing.