DURASTAR Sirius Heat Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 18000 BTU - R454B

An Open-Plan Ground Floor Needs Airflow, Not Just BTUs

When moving from an enclosed room to an entire ground floor, BTU capacity is no longer enough to describe the requirement. The warm or cool air must also reach the back of the kitchen, the dining area, and the bottom of the staircase. The DURASTAR Sirius Heat Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 18,000 BTU - R454B combines certified heating capacity down to -30 °C with a maximum airflow of 759 CFM, making it a solid choice for large living areas.

Its certified ratings are 21.7 SEER2, 13.0 EER2, and 10.8 HSPF2. It is ENERGY STAR certified with the cold-climate designation, and Hydro-Québec lists it in the LogisVert program with a $1,992 rebate.

Airflow Range: An Often-Overlooked Criterion

A wall-mounted unit blows air from a single point. In a long or L-shaped room, air speed and volume determine whether the heat actually reaches the other end. This system's indoor fan offers four levels: 371, 441, 500, and 759 CFM. Turbo mode quickly makes up for a temperature difference when you return from work, while the lower levels maintain quiet comfort the rest of the time.

Wall selection is just as important. We position the indoor unit so that the air stream travels across the room's greatest dimension, without obstacles such as a range hood, tall cabinet, or hanging light fixture. The vertical louver oscillates automatically; the lateral direction is set manually during commissioning according to the layout of the space.

Certified Heating Capacities

• At 8 °C: 18,000 BTU/h, with a range of 10,300 to 23,000 BTU/h
• At -8 °C: 16,600 BTU/h, COP of 2.64
• At -15 °C: 18,000 BTU/h, COP of 2.00
• At -30 °C: up to 9,600 BTU/h, COP of 1.43

The certified value at -15 °C is even higher than the value measured at -8 °C. The key point is this: at -15 °C, the unit still delivers its full rated capacity, producing twice as much heat as a baseboard heater for the same amount of electricity. These figures come from certificate AHRI 215359258, published by NEEP, which takes precedence over the manufacturer's commercial specification sheet.

The $1,992 LogisVert Rebate

The system appears on Hydro-Québec's LogisVert list under ENERGY STAR ID 3621154, with a $1,992 rebate for owners of existing homes. The amount is calculated according to the list in effect on the installation date; we confirm it before signing and prepare the documents required for your application.

Planning the Installation of an 18,000 BTU Unit in a Single-Family Home

At this size, installation affects more elements of the home: the structure supporting the outdoor unit, the electrical panel, and the line-set route. Here is what we check during every visit.

An Outdoor Unit Weighing Nearly 100 Pounds

The condenser measures 35.04 x 13.46 x 26.50 inches and weighs 99.9 pounds. On a brick or concrete wall, a securely anchored wall bracket is suitable; on vinyl or wood siding, we often prefer a ground stand on a stable base, always above the snow line. Its 59 dB(A) sound level means it should be placed away from bedroom windows, both yours and your neighbors'. The base-pan heater and the anti-corrosion fin coating are included as standard equipment.

Longer Lines, Larger Diameter

This system uses 1/4- and 1/2-inch lines. They are precharged for 25 feet and can reach 98 feet, with a maximum elevation difference of 66 feet. This allowance makes it possible, for example, to place the outdoor unit in the backyard while the indoor unit is on the living room's front wall. Each foot beyond the precharged length requires 0.16 ounces of refrigerant. When existing lines of the correct diameter can be reused, their cleaning and testing are included.

A Dedicated 20 A Circuit

Power supply: 208-230 V, 19 A MCA, and a 20 A circuit breaker. Most 200 A panels accept this circuit without difficulty. In an older home with a 100 A panel already loaded with baseboard heaters and a range, we perform a load calculation before proposing the installation.

The Indoor Unit in Everyday Use

The wall-mounted unit measures 42.60 x 9.21 x 13.27 inches and weighs 30.4 pounds. Its sound level ranges from 20 dB(A) in Silence mode to 55 dB(A) in Turbo mode; during normal operation, it ranges from 25 to 45 dB(A). The remote control provides access to the Follow Me, Sleep, Gentle, Active Clean, and ECO/GEAR functions. An 8 °C freeze-protection setting keeps the room above freezing during an extended absence. Wi-Fi is not built in; DuraStar offers a separately sold Wi-Fi adapter module.

The Role of Baseboard Heaters and Existing Heating

In a single-family home, one wall-mounted unit does not heat enclosed bedrooms upstairs. We position it as the primary source for the ground floor, while the existing baseboard heaters take over in isolated rooms and during extreme cold. If the upper floor also needs cooling in summer, we discuss a second unit or a multi-zone solution.

Understanding Sounds and Pauses

A rush of air when the louver moves back into position, plastic creaking after a heating cycle, white vapor during defrosting, and a three-minute delay before restarting are all part of normal operation. An unusual metallic noise, a burning smell, or an indoor water leak requires shutting off the unit and scheduling a service visit.

Maintenance

1. Clean the indoor filters every two weeks during the season.
2. Keep clear space around the condenser in both winter and summer.
3. Have annual HVAC maintenance performed on the coils, drain, and electrical connections. Our wall-mounted heat pump cleaning service covers these steps.

AirGreen in Your Area

We install in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore. The in-home assessment is free, and the written quote is provided without high-pressure sales tactics. We handle registering the unit with the manufacturer and preparing the documents required for the rebate.

Schedule your free estimate for the DURASTAR Sirius Heat Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 18,000 BTU - R454B: we will assess airflow throughout your ground floor, your electrical panel, and your eligibility for LogisVert.