DURASTAR Standard Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 9000 BTU 115V - R454B

A 115 V wall-mounted heat pump for homes where a 208-230 V circuit would be complicated

In some buildings, the real obstacle to installing a wall-mounted heat pump is not the budget or the wall space, but the electrical panel. There may be no room for a double-pole breaker, an already heavily loaded service entrance, or a home where connecting to 208-230 V would require major work. The DURASTAR Standard Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 9,000 BTU 115V - R454B operates on a 115 V power supply. It therefore simplifies the electrical side of the project while providing air conditioning and effective supplemental heating.

However, you should understand its limitations before choosing it. Its certified ratings are 19.0 SEER2, 11.7 EER2, and 9.5 HSPF2. It heats down to -20 °C, is not ENERGY STAR certified, and is not listed on Hydro-Québec's LogisVert list, which is why the rebate shown on the product sheet is $0. We prefer to state this clearly from the outset.

Certified capacities

• Cooling: 9,000 BTU/h, range of 2,000 to 11,100 BTU/h
• At 8 °C: 10,000 BTU/h, range of 2,500 to 12,500 BTU/h, COP of 3.81
• At -8 °C: 8,000 BTU/h, COP of 2.09
• At -15 °C: 7,300 BTU/h, COP of 1.89
• At -20 °C: up to 6,200 BTU/h, COP of 1.47

These figures come from certificate AHRI 217727837, published by NEEP. The COP of 3.81 at 8 °C shows that the unit is highly efficient in the fall and spring. In the middle of winter, it continues to produce approximately twice as much heat as a baseboard heater for the same amount of electricity, until the temperature reaches its operating limit.

The right use: cooling first, supplemental heating

We recommend this system for a bedroom, office, or small room where cooling is the priority and baseboard heaters already provide heating. From late fall to early spring, the heat pump handles most of the room's heating at a reduced cost. During very cold weather, the baseboard heaters remain on, set a few degrees below the heat pump's setpoint, and take over completely below -20 °C.

If you are looking for primary heating in very cold weather or a LogisVert rebate, a 208-230 V model from the DuraStar range would be more suitable. During our assessment, we specifically check whether adding a 208-230 V circuit is realistic in your home before recommending the 115 V option.

Evenly distributed comfort throughout the room

The indoor unit measures 31.93 x 7.95 x 11.50 inches and weighs 19.8 pounds. Unlike the DuraStar 208-230 V wall-mounted units in our selection, it automatically oscillates vertically and horizontally, controlled by the remote. DuraStar indicates coverage of up to 72 discharge angles, helping air reach the corners of an irregularly shaped room. Its fan offers four speeds of 200, 235, 270, and 342 CFM, and its sound level ranges from 28 to 42 dB(A).

The remote provides access to the I FEEL function, which measures the temperature where the remote is located, as well as ECO mode, available in cooling, Sleep mode, which shuts off after ten hours, Turbo and Mute modes, the timer, and the Self-Clean function. The latter briefly freezes and then defrosts the indoor coil to dislodge dust and deposits responsible for odors, in about thirty minutes; DuraStar suggests using it every three months. The 8 °C heating function keeps the room above freezing during an absence; it cancels automatically when the outdoor temperature reaches 18 °C. Wi-Fi is not available on this model.

Installing a 115 V system properly: circuit, snow, and drainage

A simpler power supply does not mean an improvised installation. Here is what we plan for.

The electrical circuit

The system operates on 115 V single-phase power, within a range of 105 to 125 V. The manufacturer's specifications indicate an MCA of 16 A and a recommended 25 A breaker. The unit must not share its power supply with other appliances: it requires a dedicated circuit installed according to the applicable code. We check your service capacity and the available panel space during the visit.

The outdoor unit

The condenser measures 28.03 x 9.21 x 19.61 inches, weighs 51.8 pounds, and produces 54 dB(A). Its compact, lightweight design works well on a balcony or on a wall bracket anchored to the structure. DuraStar's installation manual requires the unit to be placed higher than the average snow accumulation in areas where it snows, with a minimum height of 18 inches. It also recommends keeping the drainage hose as vertical as possible in cold weather so that defrost water does not freeze in the hose. The documentation for this system does not mention a base-pan heater; we therefore pay particular attention to placement and drainage. The indoor and outdoor coils are protected by a Blue Fin anti-corrosion coating.

The refrigerant lines

The lines are 1/4 and 3/8 inch, pre-charged for 25 feet. The length must be at least 10 feet and no more than 49 feet, with a maximum elevation difference of 33 feet. Beyond the pre-charge length, add 0.11 ounces of refrigerant per foot. This shorter maximum length than that of the 208-230 V models means the two units must be installed closer together, which we plan during the visit. The installation remains entirely exposed, without opening the interior wall.

R-454B refrigerant

Like the brand's recent models, this system uses R-454B, a next-generation A2L refrigerant with a significantly lower global warming potential than R-410A. Its handling follows the safety rules applicable to mildly flammable refrigerants.

What is normal

• The unit may take two to five minutes to start or restart: this is compressor protection.
• In heating mode, a two- to ten-minute defrost cycle may occur, with white vapor appearing when operation resumes.
• A slight refrigerant hiss and plastic cracking sounds are part of normal operation.
• Below -20 °C, the heating shutdown corresponds to the manufacturer's specified limit.

A persistent error code, a tripped breaker, or water leaking from the indoor unit warrants shutting off the appliance and scheduling a service visit.

Maintenance

DuraStar recommends cleaning the indoor filters every two weeks. Keep the condenser clear of snow and check that the drain flows freely in winter. Annual HVAC maintenance completes these tasks: coil cleaning, drainage checks, and electrical connection inspections.

AirGreen, advice tailored to your building

AirGreen is a family-owned Montreal company that has been installing wall-mounted heat pumps in Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore for more than fifteen years. We hold RBQ licences for ventilation, refrigeration, and electrical work, along with $5,000,000 in liability insurance. We will tell you frankly whether 115 V is the right solution or whether a 208-230 V model is worth the investment.

Request your free estimate for the DURASTAR Standard Wall-Mounted Heat Pump | 9,000 BTU 115V - R454B: we will check your panel, the condenser location, and the best option for your room.