A single thermostat averages the whole house and reads one room. Somebody is always too warm or too cold. Closing vents to rebalance a room just moves the problem somewhere else and strains the blower.

Three zones measure and correct their own space. The 12,000 BTU unit can hold one room cool while the 9,000 BTU unit heats another, and both report back to the same 36,000 BTU outdoor unit without fighting each other.

One outdoor unit, three indoor units

The photo has the complete system in it: a 36,000 BTU condenser for outside, three wall units of 9,000, 9,000 and 12,000 BTU for inside, three remotes and the copper, wire and sundries that connect them. Nothing here is sold separately as an accessory pack.

Modes, fan speeds and the remote

The supplied remote has a digital display and covers 6 modes (auto, cool, heat, dry, fan, sleep) and 5 fan speeds. Auto swing moves the louvres so air is not pointed at one spot, and the 24 hour timer lets a zone start warming a room before anyone walks into it.

The app, and the remote that still works without it

Zone by zone the app shows what is running and lets you change it from anywhere. None of that is compulsory: each indoor unit ships with its own remote and a 24 hour timer, so the system works the same way with the router unplugged.

The maintenance you will actually do

The front panel lifts and the filters slide out. They rinse under a tap, dry and go back in. Doing that every few weeks through the cooling season keeps airflow up, which is the cheapest thing you can do for running cost.

One 36,000 BTU outdoor unit runs all three indoor units. Each zone starts, stops and holds its own temperature, so an empty room costs nothing.

A common rule of thumb is 20 to 25 BTU per square foot (Carrier publishes 25). Here, a 9,000 BTU unit suits roughly 360 to 450 sq ft and a 12,000 BTU unit suits roughly 480 to 600 sq ft. Natural Resources Canada points to CSA F280-12 for a proper load calculation.

The compressor varies its speed instead of cycling on and off. Published ratings are 23 SEER2 for cooling and 10 HSPF2 for heating.

A chassis electrical heater keeps the outdoor base pan clear. The manufacturer rates heating down to -25°C (-13°F) and cooling up to 52°C (125°F).

Each zone gets a 16 ft insulated copper line set and 13 ft of communication wire, plus a 6.5 ft drain hose. That is the material most quotes list separately.

The outdoor unit runs on 208-230V~60Hz, single phase. It wants its own branch circuit, sized from the MCA and maximum breaker figures on the unit's own nameplate, with a disconnect within reach.

Wifi app plus a remote with a digital display for each zone, and a 24 hour timer.

The indoor filters pull out, rinse under a tap and go back in. Clean filters are the cheapest way to keep airflow and running cost where they should be.

Ships from our United States warehouse. Delivery to Canada usually takes 8 to 14 business days, with no customs charges or duties to pay on arrival. Free shipping on orders over $150, a flat $18.90 below that, and tracking by email as soon as it leaves.

Return within 14 days of purchase, unused, in original condition and packaging.

Covered directly by the manufacturer under their warranty terms for material and manufacturing defects.

Found it cheaper at a Canadian retailer? Send us the link and we will match that price. It has to be the same item, in stock, sold and shipped inside Canada, and compared like for like on what comes in the box.

The 12,000 BTU unit takes the busiest space, roughly 480 to 600 sq ft, while the 9,000 BTU units handle quieter rooms. Capacity goes where the heat load actually is.

Older houses, additions, attic conversions and finished basements rarely have ducts where they are needed. Three zones from one outdoor unit avoids opening up ceilings.

This is a heat pump, not a cooling-only air conditioner. It carries an HSPF2 heating rating of 10 and a chassis heater for winter operation.

What we stand behind

• Ships from our United States warehouse, free shipping over $150, and 14 day returns unused in the original packaging.
• 14 day returns on unused items in original condition and packaging
• Covered by the manufacturer's own warranty for material and manufacturing defects
• Line sets, communication wire and a controller for every zone are in the box

How much space will each indoor unit cover?

Sizing runs off the heat load of the room, not just its floor area, and Natural Resources Canada points to CSA F280-12 for the real calculation. As a rough check, 20 to 25 BTU per square foot is the usual rule of thumb. Here, a 9,000 BTU unit suits roughly 360 to 450 sq ft and a 12,000 BTU unit suits roughly 480 to 600 sq ft. Poor insulation, big west-facing windows or a 9 ft ceiling all push that figure up.

The three indoor units add up to 30,000 BTU and the outdoor unit is rated 36,000 BTU. Why the gap?

Multi-zone outdoor units come in fixed sizes and the indoor combinations are built around them, so the totals rarely land exactly. The spare capacity is not wasted: the inverter compressor simply runs at a lower speed, which is where a modulating system gets its efficiency. Either way, do not add the indoor ratings together to judge the system. The 36,000 BTU figure is what can be delivered at one time, shared among the zones that are calling.

How cold can it get outside before it stops heating?

The manufacturer rates low ambient heating down to -25°C (-13°F), helped by an electric heater in the outdoor chassis. Natural Resources Canada notes that air source heat pumps lose capacity and efficiency as it gets colder, with typical COPs falling from 2.0 to 5.4 at 8°C to 1.1 to 3.7 at -8°C, and that most units have a minimum operating temperature between -15°C and -25°C. Keep a backup heat source for the coldest stretches.

Can I install this myself in Canada?

Plan on a licensed installer. In Ontario, for example, the province states that by law only a certified technician may remove, discharge, handle and dispose of refrigerants, including HFCs, and that mechanical work on refrigeration equipment needs a Certificate of Qualification on top of the refrigerant certificate. Other provinces have their own halocarbon rules. The federal Code of Practice says the same thing in plainer terms: the technician doing work that could release refrigerant must hold the proper environmental certification. The 208-230V~60Hz, single phase power supply also means an electrician and a dedicated circuit.