A bedroom over the garage bakes in July while the basement stays cold. A window unit fixes one room and takes the window with it. Running the whole house harder to fix one room costs money and still misses the far corner.

Three indoor units of 9,000, 12,000 and 12,000 BTU each get their own controller and their own temperature. Run the 12,000 BTU unit hard in the problem room and leave the other two off. Only the zones you switch on draw from the 35,000 BTU outdoor unit.

Three rooms' worth of equipment in one photo

Stacked at the front are the three indoor units, rated 9,000, 12,000 and 12,000 BTU. Behind them sits the 35,000 BTU outdoor unit, and off to the side is the insulated copper, wiring, tape and putty for all three runs. Three remotes and the phone app share the controls.

Counting what is in the carton

One outdoor unit, three indoor units, and three of everything that links them: a 16 ft copper line set (gas and liquid), 19 ft of communication wire per zone, plus wall sleeves, caps, screw kits, putty and tape. A remote and holder comes with each indoor unit.

January on the north side of the house

Frozen meltwater in the base pan is what kills an outdoor unit in a Canadian winter. A chassis heating element in this one keeps that pan clear. Rated limits are -25°C (-13°F) for heating and 55°C (131°F) for cooling, and output falls as it gets colder, so keep a second heat source for deep cold.

Efficiency, and what it actually buys you

A 22.5 SEER2 cooling rating and 10 HSPF2 heating rating come from the variable speed compressor, which throttles to match the load instead of cycling. The refrigerant is R454B. Steadier output is the comfort argument; less cycling is the running cost argument. It carries ENERGY STAR, ETL and AHRI certification.

One 35,000 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 22.5 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 55°C (131°F).

Each zone gets a 16 ft insulated copper line set and 19 ft of communication wire. That is the material most quotes list separately.

The outdoor unit runs on 208-230V 60Hz. 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, a remote with a digital display for each zone, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

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 33,000 BTU and the outdoor unit is rated 35,000 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 35,000 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 power supply also means an electrician and a dedicated circuit.