Window units block the glass, leak air around the frame and have to come out before winter. Three of them means three machines rattling in three rooms, and none of them heat once the weather turns.

One outdoor unit serves all three zones here, with 12,000, 12,000 and 24,000 BTU indoor units mounted out of the way. It is a heat pump, so the same equipment heats down to -20°C (-4°F) rather than sitting in a garage for eight months.

One outdoor unit, three indoor units

The photo has the complete system in it: a 38,000 BTU condenser for outside, three wall units of 12,000, 12,000 and 24,000 BTU for inside, three remotes and the copper, wire and sundries that connect them. Nothing here is sold separately as an accessory pack.

Phone, remote or voice

The system connects to wifi, so each zone can be checked and changed from the app while you are out. It also answers to Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and every indoor unit still ships with a physical remote for anyone who would rather press a button.

Rooms behave differently, so treat them differently

A kitchen throws heat, a north bedroom loses it, and a bathroom needs neither for most of the day. Three independent zones let each one settle where it should instead of averaging the whole floor into one compromise.

One box on the outside wall

Three separate systems would mean three condensers along the side of the house. This is one, with the refrigerant lines running up inside the wall to each zone. It matters more than it sounds when the side yard is narrow or the neighbours are close.

One 38,000 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 12,000 BTU unit suits roughly 480 to 600 sq ft and a 24,000 BTU unit suits roughly 960 to 1,200 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 20 SEER2 for cooling and 9.5 HSPF2 for heating.

A chassis electrical heater keeps the outdoor base pan clear. The manufacturer rates heating down to -20°C (-4°F) and cooling up to 53°C (127°F).

Each zone gets a 16 ft insulated copper line set and 19 ft of communication wire, plus a 8 ft drain hose. 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 24,000 BTU unit is sized for an open living and dining space, roughly 960 to 1,200 sq ft. The other two zones cover normal bedrooms without oversizing them.

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 9.5 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 12,000 BTU unit suits roughly 480 to 600 sq ft and a 24,000 BTU unit suits roughly 960 to 1,200 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 48,000 BTU but the outdoor unit is 38,000 BTU. Is that a mistake?

No. On any multi-zone system the indoor ratings are not meant to be added together, and sizing guides for multi-zone equipment say so plainly. The 38,000 BTU figure is what the outdoor unit can deliver at one time, and it is shared among whichever zones are calling for it. Three rooms rarely peak at the same moment, which is why this combination is offered.

How cold can it get outside before it stops heating?

The manufacturer rates low ambient heating down to -20°C (-4°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.