X-Pro 35,000 BTU 3 Zone Ducted Mini Split Heat Pump, 22.5 SEER2, Wifi, 9K + 9K + 12K

Retrofitting a full duct network means dropped ceilings, boxed corners and weeks of work. Many older Canadian homes have hot water or baseboard heat and no ducts at all, so there is nothing to tie into.

A concealed handler needs only short duct runs inside one ceiling void, not a network through the whole house. Three of them at 9,000, 9,000 and 12,000 BTU share one 35,000 BTU outdoor unit, and the system heats as well as cools, down to -25°C (-13°F).

Three air handlers and one condenser

Everything in the photo ships together: the 35,000 BTU outdoor unit, three ducted air handlers of 9,000, 9,000 and 12,000 BTU, the copper line sets and a thermostat per zone. Each handler feeds its own short duct runs, so the 12,000 BTU zone can run while the other two sit idle.

Three set points in one building

The cutaway shows the idea: one outdoor unit on the ground, indoor units upstairs and down, and a different temperature in each space. Nobody has to agree on one number for the whole house, and rooms that sit empty all day can be left off. In this configuration the 12,000 BTU zone would take the busiest space.

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. Three wall thermostats are in the box as well, one per zone.

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.

One 35,000 BTU outdoor unit runs all three ducted air handlers. 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.

A wall thermostat for each zone, plus a handheld remote, the phone app, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

The air handlers sit above a ceiling or inside a bulkhead and feed short duct runs to grilles. Only the supply and return grilles are visible in the room.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse. Free shipping on orders over $150. Some remote areas, PO boxes and surcharge regions may be excluded or charged extra.

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.

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.

Tall-window living rooms, heritage interiors, offices and dining rooms all look better without a unit on the wall. The handler hides in a ceiling void and only the grilles are visible.

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 a Canadian warehouse, with free shipping on orders over $150
• 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 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.