UltrEco 36,000 BTU 3 Zone Mini Split Heat Pump, 23 SEER2, Wifi, 7K + 9K + 18K

Attic conversions, finished basements, additions and garages often have no ductwork at all. Extending ducts means opening ceilings and walls. Portable units need a hose out a window and have to be stored every autumn.

Each zone needs one cored hole for the copper line set, communication wire and drain, not a duct run. This kit ships with a 16 ft line set, 13 ft of wire and a controller per zone, sized at 7,000, 9,000 and 18,000 BTU.

Three rooms' worth of equipment in one photo

Stacked at the front are the three indoor units, rated 7,000, 9,000 and 18,000 BTU. Behind them sits the 36,000 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.

Filters that rinse instead of being replaced

No cartridge to reorder. The panel lifts, the mesh filters come out, and they wash under a tap. A blocked filter makes the unit work harder for less air, so this is the five minute job worth putting in the calendar.

Line sets included, not quoted separately

On a lot of multi-zone quotes the copper is a line item. Here each zone arrives with its own 16 ft insulated line set and 13 ft of communication wire and a 6.5 ft drain hose, along with sleeves, caps, screws, putty and tape.

What happens when it gets properly cold

The outdoor unit carries a chassis electrical heater, which keeps the base pan clear so meltwater does not freeze under the coil. The manufacturer rates heating down to -25°C (-13°F) and cooling up to 52°C (125°F). Natural Resources Canada notes most air source heat pumps stop somewhere between -15°C and -25°C, so plan on a backup heat source for the coldest nights.

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 7,000 BTU unit suits roughly 280 to 350 sq ft, a 9,000 BTU unit suits roughly 360 to 450 sq ft and an 18,000 BTU unit suits roughly 720 to 900 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 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 18,000 BTU unit is sized for an open living and dining space, roughly 720 to 900 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 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 7,000 BTU unit suits roughly 280 to 350 sq ft, a 9,000 BTU unit suits roughly 360 to 450 sq ft and an 18,000 BTU unit suits roughly 720 to 900 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 34,000 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.