Blast Pro 28,000 BTU 2 Zone Mini Split Heat Pump, 20 SEER2, 18K + 18K

The usual fixes are all blunt. Window units block the glass and come out again every autumn, portable units drag a hose to the window, and running the central system harder costs whole house energy to solve a two room problem.

Two matched 18,000 BTU units run off one outdoor unit, each with its own set temperature and its own fan speed. The pair is balanced, so neither room gets the short end when both call at once. No ducts get cut and no window gets blocked.

What is in the boxes

The carton holds one outdoor condenser, two wall mounted heads, and two 16 ft gas line sets and two 16 ft liquid line sets, two 19 ft communication wires, two 8 ft drain hoses, two remotes with holders, wall sleeves, caps, tape, putty, screw kits and four mounting foot pads. The outdoor unit measures 35.94" x 14.76" x 26.34". The indoor units are a matched pair of 18,000 BTU wall mounted heads, 20.9 lb each, measuring 35.83" x 7.68" x 12.01".

Matching capacity to rooms

Both indoor units are 18,000 BTU, published for up to 1,250 sq ft each, moving up to 617 CFM and pulling 111.6 pints a day out of the air. Those are the manufacturer's own figures for a room with average ceilings and normal insulation. Natural Resources Canada asks for a recognised load calculation, CSA F280, before equipment is picked, because a leaky 1950s bungalow and a new build of the same floor area do not need the same capacity. Take both numbers to your installer and let the calculation settle it.

What happens once it drops below freezing

Heating output on any air source heat pump falls as the outdoor air gets colder. The manufacturer rates this outdoor unit to keep heating down to -20 C (-4 F) and to keep cooling up to 53 C (127 F), and fits a chassis heater that keeps the base pan from icing up. What that figure does not tell you is your balance point, the outdoor temperature below which the heat pump can no longer carry the load on its own. Natural Resources Canada describes that point and the backup heat that takes over below it; your installer works it out for your house.

Quiet running, and how you set it

Both heads are rated as low as 28 dB, with 7 modes (auto, cool, heat, dry, fan, ECO and sleep) and 8 fan speeds from mute to turbo, a 24 hour timer, a child lock, 4D auto swing and a self clean cycle that dries the coil after a run. Filters pull out and wash under the tap. Set it from the wifi app, the remote, or by voice through Alexa or Google Assistant.

Each indoor unit has its own controller and its own target temperature, so one room can sit at 20 C while the other sits at 23 C, from one outdoor unit and one circuit. Both zones share that one compressor: output is divided when they call at once, and the manufacturer does not publish simultaneous heating and cooling for this system, so do not plan on it.

Rated 20 SEER2 for cooling and 9.5 HSPF2 for heating. The compressor ramps its speed up and down to hold a temperature instead of switching hard on and off.

R32 has a global warming potential of 675 against R410A's 2,088, and is rated A2L for low toxicity and mild flammability.

Rated to keep heating down to -20 C (-4 F) and cooling up to 53 C (127 F). The heated base pan is there to stop meltwater freezing under the coil during a defrost cycle.

Wifi built in, with Alexa and Google Assistant support, a remote for each indoor unit, and a 24 hour timer.

Two 16 ft copper line sets, communication wire, drain hoses and mounting hardware ship with the system. The manufacturer does not publish a maximum line length for this model, so have your installer confirm the runs before the holes are cut.

This is not a plug in appliance. It needs a dedicated 208/230V, 60 Hz circuit and a disconnect at the outdoor unit, wired by an electrician. The indoor units are fed from the outdoor unit, not from separate outlets.

The manufacturer states that installation by a professional technician is required for this system. Refrigerant handling is regulated province by province in Canada.

Ships from a Canadian warehouse. Free shipping on orders over $150; some remote areas, PO boxes and surcharge regions may cost 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.

Older homes on hot water or electric baseboard get cooling and heat pump heating without a duct being cut, since the refrigerant lines need only a small wall penetration.

Both indoor units are 18,000 BTU, so the pair suits two comparable spaces: two bedrooms, or a main floor split into two areas.

Refrigerant work is regulated in every province, and the manufacturer requires a professional technician. This suits buyers who already have an HVAC contractor and an electrician lined up.

What we stand behind

• One outdoor unit, two indoor units and two 16 ft line sets in the box
• Ships from a Canadian warehouse, free shipping over $150
• 14 day returns on unused product in original packaging
• Covered by the manufacturer's warranty for material and manufacturing defects

Can a homeowner install this, or is a licensed installer required?

The manufacturer states that professional installation is required for this system. In Canada, handling refrigerant is regulated province by province, and provinces require trained service providers for installing, servicing and decommissioning equipment that contains halocarbons. Ontario, as one example, restricts removing, discharging and disposing of refrigerants to certified technicians and requires a separate trade Certificate of Qualification to actually work on the equipment. Budget for an HVAC contractor and an electrician.

What electrical supply does it need?

A dedicated 208/230V, 60 Hz circuit, not a wall outlet. On a multi zone system the indoor units are powered from the outdoor unit rather than from their own plugs, and code calls for a disconnect at the outdoor unit. An electrician sizes the breaker and wire from the unit's own nameplate.

What size room does each indoor unit suit?

The manufacturer publishes up to 1,250 sq ft for each of the two 18,000 BTU indoor units. Treat those as a starting point. Natural Resources Canada asks for a recognised load calculation such as CSA F280 before equipment is selected, since ceiling height, insulation, air leakage and window area all change the answer for the same floor area.

How well does it heat in a Canadian winter?

The outdoor unit is rated to keep heating down to -20 C (-4 F), and a chassis heater keeps the base pan clear. Output still drops as it gets colder: Natural Resources Canada describes the balance point, the outdoor temperature below which a heat pump can no longer carry the whole load and backup heat takes over. Where that point falls depends on your house, not on the equipment alone, so ask your installer to work it out.