Montreal Water-Cooled Air Conditioner Ban: Is Your AC Non-Compliant?

Standard water-cooled ACs are incredibly wasteful compared to modern air-cooled heat pumps or mini-split systems.

• Massive Water Waste: A single residential water-cooled unit can consume up to 10,000 liters of drinking water per day. That is the equivalent of the daily water usage of 30 people.
• Peak Demand Pressure: During heatwaves, the aqueduct system is under maximum stress. By banning these units, the city ensures there is enough water pressure for hydration, hygiene, and firefighting.
• Environmental Impact: Treating and pumping water requires significant energy. Wasting treated drinking water to cool a machine is no longer ecologically or economically viable in a modern city.

Many homeowners don’t even realize they have a banned system. Look for these three signs:

1. No Outdoor Compressor: If you have central air but don’t have a large fan unit (compressor) on your balcony, backyard, or roof, your system is likely cooled by water.
2. The “Hissing” Sound: When the AC is running, do you hear a constant sound of water flowing through the pipes and into a drain?
3. Two Small Hoses: Check near your water main or under a sink. Illegal units are connected to a water intake pipe and a discharge pipe that leads straight to the sewer.

The Law: All units connected to the aqueduct without a recycling system must be retired. If you still have one, you are liable for fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 for individuals, and up to $4,000 for businesses.

Using a portable sprinkler or porous hose is only permitted between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM on specific days:

• Even-numbered addresses: Even-numbered dates.
• Odd-numbered addresses: Odd-numbered dates.

Automatic Systems: Underground systems are generally restricted to 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM.

• Before May 15: You can fill your pool at any time.
• After May 15: It is prohibited to fill a pool between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM to ensure stable pressure for households during the day.