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POLAR ELITE heat pump efficiency: 8 outdoor models compared

POLAR ELITE has 8 heat pump outdoor models certified with this refrigerant group, in 8 AHRI-certified combinations. Each model is compared with models of the same size and duct type, so the scores below do not depend on which sizes POLAR ELITE makes. POLAR ELITE has no QMID (IRS Qualified Manufacturer ID) on file, so it is not ranked against other manufacturers.

New to heat pump ratings? The Simple view explains them in plain words →

ManufacturerData as of updated · sources

Outdoor models
8
AHRI certifications
8
Efficiency index
17%
Typical model vs same-size, same-type peers (8 models)
Meet CEE 2025
0%
0 models

How POLAR ELITE compares with comparable models

For each rating: the share of same-size, same-type models that a typical model of this manufacturer beats (50% is typical), its rank, and the raw median for context. Raw medians are not comparable across manufacturers that make different sizes.
POLAR ELITE against every ranked manufacturerPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: each ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of POLAR ELITE’s own modelsPOLAR ELITE is strongest on heating capacity at 5°F (its typical model beats 36% of comparable models) and weakest on EER2 (7%).
  • POLAR ELITE
  • Middle half of its models
  • Other ranked manufacturers
POLAR EL…

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of

Average peer percentile of POLAR ELITE’s models
RatingBeats comparable modelsRankRaw median
Efficiency index8 models scored17%Not ranked—
COP at 5°F8 models scored18%Not ranked1.80
Capacity retention at 5°F8 models scored27%Not ranked65%
HSPF28 models scored27%Not ranked8.2
SEER28 models scored14%Not ranked16.1
EER28 models scored7%Not ranked9.5
Heating capacity at 5°F8 models scored36%Not ranked15,250 Btu/h

Standards met

Share of POLAR ELITE’s models with at least one qualifying certification
StandardShareModels
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)0%0
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)0%0
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)0%0
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)0%0
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge0%0
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate0%0

Sizes and duct types offered

Models per peer group, and how they score against the other models of that group.
POLAR ELITE’s models inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · blue: the middle half of this manufacturer’s models there, median dot, 10th–90th percentile line
  • POLAR ELITE (median, middle 50%, 10th–90th)
  • All models of the group
Ducted, 2 tons2.001,090 modelsDucted, 2.5–3 tons2.001,909 modelsDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons2.002,224 modelsNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons1.953,455 modelsNon-ducted, 2 tons2.00863 modelsmedian

Source: AHRI Directory · as of

Share of comparable models beaten, per peer group
Size and duct typeModelsIndexCOP@5°FHSPF2SEER2
Ducted, 2 tons121%8%12%28%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons111%3%17%14%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons226%25%39%20%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons313%22%22%8%
Non-ducted, 2 tons113%17%44%4%

Every POLAR ELITE model in the market

POLAR ELITE’s 8 models with a known size and duct type, over the shape of the whole catalog.
POLAR ELITE models by size and ratingColoured: POLAR ELITE · grey shapes: all 14,508 models · lines: catalog medians by size
  • POLAR ELITE models
  • Ducted median by size
  • Non-ducted median by size
  • Every model at each size (width = count)
  • Standard threshold

Dots: 8 polar elite models, each through its representative certification, in the colour of the rating shown. The grey shapes count all 14,508 models, half a ton at a time.
Show the data as a table
COP at 5°F by size and duct type (every model, by rated cooling capacity)
Duct type, sizeModels10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
Ducted, 0.5 tons8261.641.711.751.852.24
Ducted, 1 ton4071.801.902.052.412.45
Ducted, 1.5 tons9921.751.862.002.172.40
Ducted, 2 tons9991.751.862.002.182.30
Ducted, 2.5 tons1,0401.701.802.002.102.36
Ducted, 3 tons6961.801.902.002.102.42
Ducted, 3.5 tons8641.701.802.002.102.46
Ducted, 4 tons7271.801.862.002.122.40
Ducted, 4.5 tons6901.701.801.902.102.20
Ducted, 5 tons861.892.002.102.102.10
Non-ducted, 0.5 tons1,1861.751.801.902.002.22
Non-ducted, 1 ton1,3431.801.801.992.102.21
Non-ducted, 1.5 tons1,2611.801.802.002.102.31
Non-ducted, 2 tons7611.801.982.002.102.30
Non-ducted, 2.5 tons4031.801.852.002.002.10
Non-ducted, 3 tons4731.901.982.002.032.20
Non-ducted, 3.5 tons2802.002.002.002.052.10
Non-ducted, 4 tons2041.962.002.052.102.11
Non-ducted, 4.5 tons781.901.911.952.012.01
Non-ducted, 5 tons841.992.002.052.202.20

Source: AHRI Directory · as of

Top POLAR ELITE models

Its top five cold-climate picks and its top five all-around models across sizes (both scores compare each model with models of its own size and duct type, so sizes compare), then, on each single rating, the model that beats the largest share of comparable models.

Cold-climate picks

Top 2 POLAR ELITE cold-climate picks across sizes. Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
# · Outdoor modelSize · typeCap. 5/47COP@5°FHSPF2Btu/h @5°FSEER2MeetsCombosAHRI ref.Compared withScore
1PEHPINVPR48KPOLAR ELITE4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted72%1.827.834,60014.6None1218331923Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons41.0
2PEHPINVPR24KPOLAR ELITE2 tons24,000 Btu/h · Ducted77%1.647.218,50015.2None1218331921Ducted, 2 tons25.4

All-around best

Top 5 POLAR ELITE models on the all-around score across sizes. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
# · Outdoor modelSize · typeCap. 5/47COP@5°FHSPF2SEER2EER2MeetsCombosAHRI ref.Compared withScoreHeating halfCooling halfCold-climate score
1PEHPINVPR48KPOLAR ELITE4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted72%1.827.814.69.3None1218331923Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons31.841.022.741.0
2PE12HMSP1C17POLAR ELITEwith ductless indoor unit PE12HMSP1E171 ton11,500 Btu/h · Non-ducted70%1.909.517.09.5None1217616674Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons22.136.37.9Not a pick
3PEHPINVPR24KPOLAR ELITE2 tons24,000 Btu/h · Ducted77%1.647.215.29.9None1218331921Ducted, 2 tons21.225.417.125.4
4PEHPINVPR60KPOLAR ELITE4.5 tons55,000 Btu/h · Ducted68%1.807.613.48.6None1218331924Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons20.134.06.2Not a pick
5PE24HMSP2C17POLAR ELITEwith ductless indoor unit PE24HMSP2E172 tons23,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted54%1.809.517.09.5None1217616677Non-ducted, 2 tons13.421.45.3Not a pick

Best model on each rating

POLAR ELITE’s model with the highest peer percentile on each rating, ranked by that one rating only
RatingModelValueCompared withBeatsAHRI ref.
COP at 5°FPE12HMSP1C171.90Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons42%217616674
Capacity retention at 5°FPEHPINVPR24K77%Ducted, 2 tons53%218331921
HSPF2PE12HMSP1C179.5Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons45%217616674
SEER2PEHPINVPR48K14.6Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons28%218331923
EER2PEHPINVPR48K9.3Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons11%218331923
Heating capacity at 5°FPEHPINVPR60K39,000 Btu/hDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons64%218331924

All 8 POLAR ELITE models in Explore

POLAR ELITE size class by size class: cold-climate and all-around

Its best model on each board in every size and duct type it makes. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there). Cold-climate picks must keep at least 70% of their heat at 5°F; the all-around score needs all five ratings and has no such bar.
POLAR ELITE: best cold-climate pick and best all-around model per size and duct type, with how many of its models are on each board (top 5 and 5 per class are in the snapshot)
Size and duct typeCold-climate pickCold-climate score, best modelAll-around bestAll-around score, best model
Ducted, 2 tons25.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)PEHPINVPR24K1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 21833192121.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)PEHPINVPR24K1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218331921
Ducted, 2.5–3 tonsNone on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)10.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)PEHPINVPR36K1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218331922
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons41.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)PEHPINVPR48K1 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 21833192331.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)PEHPINVPR48K2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218331923
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsNone on this board (0 of 3 models qualify)22.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)PE12HMSP1C17with ductless indoor unit PE12HMSP1E173 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217616674
Non-ducted, 2 tonsNone on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)13.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)PE24HMSP2C17with ductless indoor unit PE24HMSP2E171 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217616677

All-around board, every manufacturer

Newest POLAR ELITE certifications

By AHRI reference number; AHRI issues references in increasing order.
The 5 most recently certified POLAR ELITE outdoor models
Outdoor modelSize · typeCOP@5°FCap. 5/47HSPF2SEER2MeetsCombosAHRI ref.
PEHPINVPR60KPOLAR ELITE4.5 tons55,000 Btu/h · Ducted1.8068%7.613.4None1218331924
PEHPINVPR48KPOLAR ELITE4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted1.8272%7.814.6None1218331923
PEHPINVPR36KPOLAR ELITE3 tons34,600 Btu/h · Ducted1.5852%7.113.8None1218331922
PEHPINVPR24KPOLAR ELITE2 tons24,000 Btu/h · Ducted1.6477%7.215.2None1218331921
PE24HMSP2C17POLAR ELITEwith ductless indoor unit PE24HMSP2E172 tons23,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted1.8054%9.517.0None1217616677

Shares hardware with

Manufacturers whose models are the same equipment under another badge. About OEM families

No shared hardware found for POLAR ELITE in this group.

Compare POLAR ELITE

Manufacturers of a similar size, side by side.

Compare with any manufacturer

POLAR ELITE includes these brand names as listed in AHRI: POLAR ELITE. Standards are checked against published thresholds; program rules beyond ratings are not checked.