TKS heat pump efficiency: 8 outdoor models compared

TKS has 8 heat pump outdoor models certified with this refrigerant group, in 16 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 TKS makes. TKS has no QMID (IRS Qualified Manufacturer ID) on file, so it is not ranked against other manufacturers.

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ManufacturerData as of Oct 9, 2026updated Oct 10, 2026 · sources

Outdoor models: 8
AHRI certifications: 16
Efficiency index: 50%; Typical model vs same-size, same-type peers (12 models)
Meet CEE 2025: 62.5%; 5 models

How TKS 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.

TKS against every ranked manufacturerPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: each ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of TKS’s own modelsTKS is strongest on SEER2 (its typical model beats 66% of comparable models) and weakest on COP at 5°F (34%).

TKS
Middle half of its models
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 9, 2026

Average peer percentile of TKS’s models
Rating	Beats comparable models	Rank	Raw median
Efficiency index12 models scored	50%	Not ranked	—
COP at 5°F12 models scored	34%	Not ranked	1.82
Capacity retention at 5°F12 models scored	35%	Not ranked	66%
HSPF212 models scored	57%	Not ranked	9.2
SEER212 models scored	66%	Not ranked	21.1
EER212 models scored	48%	Not ranked	10.7
Heating capacity at 5°F12 models scored	38%	Not ranked	17,400 Btu/h

Standards met

Share of TKS’s models with at least one qualifying certification
Standard	Share	Models
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	62.5%	5
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	50%	4
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	0%	0
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	25%	2
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	0%	0
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	0%	0

Sizes and duct types offered

Models per peer group, and how they score against the other models of that group.

TKS’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

TKS (median, middle 50%, 10th–90th)
All models of the group

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 9, 2026

Share of comparable models beaten, per peer group
Size and duct type	Models	Index	COP@5°F	HSPF2	SEER2
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	1	59%	51%	69%	68%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	2	64%	24%	75%	95%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1	64%	10%	96%	95%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	3	37%	29%	51%	47%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	1	27%	43%	37%	27%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	3	52%	47%	46%	68%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1	48%	22%	47%	61%

Every TKS model in the market

TKS’s 12 models with a known size and duct type, over the shape of the whole catalog.

TKS models by size and ratingColoured: TKS · grey shapes: all 11,475 models · lines: catalog medians by size

TKS models
Ducted median by size
Non-ducted median by size
Every model at each size (width = count)
Standard threshold

Dots: 12 tks models, each through its representative certification, in the colour of the rating shown. The grey shapes count all 11,475 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, size	Models	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Ducted, 0.5 tons	175	1.70	1.85	1.90	2.10	2.26
Ducted, 1 ton	340	1.85	1.90	2.00	2.40	2.65
Ducted, 1.5 tons	789	1.75	1.85	2.00	2.20	2.55
Ducted, 2 tons	782	1.73	1.80	2.00	2.10	2.33
Ducted, 2.5 tons	735	1.71	1.80	1.90	2.09	2.48
Ducted, 3 tons	652	1.68	1.70	1.90	2.06	2.36
Ducted, 3.5 tons	641	1.61	1.80	1.95	2.20	2.50
Ducted, 4 tons	367	1.70	1.80	1.91	2.02	2.52
Ducted, 4.5 tons	544	1.70	1.80	1.91	2.08	2.34
Ducted, 5 tons	25	1.80	1.80	1.90	1.90	2.15
Non-ducted, 0.5 tons	717	1.75	1.81	1.97	2.10	2.19
Non-ducted, 1 ton	1,064	1.75	1.80	1.90	2.07	2.25
Non-ducted, 1.5 tons	886	1.80	1.80	1.87	2.07	2.21
Non-ducted, 2 tons	564	1.80	1.80	1.83	2.04	2.21
Non-ducted, 2.5 tons	275	1.80	1.81	1.84	1.86	2.03
Non-ducted, 3 tons	502	1.80	1.80	1.90	2.00	2.09
Non-ducted, 3.5 tons	70	1.82	1.83	1.90	2.00	2.28
Non-ducted, 4 tons	263	1.80	1.80	1.98	2.00	2.10
Non-ducted, 4.5 tons	103	1.77	1.77	1.80	1.97	2.02
Non-ducted, 5 tons	29	1.98	2.00	2.10	2.30	2.47

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 9, 2026

Top TKS 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 3 TKS 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 model	Size · type	Cap. 5/47	COP@5°F	HSPF2	Btu/h @5°F	SEER2	Meets	Combos	AHRI ref.	Compared with	Score
1T3C-27MODUTKS	2.5 tons28,000 Btu/h · Ducted	71%	1.83	9.2	20,000	21.0	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594927	Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	57.4
2T2C-18MODUTKS	1.5 tons18,000 Btu/h · Ducted	70%	2.00	9.8	13,300	19.0	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594924	Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	52.0
3T3C-27MODUTKS	2.5 tons27,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted	71%	1.83	9.2	20,000	23.5	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594926	Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	49.3

All-around best

Top 5 TKS 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 model	Size · type	Cap. 5/47	COP@5°F	HSPF2	SEER2	EER2	Meets	Combos	AHRI ref.	Compared with	Score	Heating half	Cooling half	Cold-climate score
1T3C-27MODUTKS	2.5 tons28,000 Btu/h · Ducted	71%	1.83	9.2	21.0	11.7	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594927	Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	71.5	57.4	85.6	57.4
2T3C-27MODUTKS	2.5 tons27,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted	71%	1.83	9.2	23.5	12.2	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594926	Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	66.7	49.3	84.1	49.3
3T5C-48MODUTKS	4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted	66%	1.70	9.7	20.5	10.8	None	3	214594933	Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	63.5	53.5	73.6	Not a pick
4T2C-18MODUTKS	1.5 tons18,000 Btu/h · Ducted	70%	2.00	9.8	19.0	12.0	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594924	Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	59.4	52.0	66.8	52.0
5T4C-36MODUTKS	3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Ducted	65%	1.68	9.2	20.0	11.0	None	3	214594930	Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	56.6	43.7	69.4	Not a pick

Best model on each rating

TKS’s model with the highest peer percentile on each rating, ranked by that one rating only
Rating	Model	Value	Compared with	Beats	AHRI ref.
COP at 5°F	TWS-36ODU	2.01	Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	87%	214594922
Capacity retention at 5°F	T3C-27MODU	71%	Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	55%	214594927
HSPF2	T5C-48MODU	9.7	Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	95%	214594933
SEER2	T3C-27MODU	21.0	Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	98%	214594927
EER2	T3C-27MODU	12.2	Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	75%	214594926
Heating capacity at 5°F	T2C-18MODU	12,900 Btu/h	Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	75%	214594925

All 8 TKS models in Explore

TKS 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.

TKS: 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 type	Cold-climate pickCold-climate score, best model	All-around bestAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)T2C-18MODU1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 214594924	59.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)T2C-18MODU1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594924
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	57.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)T3C-27MODU1 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 214594927	71.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)T3C-27MODU2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594927
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)	63.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)T5C-48MODU1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594933
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 3 models qualify)	52.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)T2C-18MODU3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594923
Non-ducted, 2 tons	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)	27.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)TWS-24ODUwith ductless indoor unit TWS-24IDU1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594921
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	49.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)T3C-27MODU1 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 214594926	66.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)T3C-27MODU3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594926
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)	48.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)T5C-48MODU1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214594932

All-around board, every manufacturer

Newest TKS certifications

By AHRI reference number; AHRI issues references in increasing order.

The 5 most recently certified TKS outdoor models
Outdoor model	Size · type	COP@5°F	Cap. 5/47	HSPF2	SEER2	Meets	Combos	AHRI ref.
T5C-48MODUTKS	4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted and non-ducted and mixed (multi-zone)	1.75	67%	9.6	20.8	CEE 25CEE 26	3	214594934
T4C-36MODUTKS	3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Ducted and non-ducted and mixed (multi-zone)	1.74	65%	9.4	21.6	CEE 25	3	214594931
T3C-27MODUTKS	2.5 tons27,400 Btu/h · Ducted and non-ducted and mixed (multi-zone)	1.83	71%	9.2	22.3	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594928
T2C-18MODUTKS	1.5 tons18,000 Btu/h · Ducted and non-ducted and mixed (multi-zone)	2.00	68%	10.0	20.0	CEE 25CEE 26Xcel	3	214594925
TWS-36ODUTKSwith ductless indoor unit TWS-36IDU	3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted	2.01	61%	7.8	18.0	None	1	214594922

Shares hardware with

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

No shared hardware found for TKS in this group.

Compare TKS

Manufacturers of a similar size, side by side.

Compare with any manufacturer

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