ACD vs NOVAIR: heat pump ratings compared
Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical ACD model beats 51% and a typical NOVAIR model 63%. NOVAIR rates higher overall.
Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated
ACD
51%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average25 models listed
NOVAIR
63%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
Well above average25 models listed
- Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FACD: Beats 36%NOVAIR: Beats 48%
- Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FACD: Beats 69%NOVAIR: Beats 64%
- Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2ACD: Beats 47%NOVAIR: Beats 73%
- Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2ACD: Beats 53%NOVAIR: Beats 69%
- Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2ACD: Beats 51%NOVAIR: Beats 60%
Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison
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Rebate standards
CEE 2025
- ACD
- 88%
- NOVAIR
- 88%
Xcel CC
- ACD
- 88%
- NOVAIR
- 80%
CEE Advanced
- ACD
- 0%
- NOVAIR
- 0%
ENERGY STAR CC
- ACD
- 72%
- NOVAIR
- 80%
All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?
ACD
- 1MPD30KCH21SB-OACD2.5 tons · 28,400 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 54.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 8.1 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 16.0 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.0 (EER2)
- Below the middle
- 2MPD42KCH21SB-OACD3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 52.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.84 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 8.1 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 16.0 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.0 (EER2)
- Below the middle
- 3MPD36KCH21SB-OACD3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 50.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 8.1 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 16.0 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.0 (EER2)
- Below the middle
NOVAIR
- 1LEA28MZ-3P-35SK-ONOVAIR2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 66.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.80 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.5 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 20.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.7 (EER2)
- Good
- 2LEA27MZ-3P-25SK-ONOVAIR2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.83 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.2 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 21.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.7 (EER2)
- Good
- 3LEA36MZ-4P-35SK-ONOVAIRAlso listed as LEA36MZ-4P-35SK-O3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 63.7Meets none of the standards tracked here
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.70 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 10.0 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.0 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.7 (EER2)
- Good
These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.
Next steps
The advanced view adds ranks, both brands’ models inside every size class, standout models per rating and cold-weather curves.
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