ACIQ vs AUX: heat pump ratings compared
Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical ACIQ model beats 53% and a typical AUX model 49%. ACIQ rates slightly higher overall.
Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated
ACIQ
53%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average184 models listed
AUX
49%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average189 models listed
- Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FACIQ: Beats 56%AUX: Beats 60%
- Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FACIQ: Beats 46%AUX: Beats 51%
- Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2ACIQ: Beats 55%AUX: Beats 40%
- Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2ACIQ: Beats 52%AUX: Beats 48%
- Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2ACIQ: Beats 55%AUX: Beats 39%
Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison
Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced
Rebate standards
CEE 2025
- ACIQ
- 58%
- AUX
- 68%
Xcel CC
- ACIQ
- 49%
- AUX
- 66%
CEE Advanced
- ACIQ
- 2%
- AUX
- 1%
ENERGY STAR CC
- ACIQ
- 37%
- AUX
- 35%
All-around best, ducted up to 1.5 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
Showing Ducted, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?
ACIQ
- 1ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230Cwith ducted air handler ACIQ-09CD-HH-MCACIQ1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 120% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.85 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 13.8 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 20.5 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 14.0 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 2ACIQ-09ZS-HP230Cwith ducted air handler ACIQ-09CD-HH-MCACIQ1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 81.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.32 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 11.5 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.7 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 3ACIQ-18-HPDwith ducted air handler ACIQ-18W-WMBACIQ1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 87.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 103% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.10 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 10.8 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.3 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.1 (EER2)
- Great
AUX
- 1ASUM18HPMULOAUX1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 75.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 106% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 9.8 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 20.5 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.3 (EER2)
- Great
- 2AFEB09HP230V1CO-Uwith ducted air handler AFEB09HP230V1SDAUX1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 53.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 93% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.85 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.0 (HSPF2)
- Below the middle
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.5 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 3ASPR18HPMULOAUX1.5 tons · 17,700 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 56.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.90 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.5 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.5 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.8 (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.
Open the advanced view