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ACIQ vs TCL: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical ACIQ model beats 50% and a typical TCL 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

50%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

175 models listed

TCL

49%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

177 models listed

Rating by ratingEach bar is the share of same-size, same-type heat pumps that a typical model beats, so the two brands compare fairly even if they make different sizes.
  • Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FACIQ: Beats 55%TCL: Beats 36%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FACIQ: Beats 43%TCL: Beats 50%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2ACIQ: Beats 52%TCL: Beats 52%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2ACIQ: Beats 49%TCL: Beats 59%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2ACIQ: Beats 52%TCL: Beats 41%

Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison

Want ranks, distributions per size class and cold-weather curves? Switch to Advanced

Rebate standards

Share of each brand’s models that meet the level. Programs can have other rules too.

  • CEE 2025

    ACIQ
    55%
    TCL
    76%

  • Xcel CC

    ACIQ
    46%
    TCL
    72%

  • CEE Advanced

    ACIQ
    2%
    TCL
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    ACIQ
    34%
    TCL
    64%

All-around best, ducted 2 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.

Showing Ducted, 2 tons (21,000–26,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

ACIQ

  1. 1B5H3V24*K*AAA*with ducted air handler FCMA5B36L0C*+WALLCONACIQ2 tons · 22,800 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 69.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    77% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.06 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    82.9score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 96
  2. 2ACIQ-24ZS-HP230Cwith ducted air handler ACIQ-24CD-HH-MCACIQ2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 77.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.30 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Great
    78.8score / 100Heating 77 · Cooling 81
  3. 3N5H9V24*K*AAA*with indoor coil EA*5X37M21A and furnace *80VSL1102122BACIQ2 tons · 24,800 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    86% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    14.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    78.8score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 88

TCL

  1. 1THH24HDI2NAJ0H26with ducted air handler THH24IDI2NAJ0H26TCL2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 68.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.85 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    70.0score / 100Heating 69 · Cooling 71
  2. 2H24SDH20XQCwith ducted air handler H24APH20UDETCL2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 68.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.85 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    65.4score / 100Heating 69 · Cooling 62
  3. 3THH36TEI2NAI0D24with ducted air handler THH24IEI2NAI0H24TCL2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 55.5Meets 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
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    58.8score / 100Heating 56 · Cooling 62

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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