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 average175 models listed
TCL
49%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average177 models listed
- 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
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Rebate standards
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, ductless 2.5–3 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
Showing Ductless, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?
ACIQ
- 1ACIQ-36Z-HH-M5CACIQ3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 78.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.7 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 23.0 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 2ACIQ-27Z-HH-M4CACIQ2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 72.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.5 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 23.0 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.5 (EER2)
- Great
- 3AC-30Z-E-M4ACIQ2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 57.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.0 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 23.0 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.5 (EER2)
- Great
TCL
- 1TMH27HEI2NAS0U25TCLAlso listed as H27FMHD4XPC, TMH27HEI2NAS0U252.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 68.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 96% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.5 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 26.5 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 14.0 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 2TMH36HEI2NAS0U25TCLAlso listed as H36FMHD5XPC, TMH36HEI2NAS0U253 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 57.7Meets 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
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.0 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 25.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 13.6 (EER2)
- Top 10%
- 3TMH27HEI2NAO0U24TCLAlso listed as H27FMH22XPC2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 57.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Below the middle
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.5 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 24.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.0 (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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