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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, ductless up to 1.5 tons

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

Showing Ductless, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

ACIQ

  1. 1ACIQ-06ZPL-HP230Cwith ductless indoor unit ACIQ-06W-HH-MDACIQ0.5 tons · 6,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 96.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    110% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.40 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    14.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    25.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    18.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    96.2score / 100Heating 97 · Cooling 96
  2. 2ACIQ-09ZS-HP230Cwith ductless indoor unit ACIQ-09FM-HH-MDACIQ1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 89.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    96% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.27 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    13.9 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    26.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    16.2 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    92.6score / 100Heating 90 · Cooling 96
  3. 3ACIQ-09ZPL-HP230Cwith ductless indoor unit ACIQ-09FM-HH-MDACIQ1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    126% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.84 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.9 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    27.2 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    15.1 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    83.6score / 100Heating 72 · Cooling 96

TCL

  1. 1TMH18HEI2NAS0U25TCLAlso listed as H18FMHD3XPC, TMH18HEI2NAS0U251.5 tons · 20,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 70.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    99% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    27.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    15.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    82.6score / 100Heating 71 · Cooling 94
  2. 2TSH09HEI2NAP0T24Uwith ductless indoor unit TSH09IEI2NAO0T24UTCL1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 63.6Meets 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
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    25.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    14.5 (EER2)
    Great
    76.2score / 100Heating 64 · Cooling 89
  3. 3H09SUH25XGCwith ductless indoor unit H09SUH25XGETCL1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 62.1Meets 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
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    25.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    14.5 (EER2)
    Great
    75.4score / 100Heating 62 · Cooling 89

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