Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

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%

Top cold-climate picks, ductless up to 1.5 tons

Only units that keep at least 70% of their heat at 5°F, ranked on heat kept, efficiency at 5°F and seasonal efficiency (HSPF2), 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 · DuctlessKeeps 110% of its heat at 5°FMeets 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%
    Seasonal efficiency
    14.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    96.7score / 100
  2. 2ACIQ-09ZS-HP230Cwith ductless indoor unit ACIQ-09FM-HH-MDACIQ1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessKeeps 96% of its heat at 5°FMeets 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%
    Seasonal efficiency
    13.9 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    89.5score / 100
  3. 3ACIQ-18ZPL-HP230Cwith ductless indoor unit ACIQ-018W-BL-MDACIQ1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessKeeps 100% of its heat at 5°FMeets 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
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.8 (HSPF2)
    Great
    78.3score / 100

TCL

  1. 1TMH18HEI2NAS0U25TCLAlso listed as H18FMHD3XPC, TMH18HEI2NAS0U251.5 tons · 20,000 Btu/h · DuctlessKeeps 99% of its heat at 5°FMeets 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
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    70.9score / 100
  2. 2TMH18HEI2NAO0U24TCL1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessKeeps 80% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    80% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    68.6score / 100
  3. 3H09SBH23XPCwith ductless indoor unit H09CSHU1XAETCL1 ton · 9,500 Btu/h · DuctlessKeeps 82% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.94 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    65.5score / 100

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