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AIR C vs Upstreman: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical AIR C model beats 78% and a typical Upstreman model 26%. AIR C rates higher overall.

Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated

AIR C

78%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

11 models listed

Upstreman

26%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

11 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°FAIR C: Beats 60%Upstreman: Beats 47%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAIR C: Beats 85%Upstreman: Beats 4%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AIR C: Beats 88%Upstreman: Beats 9%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AIR C: Beats 81%Upstreman: Beats 30%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AIR C: Beats 79%Upstreman: Beats 26%

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

    AIR C
    91%
    Upstreman
    46%

  • Xcel CC

    AIR C
    100%
    Upstreman
    0%

  • CEE Advanced

    AIR C
    0%
    Upstreman
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AIR C
    0%
    Upstreman
    0%

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?

AIR C

  1. 1UE-SH09S1Pwith ductless indoor unit UI-SH09MS1PAIR C1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    113% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    14.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    33.3 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    17.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    92.3score / 100Heating 86 · Cooling 99
  2. 2UE-SH12S1Pwith ductless indoor unit UI-SH12MS1PAIR C1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    113% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    12.7 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    29.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.2 (EER2)
    Great
    88.8score / 100Heating 85 · Cooling 92
  3. 3UE-H18M1PAIR C1.5 tons · 19,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    95% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.4 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    25.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    15.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    81.9score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 91

Upstreman

  1. 1I12-115Wwith ductless indoor unit I12-115GUpstremanAlso listed as UI12-115W1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 56% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    57% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.3 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    28.7score / 100Heating 26 · Cooling 32
  2. 2IY18-230W-1with ductless indoor unit IY18-230G-1Upstreman1.5 tons · 17,100 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 55% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    55% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.22 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.2 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.1 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.6 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    28.2score / 100Heating 31 · Cooling 25
  3. 3IY12-230W-1with ductless indoor unit IY12-230G-1Upstreman1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 48% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    48% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.67 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.2 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.1 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.8 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    10.9score / 100Heating 2 · Cooling 20

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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