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AIR-CON vs Century: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical AIR-CON model beats 45% and a typical Century model 50%. Century rates slightly higher overall.

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

AIR-CON

45%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

41 models listed

Century

50%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

59 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-CON: Beats 57%Century: Beats 50%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAIR-CON: Beats 33%Century: Beats 49%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AIR-CON: Beats 45%Century: Beats 52%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AIR-CON: Beats 43%Century: Beats 45%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AIR-CON: Beats 39%Century: Beats 53%

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-CON
    44%
    Century
    44%

  • Xcel CC

    AIR-CON
    34%
    Century
    41%

  • CEE Advanced

    AIR-CON
    0%
    Century
    3%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AIR-CON
    0%
    Century
    32%

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-CON

  1. 1ASGCI8H4M18with ductless indoor unit ASGEL8H4M18AIR-CON1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 68.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.4 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    22.3 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Good
    59.9score / 100Heating 59 · Cooling 60
  2. 2ADSCI7C1E12with ductless indoor unit ADSEM7C1E12AIR-CONAlso listed as ASQCI7H1E121 ton · 11,500 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 69% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    22.1score / 100Heating 36 · Cooling 8
  3. 3ADSCI7C4E18with ductless indoor unit ADSEM7C4E18AIR-CONAlso listed as ASQCI7H4E181.5 tons · 17,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 57% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    58% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    9.5score / 100Heating 11 · Cooling 8

Century

  1. 1A-VHP06SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP06SA-1Century0.5 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. 2A-ZHP09SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-ZHP09SA-1Century1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR 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
  3. 3A-VHP09SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-VHP09WA-1Century1 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

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