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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 55% and a typical Century model 54%. AIR-CON rates slightly higher overall.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated

AIR-CON

55%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

65 models listed

Century

54%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

63 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 47%Century: Beats 57%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAIR-CON: Beats 52%Century: Beats 52%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AIR-CON: Beats 46%Century: Beats 44%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AIR-CON: Beats 54%Century: Beats 40%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AIR-CON: Beats 50%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
    55%
    Century
    44%

  • Xcel CC

    AIR-CON
    49%
    Century
    27%

  • CEE Advanced

    AIR-CON
    0%
    Century
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AIR-CON
    39%
    Century
    30%

All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons

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

Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

AIR-CON

  1. 1AMSCI4H4S36AIR-CON2.5 tons · 32,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 67.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    96% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.84 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.9 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    19.5 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    77.7score / 100Heating 67 · Cooling 88
  2. 2ASLCI4H4S36with ducted air handler ASLEK4H4S36AIR-CON3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 78.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.20 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    17.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.9 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    67.6score / 100Heating 78 · Cooling 57
  3. 3ASDDI4H4S36with ducted air handler ASDVI4H4S36AIR-CON3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 75.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    10.1 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    63.2score / 100Heating 75 · Cooling 51

Century

  1. 1A-VMH36QV-1ACentury3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.7score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 88
  2. 2A-VMH28TV-1Century2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 66.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    74.6score / 100Heating 67 · Cooling 83
  3. 3HRG1536S1R-**Awith indoor coil C(A,C,D,E)48D34+TDR and furnace GUH96T110C5MCentury3 tons · 35,400 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 65% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    65% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.71 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    8.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.2 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.8 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    72.8score / 100Heating 66 · Cooling 80

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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