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AireForce vs KANIONco: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical AireForce model beats 41% and a typical KANIONco model 47%. KANIONco rates higher overall.

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

AireForce

41%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Below average

54 models listed

KANIONco

47%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

56 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°FAireForce: Beats 33%KANIONco: Beats 37%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAireForce: Beats 43%KANIONco: Beats 45%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AireForce: Beats 37%KANIONco: Beats 50%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AireForce: Beats 43%KANIONco: Beats 58%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AireForce: Beats 47%KANIONco: 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

    AireForce
    52%
    KANIONco
    66%
  • Xcel CC

    AireForce
    48%
    KANIONco
    63%
  • CEE Advanced

    AireForce
    4%
    KANIONco
    0%
  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AireForce
    22%
    KANIONco
    36%

All-around best, ducted 2 tons

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

AireForce

  1. 1UXH24-36MSK3IHwith ducted air handler UMD24MSK3IHAireForce2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 76.9Meets 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
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Great
    72.4score / 100Heating 75 · Cooling 70
  2. 2DXH24FMK3IHAireForce2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 49.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.86 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    54.7score / 100Heating 49 · Cooling 60
  3. 3AC-24-HP-E-32with ducted air handler AC-24-AH-E-32AireForce2 tons · 23,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 45.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.89 (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
    10.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    37.2score / 100Heating 46 · Cooling 29

KANIONco

  1. 1KAHU-24IR454BHS20AEwith ducted air handler KAHU-24IR454BHS20AEKANIONcoAlso listed as KAHUO-24IR454BHS20AE2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 67.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.4 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.3 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    79.6score / 100Heating 67 · Cooling 92
  2. 2KAHU-24IR454BHS18Pwith ducted air handler KAHU-24IR454BHS18PKANIONco2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 42.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (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
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    37.2score / 100Heating 43 · Cooling 32
  3. 3KAHU-24IR32HS15Pwith ducted air handler KAHU-24IR32HS15PKANIONco2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 66% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    67% (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
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    15.2 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    24.0score / 100Heating 29 · Cooling 19

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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