Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

AireForce vs Star Air Kontrol: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical AireForce model beats 41% and a typical Star Air Kontrol model 56%. Star Air Kontrol 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

Star Air Kontrol

56%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Above average

51 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%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 61%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAireForce: Beats 43%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 46%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AireForce: Beats 37%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 66%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AireForce: Beats 43%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 62%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AireForce: Beats 47%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 45%

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%
    Star Air Kontrol
    84%

  • Xcel CC

    AireForce
    48%
    Star Air Kontrol
    71%

  • CEE Advanced

    AireForce
    4%
    Star Air Kontrol
    2%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AireForce
    22%
    Star Air Kontrol
    49%

All-around best, ducted 3.5–4.5 tons

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

Showing Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons (39,000–56,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

AireForce

  1. 1UXH48-60MSK3IHwith ducted air handler UMD48MSK3IHAireForce4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 85.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.1score / 100Heating 79 · Cooling 87
  2. 2DXH42FMK3IHAireForce3.5 tons · 42,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 55.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    86% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    69.1score / 100Heating 56 · Cooling 83
  3. 3AC-48-HP-E-32with ducted air handler AC-48-AH-E-32AireForce4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.2Meets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    84% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    53.2score / 100Heating 72 · Cooling 34

Star Air Kontrol

  1. 1SAK-48-QZ/220VStar Air Kontrol4 tons · 45,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 77.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    85.1score / 100Heating 78 · Cooling 92
  2. 2S48SCQ2Cwith ducted air handler S48AUPDAStar Air Kontrol4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 69.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.85 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    65.0score / 100Heating 69 · Cooling 61
  3. 3SAK-48SQN2-M18Mwith ducted air handler SAK-48SQN1-M18MStar Air KontrolAlso listed as SAK-60SQN2-M18M4 tons · 47,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 63.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    17.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.3 (EER2)
    Good
    64.4score / 100Heating 64 · Cooling 65

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