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AireForce vs Star Air Kontrol: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical AireForce model beats 45% and a typical Star Air Kontrol model 51%. Star Air Kontrol rates higher overall.

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

AireForce

45%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

23 models listed

Star Air Kontrol

51%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

55 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 32%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 56%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAireForce: Beats 65%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 35%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2AireForce: Beats 37%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 61%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2AireForce: Beats 40%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 57%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2AireForce: Beats 43%Star Air Kontrol: 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%
    Star Air Kontrol
    51%

  • Xcel CC

    AireForce
    57%
    Star Air Kontrol
    24%

  • CEE Advanced

    AireForce
    0%
    Star Air Kontrol
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    AireForce
    35%
    Star Air Kontrol
    20%

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?

AireForce

  1. 1GXH30(8.8)FMK4DH-1AireForce2.5 tons · 28,400 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 54.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel 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
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    16.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    53.1score / 100Heating 55 · Cooling 52
  2. 2GXH42(12.3)FMK4DH-1AireForce3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 52.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.84 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    16.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    51.8score / 100Heating 52 · Cooling 52
  3. 3GXH36(10.6)FMK4DH-1AireForce3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 50.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.1 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    16.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    51.1score / 100Heating 51 · Cooling 52

Star Air Kontrol

  1. 1SAK-27-22MUZ/220(OUT)*Star Air Kontrol2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.83 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    71.5score / 100Heating 57 · Cooling 86
  2. 2SAK-36-22MUZ/220(OUT)*Star Air Kontrol3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 64% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    65% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.68 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    56.6score / 100Heating 44 · Cooling 69
  3. 3SAK-36ADN2-M18Mwith ducted air handler SAK-36WN1-M18Star Air Kontrol3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 58% 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
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.9 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.1 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    46.5score / 100Heating 47 · Cooling 46

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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