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APLUS vs CONTINENTAL: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical APLUS model beats 17% and a typical CONTINENTAL model 63%. CONTINENTAL rates higher overall.

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

APLUS

17%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

31 models listed

CONTINENTAL

63%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

31 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°FAPLUS: Beats 14%CONTINENTAL: Beats 52%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAPLUS: Beats 6%CONTINENTAL: Beats 67%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2APLUS: Beats 23%CONTINENTAL: Beats 76%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2APLUS: Beats 22%CONTINENTAL: Beats 64%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2APLUS: Beats 50%CONTINENTAL: Beats 61%

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

    APLUS
    0%
    CONTINENTAL
    77%

  • Xcel CC

    APLUS
    0%
    CONTINENTAL
    84%

  • CEE Advanced

    APLUS
    0%
    CONTINENTAL
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    APLUS
    0%
    CONTINENTAL
    84%

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). What size is my system?

APLUS

  1. 1ART-HF42SSMR3-C01/SE134APLUS3 tons · 38,500 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 42% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    43% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.86 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    6.7 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    13.4 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.4 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    20.9score / 100Heating 15 · Cooling 27
  2. 2ART-HF30SSMR3-D01/SE134APLUS2.5 tons · 28,200 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 37% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    38% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.64 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    6.7 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    13.4 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.5 (EER2)
    Good
    17.0score / 100Heating 5 · Cooling 29
  3. 3ART-HF36SSMR3-D01/SE134APLUS2.5 tons · 32,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 36% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    37% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.58 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    6.7 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    13.4 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.2 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    14.3score / 100Heating 4 · Cooling 25

CONTINENTAL

  1. 1NDHAMB-36-OCONTINENTAL3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    106% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.4 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.6score / 100Heating 83 · Cooling 85
  2. 2CDHAMB-27-OCONTINENTAL2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.7Meets 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
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    77.4score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 82
  3. 3WSCHV0036BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WECC36ABB1CONTINENTAL3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 58.2Meets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    14.7 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.6 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    38.1score / 100Heating 58 · Cooling 18

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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