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APLUS vs E COLD: heat pump ratings compared

One of these brands has too few models with every rating for an overall score; see each rating below.

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

APLUS

—

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Not enough rated models

5 models listed

E COLD

55%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

5 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: Not ratedE COLD: Beats 28%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FAPLUS: Not ratedE COLD: Beats 45%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2APLUS: Beats 21%E COLD: Beats 62%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2APLUS: Beats 13%E COLD: Beats 77%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2APLUS: Beats 51%E COLD: 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

    APLUS
    0%
    E COLD
    80%

  • Xcel CC

    APLUS
    0%
    E COLD
    40%

  • CEE Advanced

    APLUS
    0%
    E COLD
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    APLUS
    0%
    E COLD
    0%

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?

APLUS

None of APLUS’s ducted, 2.5–3 tons models has all five ratings.

E COLD

  1. 1ECOLD-C27-MS-G0001E COLD (sold as E·Cold)2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.8Meets 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
    71.7score / 100Heating 58 · Cooling 86
  2. 2ECOLD-C36-MS-G0001E COLD (sold as E·Cold)3 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

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