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B Air vs HEMA: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical B Air model beats 12% and a typical HEMA model 33%. HEMA rates higher overall.

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

B Air

12%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

5 models listed

HEMA

33%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below 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°FB Air: Beats 18%HEMA: Beats 39%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FB Air: Beats 8%HEMA: Beats 19%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2B Air: Beats 25%HEMA: Beats 43%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2B Air: Beats 6%HEMA: Beats 32%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2B Air: Beats 9%HEMA: Beats 34%

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

    B Air
    0%
    HEMA
    40%

  • Xcel CC

    B Air
    0%
    HEMA
    40%

  • CEE Advanced

    B Air
    0%
    HEMA
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    B Air
    0%
    HEMA
    40%

All-around best, ductless up to 1.5 tons

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

Showing Ductless, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

B Air

  1. 1BAM120HTICXwith ductless indoor unit BAM120HTICXB Air1 ton · 11,500 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 69% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    22.1score / 100Heating 36 · Cooling 8
  2. 2BAM181HTICXwith ductless indoor unit BAM181HTICXB Air1.5 tons · 17,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 57% 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
    1.80 (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
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    9.5score / 100Heating 11 · Cooling 8
  3. 3BAM121HTICXwith ductless indoor unit BAM121HTICXB Air1 ton · 11,500 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 60% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    61% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.75 (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
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    7.9score / 100Heating 8 · Cooling 8

HEMA

  1. 1DS-2MS1212HC231with ductless indoor unit DS-2MS1212HE231HEMA1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 58.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    72% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Good
    65.0score / 100Heating 59 · Cooling 71
  2. 2DS-2MS0912HC240with ductless indoor unit DS-2MS0912HE240HEMA1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 39.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Good
    55.3score / 100Heating 40 · Cooling 71
  3. 3DS-2MS1211HC170with ductless indoor unit DS-2MS1211HE170HEMA1 ton · 11,500 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 69% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    9.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    22.1score / 100Heating 36 · Cooling 8

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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