Skip to content

BOREAL vs Ephoca: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical BOREAL model beats 53% and a typical Ephoca model 31%. BOREAL rates higher overall.

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

BOREAL

53%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

49 models listed

Ephoca

31%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

382 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°FBOREAL: Beats 43%Ephoca: Beats 21%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FBOREAL: Beats 59%Ephoca: Beats 51%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2BOREAL: Beats 41%Ephoca: Beats 40%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2BOREAL: Beats 59%Ephoca: Beats 21%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2BOREAL: Beats 58%Ephoca: Beats 28%

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

    BOREAL
    88%
    Ephoca
    0%
  • Xcel CC

    BOREAL
    88%
    Ephoca
    31%
  • CEE Advanced

    BOREAL
    6%
    Ephoca
    0%
  • ENERGY STAR CC

    BOREAL
    61%
    Ephoca
    49%

All-around best, ducted up to 1.5 tons

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

BOREAL

  1. 1KUL09HPJ132OAwith ducted air handler DUC09HPJ132IABOREALAlso listed as NOV09HPJ132OA1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 69.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.14 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.2 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    83.6score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 97
  2. 2KUL18HPJ132OAwith ducted air handler DUC18HPJ132IABOREAL1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 47.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    22.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    72.5score / 100Heating 48 · Cooling 97
  3. 3KUL12HPJ132OAwith ducted air handler DUC12HPJ132IABOREALAlso listed as NOV12HPJ132OA1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 49.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    88% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    69.1score / 100Heating 50 · Cooling 89

Ephoca

  1. 1AVP19R4H1EphocaAlso listed as AVP19N4H1, AVP19R3H1, AVP19N3H1, AVP19R4H2 and 21 more1 ton · 11,600 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.0Meets Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    85% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.95 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.4 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    54.1score / 100Heating 57 · Cooling 51
  2. 2AVK09R3H2EphocaAlso listed as AVP09R4H1, AVP09N4H1, AVP09R3H1, AVP09N3H1 and 27 more0.5 tons · 7,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 60.8Meets Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    95% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.75 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.9 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.4 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.6 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    52.7score / 100Heating 61 · Cooling 45
  3. 3ADP09R4H1EphocaAlso listed as ADP09N4H1, ADP09R3H1, ADP09N3H1, ADP09R4H2 and 45 more0.5 tons · 6,100 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 51.6Meets Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.75 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.3 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.6 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    45.7score / 100Heating 52 · Cooling 40

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