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BOREAL vs Star Air Kontrol: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical BOREAL model beats 53% and a typical Star Air Kontrol model 56%. Star Air Kontrol rates slightly 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

Star Air Kontrol

56%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Above average

51 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%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 61%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FBOREAL: Beats 59%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 46%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2BOREAL: Beats 41%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 66%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2BOREAL: Beats 59%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 62%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2BOREAL: Beats 58%Star Air Kontrol: Beats 45%

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%
    Star Air Kontrol
    84%

  • Xcel CC

    BOREAL
    88%
    Star Air Kontrol
    71%

  • CEE Advanced

    BOREAL
    6%
    Star Air Kontrol
    2%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    BOREAL
    61%
    Star Air Kontrol
    49%

All-around best, ductless 2 tons

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

Showing Ductless, 2 tons (21,000–26,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

BOREAL

  1. 1KUL24HPJ132OAwith ductless indoor unit KUL24HPJ132IABOREAL2 tons · 22,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 50.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    79% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    26.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.7 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    72.2score / 100Heating 50 · Cooling 94
  2. 2MUL24HPJ132OABOREAL2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 67.5Meets 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
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    13.3 (EER2)
    Great
    67.6score / 100Heating 68 · Cooling 68
  3. 3NOV24HPJ132OAwith ductless indoor unit NOV24HPJ132IABOREAL2 tons · 21,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 33.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    23.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    52.7score / 100Heating 33 · Cooling 72

Star Air Kontrol

  1. 1SAK-24-CT2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-24-CT1/220VStar Air Kontrol2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.30 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    66.2score / 100Heating 74 · Cooling 59
  2. 2SAK-27-TZ/220VStar Air Kontrol2 tons · 26,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 41.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.2 (EER2)
    Good
    56.7score / 100Heating 41 · Cooling 72
  3. 3SAK-24-WM2/220Vwith ductless indoor unit SAK-24-WM1/220VStar Air Kontrol2 tons · 24,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 48.0Meets 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
    2.14 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.3 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.7 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    32.5score / 100Heating 48 · Cooling 17

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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