CARRIER CORPORATION vs DIRECT AIR heat pumps

Measured against models of the same size and duct type, DIRECT AIR scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings. CARRIER CORPORATION has 64 outdoor models, DIRECT AIR has 68 outdoor models. CARRIER CORPORATION and DIRECT AIR have no QMID on file and are not ranked.

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CompareData as of Oct 11, 2026updated Oct 11, 2026 · sources

Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

CARRIER CORPORATION and DIRECT AIR on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, DIRECT AIR scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings.

CARRIER CORPORATION
DIRECT AIR
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	CARRIER CORPORATION	DIRECT AIR
Efficiency index	41%median —	61%median —
COP at 5°F	20%median 1.75	53%median 1.96
Capacity retention at 5°F	10%median 40%	61%median 80%
HSPF2	23%median 7.1	60%median 9.2
SEER2	46%median 16.0	56%median 19.0
EER2	77% (higher)median 11.7	53% (higher)median 11.7
Heating capacity at 5°F	6%median 17,250 Btu/h	56%median 19,000 Btu/h
Outdoor models	64	68
AHRI certifications	64	148

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	CARRIER CORPORATION	DIRECT AIR
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	0%0 models	60.3%41 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	0%0 models	58.8%40 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	0%0 models	1.5%1 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	0%0 models	54.4%37 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	0%0 models	1.5%1 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	0%0 models	50%34 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 3 groups where both have models

CARRIER CORPORATION
DIRECT AIR
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	CARRIER CORPORATION	DIRECT AIR
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	21 · index 41%	13 · index 55%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	22 · index 37%	11 · index 58%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	21 · index 52%	2 · index 49%
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	None	12 · index 61%
Ducted, 2 tons	None	5 · index 67%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	None	27 · index 65%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	None	6 · index 66%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	None	9 · index 59%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None	4 · index 58%

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CARRIER CORPORATIONCold-climate score, best model	DIRECT AIRCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	74.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-09HXPRO28-1Zwith ducted air handler DIRM-09HP-DUH9 of 12 models qualify · AHRI 207743749
Ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	80.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-24DA25-1Zwith ducted air handler DIRM-24HP-DU4 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 207743759
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	None on this board (0 of 21 models qualify)	78.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-36MAGICPRO20-OUwith ducted air handler DIRM-36MAGICPRO20-COIL5 of 13 models qualify · AHRI 212388351
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 22 models qualify)	74.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-48HXPRO28-5Z3 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 207743795
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None on this board (0 of 21 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-06HXPRO28-1Zwith ductless indoor unit DIRM-06HP-WM20 of 27 models qualify · AHRI 207743723
Non-ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	86.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-24HXPRO28-1Zwith ductless indoor unit DIRM-24HP-CA5 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 207743744
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	No models in this size class	79.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-36HXPRO28-4Z2 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 207743791
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	No models in this size class	76.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-48HXPRO28-5Z2 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 207743794

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CARRIER CORPORATIONAll-around score, best model	DIRECT AIRAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	85.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-09HXPRO28-1Zwith ducted air handler DIRM-09HP-DUH11 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743749
Ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	83.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-24DA25-1Zwith ducted air handler DIRM-24HP-DU4 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743759
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	41.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)50GCQ(T,H)04*3A***1 of 21 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216612849	75.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DIRM-27DA25-3Z10 of 13 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743777
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	50.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)50GCQ(T,H)05*3A***2 of 22 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216612850	82.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)DIRM-48HXPRO28-5Z6 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743795
Ducted, 5 tons and up	51.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)50GCQ(T,H)06*3A***1 of 21 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216613035	54.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)MOE30U-60HFN1-Mwith ducted air handler MHG-60HWFN1-MW2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 203269797
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	92.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-06HXPRO28-1Zwith ductless indoor unit DIRM-06HP-WM22 of 27 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743723
Non-ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	84.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-24HXPRO28-1Zwith ductless indoor unit DIRM-24HP-WM5 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743727
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	No models in this size class	82.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-36HXPRO28-4Z7 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743791
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	No models in this size class	77.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)DIRM-48HXPRO28-5Z3 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207743794

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	CARRIER CORPORATION	DIRECT AIR
COP at 5°F	beats 32% · 1.8450GCQ(T,H)05*3A***Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 97% · 2.39DIRM-12DA25-1ZNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 21% · 40%50GCQ(T,H)06*3A***Ducted, 5 tons and up	beats 93% · 108%DIRM-09HXPRO28-1ZDucted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 40% · 7.550GCQ(J,L)06**1Also listed as 50GCQ(J,L)06*5, 50GCQ(J,L)066, 50GCQ(M,P)061, 50GCQ(M,P)06*6 and 8 moreDucted, 5 tons and up	beats 98% · 13.6DIRM-06HXPRO28-1ZNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 70% · 16.050GCQ(J,L)06**1Also listed as 50GCQ(J,L)06*5, 50GCQ(J,L)066, 50GCQ(M,P)061, 50GCQ(M,P)06*6 and 8 moreDucted, 5 tons and up	beats 99% · 24.6DIRM-27DA25-3ZNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 89% · 12.050GCQ(J,L)06**1Also listed as 50GCQ(J,L)06*5, 50GCQ(J,L)066, 50GCQ(M,P)061, 50GCQ(M,P)06*6 and 8 moreDucted, 5 tons and up	beats 98% · 16.2DIRM-09HXPRO28-1ZNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 9% · 17,900 Btu/h50GCQ(T,H)05*3A***Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 96% · 20,000 Btu/hDIRM-18HXPRO28-2ZNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

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