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Carrier vs GE Appliances: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Carrier model beats 48% and a typical GE Appliances model 43%. Carrier rates slightly higher overall.

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

Carrier

48%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

816 models listed

GE Appliances

43%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Below average

88 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°FCarrier: Beats 56%GE Appliances: Beats 40%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCarrier: Beats 34%GE Appliances: Beats 42%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Carrier: Beats 40%GE Appliances: Beats 48%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Carrier: Beats 42%GE Appliances: Beats 39%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Carrier: Beats 59%GE Appliances: Beats 46%

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

    Carrier
    40%
    GE Appliances
    47%

  • Xcel CC

    Carrier
    27%
    GE Appliances
    41%

  • CEE Advanced

    Carrier
    1%
    GE Appliances
    6%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Carrier
    27%
    GE Appliances
    39%

All-around best, ducted 3.5–4.5 tons

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

Showing Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons (39,000–56,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Carrier

  1. 127VNA154A*030*with ducted air handler FE5BNBD60L*+UICarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 291VAN054**AA4.5 tons · 51,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 81.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    102% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    90.4score / 100Heating 82 · Cooling 99
  2. 237MGRAQ48FA3Carrier (sold as Bryant)Also sold as Arcoaire D5CMRAH48FAK4 tons · 45,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 77.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    85.7score / 100Heating 78 · Cooling 94
  3. 327VPA948A*030*with ducted air handler FT5ANBD60LCarrierAlso sold as Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems 249VAN048**AA, Arcoaire N5H9V48*K*AAA, Comfortmaker Q5H9V48*K*AAA4 tons · 46,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.32 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    85.0score / 100Heating 79 · Cooling 91

GE Appliances

  1. 1NS21H48MA5-**Awith indoor coil D(A,C,E)48D4Z+TXV+TDR and furnace NF80U110S5CGE Appliances (sold as GE)3.5 tons · 44,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 87.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.57 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    85.2score / 100Heating 88 · Cooling 83
  2. 2NS18H60HA5***with ducted air handler L(E,G)M48EJGE Appliances4 tons · 45,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 83.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    80% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.63 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    78.6score / 100Heating 82 · Cooling 75
  3. 3NS21H60MA5-**Awith indoor coil NCU[C,U]60CT5*-**+TDR and furnace NF80X100V5CGE Appliances (sold as GE)4.5 tons · 55,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 78.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    66% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.16 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    76.6score / 100Heating 60 · Cooling 94

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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