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Carrier vs MRCOOL: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Carrier model beats 48% and a typical MRCOOL model 53%. MRCOOL 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

MRCOOL

53%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

92 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%MRCOOL: Beats 50%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCarrier: Beats 34%MRCOOL: Beats 50%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Carrier: Beats 40%MRCOOL: Beats 56%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Carrier: Beats 42%MRCOOL: Beats 54%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Carrier: Beats 59%MRCOOL: Beats 49%

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%
    MRCOOL
    67%

  • Xcel CC

    Carrier
    27%
    MRCOOL
    58%

  • CEE Advanced

    Carrier
    1%
    MRCOOL
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Carrier
    27%
    MRCOOL
    57%

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.

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

Carrier

  1. 137MAHAQ06AA3with ducted air handler 45MBDAQ06XA3CarrierAlso sold as Arcoaire D5CSHAH06AAK0.5 tons · 6,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 93.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    98% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.41 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    13.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    95.6score / 100Heating 94 · Cooling 98
  2. 237MAHAQ09AA3with ducted air handler 45MBDAQ12XA3CarrierAlso sold as Arcoaire D5CSHAH09AAK1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    112% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.89 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    12.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.5 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    87.4score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 95
  3. 337MARAQ09AA3with ducted air handler 45MBDAQ12XH3CarrierAlso sold as Arcoaire D5CSRAH09AAK1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 81.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.32 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    11.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.8 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    81.0score / 100Heating 81 · Cooling 81

MRCOOL

  1. 1O-HH-09-HP-C-230C-Owith ducted air handler DUCT-09HP-230B-OMRCOOLAlso listed as O-ES-09-HP-C-230C-O11 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    112% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.89 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    12.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    21.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.4 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    86.7score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 94
  2. 2MULTI3-18HP230C-OMRCOOL1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    77% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.30 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    74.1score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 76
  3. 3O-HH-12-HP-C-230C-Owith ducted air handler DUCT-12HP-230B-OMRCOOLAlso listed as O-ES-12-HP-C-230C-O11 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 69.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    94% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    72.7score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 76

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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