Century vs Pioneer: heat pump ratings compared
Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Century model beats 50% and a typical Pioneer model 47%. Century rates slightly higher overall.
Covers heat pumps sold new today (R-454B and R-32 refrigerant). See older R-410A models · Updated
Century
50%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average59 models listed
Pioneer
47%
of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model
About average46 models listed
- Efficiency on a 5°F dayCOP at 5°FCentury: Beats 50%Pioneer: Beats 41%
- Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCentury: Beats 49%Pioneer: Beats 43%
- Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Century: Beats 52%Pioneer: Beats 56%
- Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Century: Beats 45%Pioneer: Beats 56%
- Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Century: Beats 53%Pioneer: Beats 40%
Average (50%)Dashed outline: the other brand, for comparison
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Rebate standards
CEE 2025
- Century
- 44%
- Pioneer
- 74%
Xcel CC
- Century
- 41%
- Pioneer
- 70%
CEE Advanced
- Century
- 3%
- Pioneer
- 0%
ENERGY STAR CC
- Century
- 32%
- Pioneer
- 54%
All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons
Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating against units their size.
Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?
Century
- 1A-VHP365A-1Century3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 106% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Top 10%
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.4 (HSPF2)
- Top 10%
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.4 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 2A-VHP284A-1Century2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 96% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 9.5 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 19.0 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 3A-VXP30SA-1with ducted air handler WXP30SACentury2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 78.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Great
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.00 (COP at 5°F)
- Good
- Winter efficiency
- 10.2 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 17.5 (SEER2)
- Good
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.7 (EER2)
- Good
Pioneer
- 1YN030GLSI24M3GPioneer2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 49.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.88 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 9.0 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 22.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 12.0 (EER2)
- Great
- 2YN040GLSI24M4GPioneer3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 48.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 72% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Good
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 1.90 (COP at 5°F)
- Below the middle
- Winter efficiency
- 8.5 (HSPF2)
- Good
- Cooling efficiency
- 20.0 (SEER2)
- Top 10%
- Hot-day cooling
- 11.7 (EER2)
- Good
- 3YN036GMSI20RUGwith ducted air handler RB036GMSILDFHGPioneer3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 64% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025
- Heat kept at 5°F
- 64% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
- Below the middle
- Efficiency at 5°F
- 2.10 (COP at 5°F)
- Great
- Winter efficiency
- 10.2 (HSPF2)
- Great
- Cooling efficiency
- 18.7 (SEER2)
- Great
- Hot-day cooling
- 10.1 (EER2)
- Below the middle
These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.
Next steps
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