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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 average

59 models listed

Pioneer

47%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

46 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°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

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

    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 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?

Century

  1. 1A-VHP486A-1Century4 tons · 47,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    83.9score / 100Heating 83 · Cooling 85
  2. 2A-VHP556A-1Century4.5 tons · 53,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 81.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    87% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.7 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    82.0score / 100Heating 81 · Cooling 83
  3. 3HSA1442S1-**Awith indoor coil D(A,C,E)60A4J+TDR and furnace GUH80C090C5MPCentury3.5 tons · 39,500 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 63% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    61% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.51 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    7.8 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    15.5 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    65.2score / 100Heating 57 · Cooling 73

Pioneer

  1. 1YN050GLSI24M5GPioneer3.5 tons · 41,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 52.2Meets 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
    67.5score / 100Heating 52 · Cooling 83
  2. 2YD4860GCSI18RDwith ducted air handler DC048GCSICDHRTPioneer4 tons · 47,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 64.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    17.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    11.3 (EER2)
    Good
    64.4score / 100Heating 64 · Cooling 65
  3. 3YN048GMSI20RUGwith ducted air handler RB048GMSILDFHGPioneer4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 67.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    76% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.8 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    17.1 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    56.3score / 100Heating 68 · Cooling 45

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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