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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 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?

Century

  1. 1A-VHP09SA-1with ducted air handler B-VHP09DA-1Century1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    120% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.85 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    13.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    86.5score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 93
  2. 2A-ZHP15SA-1with ducted air handler B-ZHP15SA-1Century1.5 tons · 15,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 75.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    27.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.9score / 100Heating 75 · Cooling 93
  3. 3A-VXP18SA-1with ducted air handler WXP18SACentury1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 86.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    103% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.3 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.1 (EER2)
    Great
    79.8score / 100Heating 87 · Cooling 73

Pioneer

  1. 1YN020GLSI24M2GPioneer1.5 tons · 17,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 57.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    84% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    69.0score / 100Heating 58 · Cooling 80
  2. 2YN009GLSI24RPGPioneer1 ton · 9,500 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 58.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.81 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.6 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    64.9score / 100Heating 59 · Cooling 71
  3. 3YN018GLSI24RPGPioneer1.5 tons · 17,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 54.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    73% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    20.3 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    57.0score / 100Heating 54 · Cooling 60

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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