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CIAC vs Custom Comfort: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical CIAC model beats 38% and a typical Custom Comfort model 71%. Custom Comfort rates higher overall.

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

CIAC

38%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

3 models listed

Custom Comfort

71%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

28 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°FCIAC: Beats 83%Custom Comfort: Beats 64%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCIAC: Beats 16%Custom Comfort: Beats 71%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2CIAC: Beats 11%Custom Comfort: Beats 84%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2CIAC: Beats 22%Custom Comfort: Beats 69%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2CIAC: Beats 14%Custom Comfort: Beats 67%

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

    CIAC
    33%
    Custom Comfort
    96%

  • Xcel CC

    CIAC
    0%
    Custom Comfort
    100%

  • CEE Advanced

    CIAC
    0%
    Custom Comfort
    4%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    CIAC
    0%
    Custom Comfort
    100%

All-around best, ductless 2.5–3 tons

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

Showing Ductless, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

CIAC

None of CIAC’s ductless, 2.5–3 tons models has all five ratings.

Custom Comfort

  1. 1CCOXHBMZ536HPCustom Comfort3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 78.0Meets 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
    10.7 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    78.3score / 100Heating 76 · Cooling 81
  2. 2CCOXHBMZ427HPCustom Comfort2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 72.9Meets 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
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Great
    74.4score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 76
  3. 3CCOESBMZ427HPCustom Comfort2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 41.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    25.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    66.3score / 100Heating 41 · Cooling 91

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.

Open the advanced view