Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

CIAC and ROYALTON on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, CIAC scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings.

CIAC
ROYALTON
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	CIAC	ROYALTON
Efficiency index	50%median —	50%median —
COP at 5°F	64% (higher)median 1.96	58% (higher)median 2.18
Capacity retention at 5°F	37% (higher)median 63%	20% (higher)median 50%
HSPF2	54% (higher)median 8.8	22% (higher)median 6.7
SEER2	45% (higher)median 19.0	29% (higher)median 15.2
EER2	39%median 10.3	67%median 11.4
Heating capacity at 5°F	40% (higher)median 18,200 Btu/h	20% (higher)median 17,800 Btu/h
Outdoor models	21	21
AHRI certifications	38	1,322

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	CIAC	ROYALTON
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	47.6%10 models	19%4 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	42.9%9 models	19%4 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	0%0 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	23.8%5 models	0%0 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	0%0 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	0%0 models	0%0 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 5 groups where both have models

CIAC
ROYALTON
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	CIAC	ROYALTON
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	3 · index 72%	1 · index 47%
Ducted, 2 tons	1 · index 85%	4 · index 45%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	2 · index 38%	6 · index 53%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	2 · index 44%	9 · index 48%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	2 · index 57%	1 · index 63%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	7 · index 49%	None
Non-ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 50%	None
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	8 · index 39%	None
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	4 · index 39%	None

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CIACCold-climate score, best model	ROYALTONCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	70.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX009-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX009-E3N1H2 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 213927684	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)
Ducted, 2 tons	82.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX024-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX024-E3N1H1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 213927687	None on this board (0 of 4 models qualify)
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 6 models qualify)
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 9 models qualify)
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)	None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	63.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX009-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CK43BX009-C3N1H1 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 213927673	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons	74.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX024-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CF43BX024-M3N1H1 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 213927680	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	44.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)CG43MX036PH3H1Cwith ductless indoor unit CH43MX036-H3H1C1 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 212925551	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	56.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX048-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CF43BX048-M3N1H1 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 213927682	No models in this size class

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	CIACAll-around score, best model	ROYALTONAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	78.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)CM43BX018-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX018-E3N1H3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927686	53.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)4HP17L18P-**Awith indoor coil EAD4X-30/36B+TDR and furnace 92G1DF070BE121 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213265346
Ducted, 2 tons	84.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)CM43BX024-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX024-E3N1H1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927687	61.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)4HP17L24P-**Awith indoor coil EAD4X-30/36B+TDR and furnace 80G1DF090BE162 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213265357
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	37.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX036-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX036-E3N1H1 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927688	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)4HP17L36P-**Awith indoor coil EAD4X-48C+TDR and furnace 80G1DF110CE203 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213265391
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	43.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX048-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX048-E3N1H1 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927689	69.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)4HP17L48P-**Awith indoor coil EA(C;U)1P60C+TDR+TXV and furnace 80G2UH110CE204 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210326789
Ducted, 5 tons and up	58.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX060-H3N2Hwith ducted air handler CC43BX060-E3N1H2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927690	67.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)4HP17L60P-**Awith indoor coil EA(C;U)1P60C+TDR+TXV and furnace 80G2UH110CE201 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 212619797
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	71.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX012-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CK43BX012-C3N1H7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927674	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons	72.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX024-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CF43BX024-M3N1H2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927680	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	53.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)CG43WX030PH3N1Hwith ductless indoor unit CH43WX030-H3N1H6 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 209948220	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	40.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)CM43BX048-H3N2Hwith ductless indoor unit CF43BX048-M3N1H2 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 213927682	No models in this size class

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	CIAC	ROYALTON
COP at 5°F	beats 92% · 2.28CM43BX012-H3N2HNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 90% · 2.364HP17L30P-**ADucted, 2.5–3 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 73% · 59%CM43BX060-H3N1HDucted, 5 tons and up	beats 37% · 59%4HP17L60P-**ADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 98% · 11.2CM43BX024-H3N2HDucted, 2 tons	beats 62% · 8.54HP17L48P-**ADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
SEER2	beats 89% · 20.0CM43BX018-H3N2HDucted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 61% · 16.84HP17L36P-**ADucted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 85% · 12.5CM43BX024-H3N2HDucted, 2 tons	beats 99% · 14.04HP17L24P-**ADucted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 78% · 13,000 Btu/hCM43BX018-H3N2HNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 51% · 32,000 Btu/h4HP17L60P-**ADucted, 5 tons and up

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CIAC vs ROYALTON heat pumps