CONTINENTAL vs ZENAIRE heat pumps
Measured against models of the same size and duct type, CONTINENTAL scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings. CONTINENTAL has 31 outdoor models, ZENAIRE has 24 outdoor models. CONTINENTAL and ZENAIRE have no QMID on file and are not ranked.
New to heat pump ratings? The Simple view explains them in plain words →
CompareData as of updated · sources
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.
- CONTINENTAL
- ZENAIRE
- Other ranked manufacturers
Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of
| Rating | CONTINENTAL | ZENAIRE |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency index | 63% (higher)median — | 17% (higher)median — |
| COP at 5°F | 52%median 2.00 | 73%median 2.08 |
| Capacity retention at 5°F | 67% (higher)median 96% | 0% (higher)median 20% |
| HSPF2 | 76% (higher)median 10.5 | 18% (higher)median 7.5 |
| SEER2 | 64% (higher)median 23.0 | 17% (higher)median 14.3 |
| EER2 | 61% (higher)median 12.5 | 37% (higher)median 11.2 |
| Heating capacity at 5°F | 70% (higher)median 19,000 Btu/h | 1% (higher)median 4,200 Btu/h |
| Outdoor models | 31 | 24 |
| AHRI certifications | 45 | 48 |
Share of models meeting each standard
| Standard | CONTINENTAL | ZENAIRE |
|---|---|---|
| CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP) | 77.4%24 models | 0%0 models |
| CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP) | 77.4%24 models | 0%0 models |
| CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP) | 0%0 models | 0%0 models |
| Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025) | 83.9%26 models | 0%0 models |
| DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge | 0%0 models | 0%0 models |
| ENERGY STAR Cold Climate | 83.9%26 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.
- CONTINENTAL
- ZENAIRE
- 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
| Size and duct type | CONTINENTAL | ZENAIRE |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted, up to 1.5 tons | 1 · index 29% | 2 · index — |
| Ducted, 2 tons | 2 · index 51% | 2 · index — |
| Ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 4 · index 58% | 4 · index — |
| Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons | 3 · index 44% | 6 · index — |
| Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | 12 · index 73% | 6 · index 17% |
| Non-ducted, 2 tons | 3 · index 75% | 2 · index — |
| Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 8 · index 61% | 2 · index — |
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
| Size and duct type | CONTINENTALCold-climate score, best model | ZENAIRECold-climate score, best model |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted, up to 1.5 tons | None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify) | None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify) |
| Ducted, 2 tons | 76.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)WSEHV2436BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WPFX24A-C2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218696907 | None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify) |
| Ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 82.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)NDHAMB-36-O3 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 215213729 | None on this board (0 of 4 models qualify) |
| Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons | 63.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)WSEHV4860BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WPCC48ABA13 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 218696915 | None on this board (0 of 6 models qualify) |
| Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | 73.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)CDHAS26B-18-Owith ductless indoor unit CDHAS26B-18-IAlso listed as CDHAS26BA-18-O11 of 12 models qualify · AHRI 215213716 | None on this board (0 of 6 models qualify) |
| Non-ducted, 2 tons | 88.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)CDHAS26BA-24-Owith ductless indoor unit CDHAS26BA-24-I3 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 215931368 | None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify) |
| Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 78.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)NDHAMB-36-O7 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 215213730 | None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify) |
All-around best
| Size and duct type | CONTINENTALAll-around score, best model | ZENAIREAll-around score, best model |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted, up to 1.5 tons | 28.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)WSCHV0018BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WECC24ABA11 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218461323 | None on this board (0 of 2 models have all five ratings) |
| Ducted, 2 tons | 68.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)WSEHV2436BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WPFX24A-C2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696907 | None on this board (0 of 2 models have all five ratings) |
| Ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 83.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)NDHAMB-36-O4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215213729 | None on this board (0 of 4 models have all five ratings) |
| Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons | 67.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)WSEHV4860BA1-Cwith ducted air handler WPFX48A-C3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696913 | None on this board (0 of 6 models have all five ratings) |
| Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | 81.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)CDHAMBB-18-O11 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215931370 | 16.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)DHP12BC17Qwith ductless indoor unit DHP 12BE17Q1 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211164254 |
| Non-ducted, 2 tons | 76.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)CDHAS26BA-24-Owith ductless indoor unit CDHAS26BA-24-I3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215931368 | None on this board (0 of 2 models have all five ratings) |
| Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons | 78.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)CDHAMB-36-OAlso listed as CDHAMBB-36-O8 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215213728 | None on this board (0 of 2 models have all five ratings) |
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.
| Rating | CONTINENTAL | ZENAIRE |
|---|---|---|
| COP at 5°F | beats 95% · 2.36CDHAS22B-12-OAlso listed as CDHAS22BA-12-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | beats 96% · 2.21DHP36BC17QNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons |
| Capacity retention at 5°F | beats 96% · 113%CDHAS26B-24-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | beats 0% · 20%DHP12BC17QNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons |
| HSPF2 | beats 98% · 13.5CDHAS26BA-24-ONon-ducted, 2 tons | beats 29% · 9.0DHP18BC17QNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons |
| SEER2 | beats 95% · 27.4CDHAS26B-09-OAlso listed as CDHAS26BA-09-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | beats 30% · 20.0DHP12AC17QNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons |
| EER2 | beats 95% · 15.4CDHAS26B-09-OAlso listed as CDHAS26BA-09-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | beats 67% · 11.7BHP42B15S2R5Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons |
| Heating capacity at 5°F | beats 99% · 22,600 Btu/hCDHAS26B-24-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons | beats 1% · 5,200 Btu/hDHP36BC17QNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons |