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Cooper&Hunter vs PolarWave: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Cooper&Hunter model beats 64% and a typical PolarWave model 51%. Cooper&Hunter rates higher overall.

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

Cooper&Hunter

64%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

63 models listed

PolarWave

51%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

20 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°FCooper&Hunter: Beats 65%PolarWave: Beats 52%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCooper&Hunter: Beats 62%PolarWave: Beats 44%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 73%PolarWave: Beats 58%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 65%PolarWave: Beats 57%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 58%PolarWave: Beats 42%

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

    Cooper&Hunter
    86%
    PolarWave
    75%

  • Xcel CC

    Cooper&Hunter
    73%
    PolarWave
    65%

  • CEE Advanced

    Cooper&Hunter
    8%
    PolarWave
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Cooper&Hunter
    71%
    PolarWave
    70%

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?

Cooper&Hunter

  1. 1CH-R48MES-230VOCooper&Hunter4 tons · 45,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 77.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    81% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    85.1score / 100Heating 78 · Cooling 92
  2. 2CH-RVHP48M-230VOCooper&HunterAlso sold as C&H CH-RHP48M-230VO4 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
  3. 3CH-RVHP55M-230VOCooper&HunterAlso sold as C&H CH-RHP55M-230VO4.5 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

PolarWave

  1. 1EZ-48Z-M5BPolarWave3.5 tons · 43,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 70.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    79% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    80.2score / 100Heating 71 · Cooling 90
  2. 2EZ-48-HPBwith ducted air handler EZ-48-AHBPolarWave4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 68.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    92% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    16.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    57.1score / 100Heating 69 · Cooling 45
  3. 3EZ-60-HPBwith ducted air handler EZ-60-AHBPolarWave4.5 tons · 54,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 60.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    93% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    49.1score / 100Heating 61 · Cooling 38

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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