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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, ductless 2.5–3 tons

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

Cooper&Hunter

  1. 1CHV6-RS36URBMHHCooper&Hunter (sold as Cooper & Hunter)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 92.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, CEE Advanced, Xcel CC, DOE CCHP
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.45 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    10.8 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Great
    86.7score / 100Heating 93 · Cooling 81
  2. 2CH-RVHP36M-230VOCooper&HunterAlso sold as C&H CH-RHP36M-230VO3 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
  3. 3CH-RVHP28M-230VOCooper&HunterAlso sold as C&H CH-RHP28M-230VO2.5 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

PolarWave

  1. 1EZ-36Z-M4BPolarWave3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 41.3Meets 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
    9.9 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    23.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Good
    53.2score / 100Heating 41 · Cooling 65
  2. 2EZ-36ZPL-HP230Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-36W-MBPolarWave3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 61% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    61% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.97 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    8.5 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    10.2score / 100Heating 17 · Cooling 4

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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