Skip to content
Rebate.Blue

Cooper&Hunter vs PolarWave: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Cooper&Hunter model beats 57% and a typical PolarWave model 54%. Cooper&Hunter rates slightly higher overall.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated

Cooper&Hunter

57%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Above average

57 models listed

PolarWave

54%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

58 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 55%PolarWave: Beats 44%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCooper&Hunter: Beats 56%PolarWave: Beats 57%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 64%PolarWave: Beats 66%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 56%PolarWave: Beats 59%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Cooper&Hunter: Beats 45%PolarWave: Beats 43%

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
    58%
    PolarWave
    60%

  • Xcel CC

    Cooper&Hunter
    46%
    PolarWave
    41%

  • CEE Advanced

    Cooper&Hunter
    2%
    PolarWave
    2%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Cooper&Hunter
    42%
    PolarWave
    47%

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 2.5–3 tons

Only units that keep at least 70% of their heat at 5°F, ranked on heat kept, efficiency at 5°F and seasonal efficiency (HSPF2), against units their size.

Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

Cooper&Hunter

  1. 1CH-HYP36LCUOwith ducted air handler CH-36LCDTU/ICooper&Hunter (sold as C&H)Also listed as CH-NHPR36LCU-230VO3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 86% of its heat at 5°FMeets ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    86% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.98 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    79.9score / 100
  2. 2CH-HPR28M-230VOCooper&Hunter (sold as C&H)2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 89% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    66.7score / 100
  3. 3CH-HPR36M-230VOCooper&Hunter (sold as C&H)3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 89% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    89% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.70 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    63.7score / 100

PolarWave

  1. 1ACIQ-36ZPL-HP230Bwith ducted air handler ACIQ-36CD-HH-MBPolarWave3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 86% of its heat at 5°FMeets ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    86% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.98 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    11.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    79.9score / 100
  2. 2ACIQ-36-HPBwith ducted air handler ACIQ-36-ACLPolarWave3 tons · 35,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 82% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    82% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    78.6score / 100
  3. 3ACIQ-36-HPCwith ducted air handler ACIQ-36-AHBPolarWave3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedKeeps 92% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    92% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.96 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Seasonal efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    77.9score / 100

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