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COSTWAY vs DIRECT AIR: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical COSTWAY model beats 46% and a typical DIRECT AIR model 67%. DIRECT AIR rates higher overall.

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

COSTWAY

46%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

47 models listed

DIRECT AIR

67%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

47 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°FCOSTWAY: Beats 57%DIRECT AIR: Beats 62%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCOSTWAY: Beats 35%DIRECT AIR: Beats 64%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2COSTWAY: Beats 45%DIRECT AIR: Beats 76%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2COSTWAY: Beats 49%DIRECT AIR: Beats 71%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2COSTWAY: Beats 36%DIRECT AIR: Beats 62%

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

    COSTWAY
    64%
    DIRECT AIR
    94%

  • Xcel CC

    COSTWAY
    43%
    DIRECT AIR
    85%

  • CEE Advanced

    COSTWAY
    0%
    DIRECT AIR
    2%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    COSTWAY
    30%
    DIRECT AIR
    87%

All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons

Balances heating (5°F output and efficiency, HSPF2) and cooling (SEER2, EER2), each rating 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?

COSTWAY

  1. 1FP10982USwith ducted air handler FP10985USCOSTWAY3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 64.8Meets 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
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    18.6 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    67.3score / 100Heating 65 · Cooling 70
  2. 2FP11135US*COSTWAY3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 62.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    72% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    20.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    64.0score / 100Heating 62 · Cooling 66
  3. 3FP11134US*COSTWAY2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 49.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.88 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.1 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    59.6score / 100Heating 50 · Cooling 69

DIRECT AIR

  1. 1DIRM4-36HXPRO28-4ZDIRECT AIRAlso listed as DIRM4-36HXPRO28-5Z3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 82.5Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    106% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.4 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.6score / 100Heating 83 · Cooling 85
  2. 2DIRM4-36LCHX-1Zwith ducted air handler DIRM4-36HP-DUDIRECT AIR3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 83.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    11.1 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    17.7 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    77.8score / 100Heating 83 · Cooling 72
  3. 3DIRM4-27DA25-3ZDIRECT AIRAlso listed as DIRM4-28HXPRO28-3Z, DIRM4-28HXPRO28-4Z2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    96% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    77.4score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 82

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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