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Cowsar vs Kerr Kapstone: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Cowsar model beats 34% and a typical Kerr Kapstone model 73%. Kerr Kapstone rates higher overall.

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

Cowsar

34%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

12 models listed

Kerr Kapstone

73%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

12 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°FCowsar: Beats 61%Kerr Kapstone: Beats 56%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FCowsar: Beats 28%Kerr Kapstone: Beats 84%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Cowsar: Beats 25%Kerr Kapstone: Beats 85%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Cowsar: Beats 36%Kerr Kapstone: Beats 77%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Cowsar: Beats 23%Kerr Kapstone: Beats 70%

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

    Cowsar
    75%
    Kerr Kapstone
    92%
  • Xcel CC

    Cowsar
    50%
    Kerr Kapstone
    100%
  • CEE Advanced

    Cowsar
    0%
    Kerr Kapstone
    0%
  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Cowsar
    0%
    Kerr Kapstone
    100%

All-around best, ductless up to 1.5 tons

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

Cowsar

  1. 1SE7203P-9Kwith ductless indoor unit SE7203S-9KCowsarAlso listed as SE7203P-9K-ASZ, SE7203PW-9K-ZAZ1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 47.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    80% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.95 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    20.5 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.7 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    39.5score / 100Heating 47 · Cooling 32
  2. 2A7201P-12K-ELwith ductless indoor unit A7201S-12K-ELCowsarAlso listed as A7201PW-12K-EL, A7201PW-12K-ZAZ1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 66% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    67% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.05 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    37.8score / 100Heating 39 · Cooling 37
  3. 3SE7203S-18Kwith ductless indoor unit SE7203P-18KCowsarAlso listed as SE7203SW-18K-ZAZ, SE7203S-18K-ASZ1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 42.2Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.09 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    33.4score / 100Heating 42 · Cooling 25

Kerr Kapstone

  1. 1A-KZP06SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-KZP06SA-1Kerr Kapstone0.5 tons · 6,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 87.6Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    150% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    15.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    35.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    17.4 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    93.4score / 100Heating 88 · Cooling 99
  2. 2A-KZP09SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-KZP09SA-1Kerr Kapstone1 ton · 9,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    113% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    14.6 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    33.3 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    17.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    92.3score / 100Heating 86 · Cooling 99
  3. 3A-KZP12SA-1with ductless indoor unit B-KZP12SA-1Kerr Kapstone1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 85.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    113% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    12.7 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    29.4 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.2 (EER2)
    Great
    88.8score / 100Heating 85 · Cooling 92

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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