Against comparable models

Each cell is the share of same-size, same-type models that the manufacturer’s typical model beats (50% is typical); the higher score is in bold. Raw medians are underneath for context: they depend on which sizes each one makes, so they are not compared.

DIYCOOL and LG on every ratingPeer scores, 0–100 · grey ticks: every ranked manufacturer · shaded: the middle half of each one’s modelsMeasured against models of the same size and duct type, LG scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

DIYCOOL
LG
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	DIYCOOL	LG
Efficiency index	54%median —	56%median — · 10th ranked
COP at 5°F	53%median 2.00	56%median 1.96 · 17th ranked
Capacity retention at 5°F	51%median 74%	57%median 74% · 9th ranked
HSPF2	63% (higher)median 9.6	51% (higher)median 9.0 · 14th ranked
SEER2	60% (higher)median 18.7	49% (higher)median 20.0 · 17th ranked
EER2	47%median 11.5	64%median 12.3 · 4th ranked
Heating capacity at 5°F	60%median 23,500 Btu/h	61%median 15,550 Btu/h · 7th ranked
Outdoor models	24	100
AHRI certifications	30	1,179

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	DIYCOOL	LG
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	79.2%19 models	86%86 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	79.2%19 models	82%82 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	4.2%1 models	11%11 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	70.8%17 models	78%78 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	4.2%1 models	11%11 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	75%18 models	64%64 models

Sizes and duct types offered

Models in each peer group, with the efficiency index of those models against the rest of the group.

Side by side, inside each size and duct typeShape: every model of the group · bars: each manufacturer’s middle half, median dot, 10th–90th line · 7 groups where both have models

DIYCOOL
LG
All models of the group

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	DIYCOOL	LG
Ducted, 2 tons	4 · index 64%	9 · index 53%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 62%	11 · index 62%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	7 · index 61%	16 · index 66%
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	None	12 · index 54%
Ducted, 5 tons and up	None	2 · index 81%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	6 · index 48%	44 · index 46%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	3 · index 44%	14 · index 50%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	2 · index 32%	12 · index 63%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1 · index 53%	10 · index 69%
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	None	1 · index 85%

Cold-climate and all-around picks, size class by size class

Each manufacturer’s best model on each board in every size and duct type, side by side; the higher score is in bold. Both scores are 0–100 against every model of that size class (the line on each bar is 50, the typical model there), so the two compare fairly even when they make different sizes.

Cold-climate picks

Best cold-climate pick per size and duct type (keeps at least 70% of its heat at 5°F). Qualifies when its capacity retention at 5°F (capacity at 5°F as a share of capacity at 47°F) is at least 70% and Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 are all rated. Score = the equal-weight mean of its peer percentiles on Capacity retention at 5°F, COP at 5°F, HSPF2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100), all from one certified pairing: in each duct type a model is sold in, its qualifying pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	DIYCOOLCold-climate score, best model	LGCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	80.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSXA181Awith ducted air handler MSVT24***852FAA10 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 217581954
Ducted, 2 tons	76.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-24-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-24-AH324 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 215387242	78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS010 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 214914956
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	76.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-36-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-36-AH324 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 215387243	87.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUM036GSS010 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 214914952
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	85.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-60-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-60-AH327 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 215387245	90.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA481A18 of 18 models qualify · AHRI 215408637
Ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	94.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215402344
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	73.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-18ZPL-HP230Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-18W-MB3 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 216980898	86.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUSAL091Awith ductless indoor unit KNSAL091A44 of 44 models qualify · AHRI 216368959
Non-ducted, 2 tons	42.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-27Z-M3B1 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216980922	85.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS07 of 14 models qualify · AHRI 215223214
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	41.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-36Z-M4B1 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 216980923	93.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA361A12 of 12 models qualify · AHRI 215402345
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	45.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-48Z-M5B1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 216980928	95.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA421A8 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 215402347
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	84.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215408633

All-around best

Best all-around model per size and duct type. Score = 50% heating, the mean of its peer percentiles on COP at 5°F, Capacity retention at 5°F, HSPF2, plus 50% cooling, the mean of its peer percentiles on SEER2 and EER2 (share of the other models in its peer group it beats, 0–100). All five ratings are required; there is no minimum heat kept at 5°F. In each duct type a model is sold in, it is scored on its pairing of that type with the best score; equal scores (one decimal) go to the higher cold-climate score, then the higher heating capacity at 5°F.
Size and duct type	DIYCOOLAll-around score, best model	LGAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	No models in this size class	78.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUSXA181Awith ducted air handler MSVT24***852FAA10 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217581954
Ducted, 2 tons	73.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-24-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-24-AH324 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215387242	79.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS08 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914956
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	69.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-36-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-36-AH324 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215387243	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA361A12 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402346
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	83.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)ACIQ-48-HP32with ducted air handler ACIQ-48-AH327 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215387244	91.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA421A18 of 18 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402348
Ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	89.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)KUMXB601A2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402344
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	73.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-18ZPL-HP230Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-18W-MB6 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216980898	91.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUSAL091Awith ductless indoor unit KNSAL091A44 of 44 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216368959
Non-ducted, 2 tons	56.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-24ZPL-HP230Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-24W-MB3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216980899	77.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)ZRUN024GSS014 of 14 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914954
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	53.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-36Z-M4B2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216980923	90.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUSXA301Awith ductless indoor unit KNSCB301A12 of 12 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214826535
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	52.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)EZ-48Z-M5B1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216980926	89.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)KUMXA421A9 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215402347
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up	No models in this size class	85.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)ZRUM060GSS02 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 214914943

All-around board, every manufacturer

Standout model on each rating

Each manufacturer’s model that beats the largest share of comparable models on the rating; the higher share is in bold.

Top model per rating by peer percentile, with its AHRI-certified value and peer group
Rating	DIYCOOL	LG
COP at 5°F	beats 98% · 2.44EZ-18ZPL-HP230BNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 100% · 3.17KUSXB181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 94% · 100%ACIQ-48-HP32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 100% · 137%KUSXA181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 91% · 10.3EZ-36-HPBDucted, 2.5–3 tons	beats 97% · 13.5KUSAL091ANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 91% · 20.0EZ-48Z-M5BDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 98% · 23.0ZRUM060GSS0Non-ducted, 5 tons and up
EER2	beats 83% · 12.0ACIQ-48-HP32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 100% · 14.8ZRUN024GSS0Ducted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 98% · 54,000 Btu/hACIQ-60-HP32Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 100% · 25,000 Btu/hKUSXA181ADucted, up to 1.5 tons

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DIYCOOL vs LG heat pumps