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.

EMI and ForestAir 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, EMI scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.

EMI
ForestAir
Other ranked manufacturers

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

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	EMI	ForestAir
Efficiency index	62%median —	63%median —
COP at 5°F	56% (higher)median 2.00	46% (higher)median 2.00
Capacity retention at 5°F	63% (higher)median 95%	59% (higher)median 75%
HSPF2	69% (higher)median 10.5	64% (higher)median 10.0
SEER2	61%median 21.4	80%median 23.0
EER2	60%median 12.5	61%median 12.5
Heating capacity at 5°F	60% (higher)median 18,000 Btu/h	56% (higher)median 18,900 Btu/h
Outdoor models	15	33
AHRI certifications	27	56

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	EMI	ForestAir
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	86.7%13 models	97%32 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	86.7%13 models	97%32 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	6.7%1 models	3%1 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	73.3%11 models	97%32 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	6.7%1 models	3%1 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	73.3%11 models	42.4%14 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

EMI
ForestAir
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	EMI	ForestAir
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	1 · index 77%	5 · index 61%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	2 · index 81%	6 · index 68%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1 · index 84%	7 · index 62%
Ducted, 2 tons	None	3 · index 70%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	8 · index 60%	15 · index 63%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 53%	3 · index 49%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 46%	4 · index 69%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	1 · index 76%	3 · index 59%

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	EMICold-climate score, best model	ForestAirCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	70.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ218DA1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 215444941	58.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H09-D24TL-O-454with ducted air handler FA-D09-D24TL-I-4545 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 217549977
Ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	80.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H24-VKCE/OD-454with ducted air handler FA-H24-VKCE/AH-4543 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 217903145
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	82.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ436DA2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215444947	70.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H36-VK/ODwith ducted air handler FA-H36-VK/AH6 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 217491807
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	82.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ548DA1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 215444950	76.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H48-VKCE/OD-454with ducted air handler FA-H48-VKCE/AH-4547 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 217903147
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXSZ106DAwith ductless indoor unit EMXWAL06DA6 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 215444935	70.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY18-D2TL-O-45415 of 15 models qualify · AHRI 218696897
Non-ducted, 2 tons	88.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXSZ124DAwith ductless indoor unit EMXWAL24DA2 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 215444939	58.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H24-D24TL-O-454with ductless indoor unit FA-K24-D24TL-I-4543 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 217549976
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ436DA2 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 215444948	68.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY27-D3TL-O-4544 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 218696898
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	73.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ548DA1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 215444951	42.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY48-D5TL-O-454Also listed as FA-MY55-D5TL-O-4543 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 218696900

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	EMIAll-around score, best model	ForestAirAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	77.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ218DA1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444941	72.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY18-D2TL-O-4545 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696902
Ducted, 2 tons	No models in this size class	79.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H24-VK/ODwith ducted air handler FA-H24-VK/AH3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217491806
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	83.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ436DA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444947	80.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY27-D3TL-O-4546 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696903
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ548DA1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444950	68.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H48-VK/ODwith ducted air handler FA-H48-VK/AH7 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217491808
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	96.2(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXSZ106DAwith ductless indoor unit EMXWAL06DA8 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444935	82.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY18-D2TL-O-45415 of 15 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696897
Non-ducted, 2 tons	76.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXSZ124DAwith ductless indoor unit EMXWAL24DA2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444939	56.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-H24-D24TL-O-454with ductless indoor unit FA-K24-D24TL-I-4543 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217549976
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	78.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)EMXMZ436DA4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444946	83.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)FA-MY27-D3TL-O-4544 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696898
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	75.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)EMXMZ548DA1 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 215444949	67.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)FA-MY48-D5TL-O-454Also listed as FA-MY55-D5TL-O-4543 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218696900

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	EMI	ForestAir
COP at 5°F	beats 97% · 2.40EMXSZ106DANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 85% · 2.20FA-H36-VK/ODDucted, 2.5–3 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 94% · 110%EMXSZ106DANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 95% · 105%FA-MY18-D2TL-O-454Ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 99% · 14.8EMXSZ106DANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 96% · 10.5FA-MY27-D3TL-O-454Ducted, 2.5–3 tons
SEER2	beats 96% · 20.4EMXMZ548DADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons	beats 99% · 26.5FA-MY27-D3TL-O-454Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2	beats 99% · 18.0EMXSZ106DANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 14.0FA-H24-VK/ODDucted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 97% · 19,000 Btu/hEMXMZ218DANon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 98% · 19,800 Btu/hFA-MY18-D2TL-O-454Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

More comparisons

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EMI vs ForestAir heat pumps