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First Co. vs WILLIS: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical First Co. model beats 11% and a typical WILLIS model 63%. WILLIS rates higher overall.

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

First Co.

11%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

21 models listed

WILLIS

63%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well above average

29 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°FFirst Co.: Beats 34%WILLIS: Beats 44%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FFirst Co.: Beats 12%WILLIS: Beats 71%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2First Co.: Beats 1%WILLIS: Beats 50%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2First Co.: Beats 0%WILLIS: Beats 69%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2First Co.: Beats 12%WILLIS: Beats 72%

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

    First Co.
    0%
    WILLIS
    97%

  • Xcel CC

    First Co.
    0%
    WILLIS
    97%

  • CEE Advanced

    First Co.
    0%
    WILLIS
    10%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    First Co.
    0%
    WILLIS
    86%

All-around best, ducted up to 1.5 tons

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

Showing Ducted, Up to 1.5 tons (under 21,000 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

First Co.

  1. 118WHHPBAwith ducted air handler 37CLX(*,Q,W)First Co.1.5 tons · 18,500 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 44% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    42% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.50 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    6.8 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    14.2 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Great
    25.1score / 100Heating 2 · Cooling 49
  2. 2EHE18***D***AFirst Co.Also listed as EHE18***E***A1.5 tons · 17,500 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 49% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    49% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    6.3 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    11.9 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    14.6score / 100Heating 24 · Cooling 6
  3. 3EHE12***D***AFirst Co.Also listed as EHE12***E***A1 ton · 11,500 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 45% of its heat at 5°FMeets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    45% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    6.3 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    11.9 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    13.8score / 100Heating 22 · Cooling 6

WILLIS

  1. 1PUHW09KR32-Owith ducted air handler WHEDT09KWILLIS1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 69.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    90% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.14 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.2 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    83.6score / 100Heating 70 · Cooling 97
  2. 2AUHW18KR32-Owith ducted air handler WHEDT18KWILLIS1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 59.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    94% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Great
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.4 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    24.5 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.0 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    78.6score / 100Heating 59 · Cooling 98
  3. 3AUHW09KR32-Owith ducted air handler WHEDT09KWILLIS1 ton · 9,100 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 55.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    88% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    22.3 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    14.3 (EER2)
    Top 10%
    77.0score / 100Heating 56 · Cooling 98

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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