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iFFALCON vs PolarWave: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical iFFALCON model beats 49% and a typical PolarWave model 51%. PolarWave rates slightly higher overall.

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

iFFALCON

49%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

20 models listed

PolarWave

51%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

20 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°FiFFALCON: Beats 28%PolarWave: Beats 52%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FiFFALCON: Beats 51%PolarWave: Beats 44%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2iFFALCON: Beats 54%PolarWave: Beats 58%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2iFFALCON: Beats 58%PolarWave: Beats 57%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2iFFALCON: Beats 37%PolarWave: Beats 42%

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

    iFFALCON
    70%
    PolarWave
    75%

  • Xcel CC

    iFFALCON
    75%
    PolarWave
    65%

  • CEE Advanced

    iFFALCON
    0%
    PolarWave
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    iFFALCON
    75%
    PolarWave
    70%

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.

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

iFFALCON

  1. 1F12SBH23BQCwith ductless indoor unit F12SBH23BQEiFFALCONAlso listed as F12SBH24XQC1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 51.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    24.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Good
    63.4score / 100Heating 51 · Cooling 76
  2. 2F18FMH24XQCiFFALCON1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 61.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    78% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    25.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    62.1score / 100Heating 62 · Cooling 62
  3. 3F18SBH23XQCwith ductless indoor unit F18SBH23XQEiFFALCON1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 51.0Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    83% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    24.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    56.3score / 100Heating 51 · Cooling 62

PolarWave

  1. 1EZ-18ZPL-HP230Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-18W-MBPolarWave1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 73.1Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    71% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.44 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    11.5 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    22.5 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    13.7 (EER2)
    Great
    73.3score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 73
  2. 2EZ-18Z-M2BPolarWave1.5 tons · 18,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 66.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    74% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.31 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    23.9 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    13.0 (EER2)
    Good
    70.7score / 100Heating 67 · Cooling 75
  3. 3EZ-12ZPL-HP115Bwith ductless indoor unit EZ-12WPL-HP115BPolarWave1 ton · 12,000 Btu/h · DuctlessCold-climate pick, score 57.5Meets 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
    2.09 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.2 (HSPF2)
    Great
    Cooling efficiency
    23.5 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.5 (EER2)
    Good
    62.0score / 100Heating 58 · Cooling 67

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.

Open the advanced view