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KANIONco vs THERMAL ZONE: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical KANIONco model beats 47% and a typical THERMAL ZONE model 30%. KANIONco rates higher overall.

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

KANIONco

47%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

About average

56 models listed

THERMAL ZONE

30%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Well below average

101 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°FKANIONco: Beats 37%THERMAL ZONE: Beats 40%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FKANIONco: Beats 45%THERMAL ZONE: Beats 26%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2KANIONco: Beats 50%THERMAL ZONE: Beats 23%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2KANIONco: Beats 58%THERMAL ZONE: Beats 24%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2KANIONco: Beats 41%THERMAL ZONE: Beats 31%

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

    KANIONco
    66%
    THERMAL ZONE
    8%

  • Xcel CC

    KANIONco
    63%
    THERMAL ZONE
    8%

  • CEE Advanced

    KANIONco
    0%
    THERMAL ZONE
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    KANIONco
    36%
    THERMAL ZONE
    8%

All-around best, ducted 2.5–3 tons

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

Showing Ducted, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

KANIONco

  1. 1KWSMO-27IR454BHS20KANIONco2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 49.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    70% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.88 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    22.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    69.9score / 100Heating 50 · Cooling 90
  2. 2KAHU-36IR454BHS18AEwith ducted air handler KAHU-36IR454BHS18AEKANIONcoAlso listed as KAHUO-36IR454BHS18AE3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 64.9Meets 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
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    9.0 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    18.6 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    67.4score / 100Heating 65 · Cooling 70
  3. 3KWSMO-36IR454BHS19KANIONco3 tons · 34,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 48.7Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    72% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    20.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    63.6score / 100Heating 49 · Cooling 79

THERMAL ZONE

  1. 1TZP15AY36AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AEW37J+TDRTHERMAL ZONE2.5 tons · 31,600 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 72.6Meets none of the standards tracked here
    Heat kept at 5°F
    102% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.66 (COP at 5°F)
    Top 10%
    Winter efficiency
    7.5 (HSPF2)
    Below the middle
    Cooling efficiency
    14.5 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    58.7score / 100Heating 73 · Cooling 45
  2. 2TZID30H520ZCSwith ducted air handler TZID30H520ZAMTHERMAL ZONE2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 61% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025
    Heat kept at 5°F
    62% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    17.0 (SEER2)
    Good
    Hot-day cooling
    10.7 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    45.1score / 100Heating 49 · Cooling 41
  3. 3TZID36H520ZCSwith ducted air handler TZID36H520ZAMTHERMAL ZONE3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 59.8Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    75% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    8.7 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    16.1 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    10.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    44.5score / 100Heating 60 · Cooling 29

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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