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Kepler vs TCL: heat pump ratings compared

Against heat pumps of the same size and type, a typical Kepler model beats 60% and a typical TCL model 43%. Kepler rates higher overall.

Covers older R-410A heat pumps, no longer installed new. See models sold today · Updated

Kepler

60%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Above average

51 models listed

TCL

43%

of similar heat pumps beaten by its typical model

Below average

52 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°FKepler: Beats 50%TCL: Beats 48%
  • Heating power kept at 5°FCapacity at 5°F vs 47°FKepler: Beats 59%TCL: Beats 43%
  • Winter-long heating efficiencyHSPF2Kepler: Beats 70%TCL: Beats 31%
  • Summer-long cooling efficiencySEER2Kepler: Beats 66%TCL: Beats 38%
  • Hot-day cooling efficiencyEER2Kepler: Beats 53%TCL: Beats 30%

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

    Kepler
    71%
    TCL
    42%

  • Xcel CC

    Kepler
    57%
    TCL
    37%

  • CEE Advanced

    Kepler
    0%
    TCL
    0%

  • ENERGY STAR CC

    Kepler
    59%
    TCL
    23%

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?

Kepler

  1. 1ODUM4OX630-36HFN1-M1XKepler3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 79.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    100% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.4 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    83.7score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 88
  2. 2ODUM3OK-27HFN1-MKepler2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 80.4Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    101% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.90 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    10.0 (HSPF2)
    Top 10%
    Cooling efficiency
    19.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    11.8 (EER2)
    Great
    81.9score / 100Heating 80 · Cooling 83
  3. 3ODUM3OJ-27HFN1-MKepler2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedNot a cold-climate pick: keeps 66% of its heat at 5°FMeets CEE 2025, CEE 2026
    Heat kept at 5°F
    67% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Good
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.00 (COP at 5°F)
    Good
    Winter efficiency
    9.2 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    21.0 (SEER2)
    Top 10%
    Hot-day cooling
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    75.4score / 100Heating 65 · Cooling 86

TCL

  1. 1TCE-60HA/DV2Owith ducted air handler TCU-36D7HWA/DV2ITCL3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 62.3Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    52% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Below the middle
    Efficiency at 5°F
    2.10 (COP at 5°F)
    Great
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    18.0 (SEER2)
    Great
    Hot-day cooling
    12.0 (EER2)
    Great
    67.3score / 100Heating 52 · Cooling 83
  2. 2TCE-60HA/DV2ONwith ducted air handler TCE-36D7HWA/DV2ITCL3 tons · 35,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 56.9Meets CEE 2025, CEE 2026, Xcel CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    53% (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
    11.7 (EER2)
    Good
    60.0score / 100Heating 49 · Cooling 72
  3. 3THH30HAI2NAF2U23with ducted air handler THH36IAI2NAF2H23TCL2.5 tons · 28,000 Btu/h · DuctedCold-climate pick, score 61.6Meets Xcel CC, ENERGY STAR CC
    Heat kept at 5°F
    107% (Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F)
    Top 10%
    Efficiency at 5°F
    1.80 (COP at 5°F)
    Below the middle
    Winter efficiency
    8.5 (HSPF2)
    Good
    Cooling efficiency
    15.2 (SEER2)
    Below the middle
    Hot-day cooling
    11.0 (EER2)
    Below the middle
    51.4score / 100Heating 62 · Cooling 41

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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