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Nortek Global HVAC vs THERMAL ZONE heat pumps

Measured against models of the same size and duct type, Nortek Global HVAC scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings. Nortek Global HVAC has 75 outdoor models, THERMAL ZONE has 88 outdoor models. THERMAL ZONE has no QMID on file and is not ranked.

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CompareData as of updated · sources

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.
Nortek Global HVAC and THERMAL ZONE 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, Nortek Global HVAC scores higher on 5 of the 6 ratings.
  • Nortek Global HVAC
  • THERMAL ZONE
  • Other ranked manufacturers
Nortek G…THERMAL …

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
RatingNortek Global HVACTHERMAL ZONE
Efficiency index51% (higher)median — · 20th ranked43% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F44%median 1.85 · 23rd ranked68%median 2.10
Capacity retention at 5°F64% (higher)median 80% · 4th ranked37% (higher)median 56%
HSPF238% (higher)median 8.2 · 22nd ranked31% (higher)median 7.5
SEER239% (higher)median 16.5 · 22nd ranked26% (higher)median 14.3
EER246% (higher)median 11.0 · 21st ranked36% (higher)median 10.6
Heating capacity at 5°F56% (higher)median 14,500 Btu/h · 10th ranked40% (higher)median 19,900 Btu/h
Outdoor models7588
AHRI certifications280509

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
StandardNortek Global HVACTHERMAL ZONE
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)38.7%29 models12.5%11 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)38.7%29 models11.4%10 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)0%0 models0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)41.3%31 models6.8%6 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge0%0 models0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate29.3%22 models21.6%19 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 · 5 groups where both have models
  • Nortek Global HVAC
  • THERMAL ZONE
  • All models of the group
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons2.00884 modelsDucted, 2 tons2.00821 modelsDucted, 2.5–3 tons1.901,614 modelsDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons1.911,492 modelsDucted, 5 tons and up1.90239 modelsNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons1.902,417 modelsNon-ducted, 2 tons1.87611 modelsNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons1.85975 modelsNon-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons1.97438 modelsmedian

Raw ratings are only placed side by side within one size and duct type, where they are comparable.

Source: AHRI Directory · as of

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct typeNortek Global HVACTHERMAL ZONE
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons10 · index 47%8 · index 32%
Ducted, 2 tons7 · index 52%9 · index 42%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons20 · index 55%27 · index 44%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons13 · index 58%31 · index 46%
Ducted, 5 tons and upNone12 · index 55%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons23 · index 47%None
Non-ducted, 2 tons7 · index 53%None
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons10 · index 56%1 · index —
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons1 · index 45%None

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 typeNortek Global HVACCold-climate score, best modelTHERMAL ZONECold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons55.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHU09SZA21Swith ducted air handler WHU09DHA21S5 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 20723754067.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)TZPLV182PAwith ducted air handler H,RG21924+TD1 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 214311494
Ducted, 2 tons68.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)WHM24SZA21Swith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)24D44+TDR4 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 21464059066.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)TZPLV242PAwith ducted air handler TZHVLE2417JA2 of 9 models qualify · AHRI 211126503
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHU36SZA21Swith ducted air handler WHU36DHA21S7 of 21 models qualify · AHRI 20723754478.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)TZPLV362PAwith ducted air handler MAC-36HWDN1-MN02 of 27 models qualify · AHRI 213885869
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons73.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHM60SZA21Swith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)60B44+TDR4 of 13 models qualify · AHRI 21464059673.8(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)TZPLV482PAwith ducted air handler TZHVLE4821JA2 of 31 models qualify · AHRI 211126512
Ducted, 5 tons and upNo models in this size classNone on this board (0 of 12 models qualify)
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons78.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHU09SZA21Swith ductless indoor unit WHU09CTA21S17 of 23 models qualify · AHRI 207237535No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons76.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)GXH24(7.0)FMK4DH-15 of 7 models qualify · AHRI 210276801No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons77.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHU36SZA21Swith ductless indoor unit WHU36CTA21S7 of 10 models qualify · AHRI 207237539None on this board (0 of 1 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons42.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHP42M5A21S1 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 208404161No models in this size class

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 typeNortek Global HVACAll-around score, best modelTHERMAL ZONEAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons57.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHU09SZA21Swith ducted air handler WHU09DHA21S5 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 20723754063.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)TZPLV182PAwith ducted air handler TZHVLE1817JA6 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211126509
Ducted, 2 tons71.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)WHP24M3A21S6 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 20840415665.8(50 is the typical model of its size class)TZPLV242PAwith ducted air handler TZHVLE2417JA6 of 9 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211126503
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons78.6(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)WHP36M4A21S7 of 20 models have all five ratings · AHRI 20840415858.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)TZPLAD1530AJNwith ducted air handler TZHDLVST3617*NAN10 of 27 models have all five ratings · AHRI 212508013
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons65.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)WHM48SZA21Swith ducted air handler DC61A44-245R4 of 13 models have all five ratings · AHRI 21388602862.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)TZPLAD1548AJNwith ducted air handler TZHDLVST4821*NAN10 of 30 models have all five ratings · AHRI 212508016
Ducted, 5 tons and upNo models in this size class67.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)TZP15AZ60AJ2Nwith ducted air handler TZHDLTST6024*NANAlso listed as TZPLAD1560AJN3 of 13 models have all five ratings · AHRI 211641701
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons85.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)WHZ09SZA21Swith ductless indoor unit WHZ09WMA21S19 of 24 models have all five ratings · AHRI 207337194No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2 tons71.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)GXH24(7.0)FMK4DH-16 of 7 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210276801No models in this size class
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons70.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)GXH42(12.3)FMK4DH-18 of 10 models have all five ratings · AHRI 210276799None on this board (0 of 1 models have all five ratings)

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
RatingNortek Global HVACTHERMAL ZONE
COP at 5°Fbeats 96% · 2.28WHU36SZA21SNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tonsbeats 90% · 2.50TZPLAD1560AJNDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°Fbeats 99% · 113%WHP36M4A21SNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tonsbeats 97% · 102%TZPLV362PADucted, 2.5–3 tons
HSPF2beats 83% · 9.5WHU36SZA21SDucted, 2.5–3 tonsbeats 93% · 10.0TZPLV362PADucted, 2.5–3 tons
SEER2beats 96% · 27.5WHZ09SZA21SNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsbeats 70% · 16.0TZP15AZ60AJ2NAlso listed as TZPLAD1560AJNDucted, 5 tons and up
EER2beats 93% · 15.5WHZ09SZA21SNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsbeats 78% · 11.7TZP15AZ60AJ2NAlso listed as TZPLAD1560AJNDucted, 5 tons and up
Heating capacity at 5°Fbeats 92% · 18,000 Btu/hWHP18M2A21SNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsbeats 95% · 48,500 Btu/hTZPLV602PADucted, 3.5–4.5 tons

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