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UTL vs VKIN heat pumps

Measured against models of the same size and duct type, UTL scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings. UTL has 26 outdoor models, VKIN has 26 outdoor models. UTL and VKIN have no QMID on file and are 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.
UTL and VKIN 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, UTL scores higher on 4 of the 6 ratings.
  • UTL
  • VKIN
  • Other ranked manufacturers
UTLVKIN

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
RatingUTLVKIN
Efficiency index63% (higher)median —60% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F80% (higher)median 2.2057% (higher)median 2.00
Capacity retention at 5°F59% (higher)median 74%55% (higher)median 75%
HSPF275% (higher)median 9.460% (higher)median 9.8
SEER269%median 18.072%median 22.0
EER242%median 11.054%median 12.0
Heating capacity at 5°F61% (higher)median 25,800 Btu/h54% (higher)median 18,700 Btu/h
Outdoor models2626
AHRI certifications3434

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
StandardUTLVKIN
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)88.5%23 models96.2%25 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)88.5%23 models96.2%25 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)11.5%3 models3.8%1 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)84.6%22 models92.3%24 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge11.5%3 models3.8%1 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate100%26 models88.5%23 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 · 4 groups where both have models
  • UTL
  • VKIN
  • All models of the group
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons1.901,783 modelsDucted, 2 tons2.001,090 modelsDucted, 2.5–3 tons2.001,909 modelsDucted, 3.5–4.5 tons2.002,224 modelsNon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons1.953,455 modelsNon-ducted, 2 tons2.00863 modelsNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons2.001,106 modelsNon-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons2.00564 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 typeUTLVKIN
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons1 · index 51%1 · index 69%
Ducted, 2 tons6 · index 73%2 · index 76%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons8 · index 61%4 · index 65%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons11 · index 60%5 · index 63%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsNone11 · index 61%
Non-ducted, 2 tonsNone3 · index 46%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tonsNone2 · index 58%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tonsNone2 · index 41%

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 typeUTLCold-climate score, best modelVKINCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons51.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-18HFDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-18HFDCAN41 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 21872113757.7(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 218258554
Ducted, 2 tons89.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)UCHA-24HDCTRN2with ducted air handler UCHA-24HDCALN26 of 6 models qualify · AHRI 21847279780.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-24HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-24HDCN42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218385960
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons78.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)UCHA-36HDCTRN2with ducted air handler UCHA-36HDCALN28 of 8 models qualify · AHRI 21847279870.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-36HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-36HDC4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 218385958
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons79.5(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)UCHA-48HDCTRN2with ducted air handler UCHA-48HDCALN211 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 21847280076.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-48HDCN45 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 218385962
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsNo models in this size class82.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)10 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 216498652
Non-ducted, 2 tonsNo models in this size class48.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-24WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-24WDCN4(I)3 of 3 models qualify · AHRI 216498655
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tonsNo models in this size class57.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258550
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tonsNo models in this size class31.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258552

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 typeUTLAll-around score, best modelVKINAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons50.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-18HFDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-18HFDCAN41 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 21872113769.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258554
Ducted, 2 tons85.0(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)UCHA-24HDCTRN2with ducted air handler UCHA-24HDCALN26 of 6 models have all five ratings · AHRI 21847279779.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-24HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-24HDC2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218385956
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-36HDCT(O)with ducted air handler UCHA-36HDCT(I)Also listed as UCHA-36HDCT, UCHA-36HDCTN28 of 8 models have all five ratings · AHRI 21477154969.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHT-27FM3N44 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258555
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons68.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-48HDCAlso listed as UCHA-48HDCTN211 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 21701484968.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-48HDC5 of 5 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218385957
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tonsNo models in this size class83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)11 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498652
Non-ducted, 2 tonsNo models in this size class58.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHA-24WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-24WDCN4(I)3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498655
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tonsNo models in this size class65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258550
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tonsNo models in this size class42.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258552

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
RatingUTLVKIN
COP at 5°Fbeats 89% · 2.30UCHA-36HDCTRN2Ducted, 2.5–3 tonsbeats 98% · 2.49URHA-18WDCNX-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Capacity retention at 5°Fbeats 92% · 100%UCHA-24HDCSN4Also listed as UCHA-24HDCSN2Ducted, 2 tonsbeats 92% · 100%UCHA-24HDCSN4Ducted, 2 tons
HSPF2beats 90% · 10.5UCHA-48HDCTRN2Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tonsbeats 85% · 11.0URHA-09WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2beats 87% · 20.0UCHA-24HDCTAlso listed as UCHA-24HDCTN2Ducted, 2 tonsbeats 99% · 22.0URHT-27FM3N4Ducted, 2.5–3 tons
EER2beats 98% · 14.0UCHA-24HDCTAlso listed as UCHA-24HDCTN2Ducted, 2 tonsbeats 98% · 14.0UCHA-24HDCTDucted, 2 tons
Heating capacity at 5°Fbeats 89% · 24,000 Btu/hUCHA-24HDCSN4Also listed as UCHA-24HDCSN2Ducted, 2 tonsbeats 93% · 18,000 Btu/hURHA-18WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

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