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.

VKIN and Waykar 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, VKIN scores higher on 6 of the 6 ratings.

VKIN
Waykar
Other ranked manufacturers

Source: AHRI Directory, NEEP · as of Oct 11, 2026

Average peer percentile, raw median and rank among ranked manufacturers
Rating	VKIN	Waykar
Efficiency index	60% (higher)median —	34% (higher)median —
COP at 5°F	57% (higher)median 2.00	25% (higher)median 1.80
Capacity retention at 5°F	55% (higher)median 75%	36% (higher)median 73%
HSPF2	60% (higher)median 9.8	51% (higher)median 9.5
SEER2	72% (higher)median 22.0	34% (higher)median 20.0
EER2	54% (higher)median 12.0	26% (higher)median 10.5
Heating capacity at 5°F	54% (higher)median 18,700 Btu/h	36% (higher)median 9,000 Btu/h
Outdoor models	26	26
AHRI certifications	34	26

Share of models meeting each standard

Percent of each manufacturer’s models with a qualifying certification
Standard	VKIN	Waykar
CEE 2025 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	96.2%25 models	69.2%18 models
CEE 2026 Tier 1 (Split ASHP)	96.2%25 models	69.2%18 models
CEE Advanced Tier (Split ASHP)	3.8%1 models	0%0 models
Xcel Energy Colorado cold-climate ASHP (2025)	92.3%24 models	61.5%16 models
DOE Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge	3.8%1 models	0%0 models
ENERGY STAR Cold Climate	88.5%23 models	0%0 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 · 3 groups where both have models

VKIN
Waykar
All models of the group

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

Source: AHRI Directory · as of Oct 11, 2026

Models per peer group · efficiency index within the group
Size and duct type	VKIN	Waykar
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	1 · index 69%	None
Ducted, 2 tons	2 · index 76%	None
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	4 · index 65%	None
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	5 · index 63%	None
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	11 · index 61%	20 · index 35%
Non-ducted, 2 tons	3 · index 46%	4 · index 33%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	2 · index 58%	2 · index 20%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	2 · index 41%	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 type	VKINCold-climate score, best model	WaykarCold-climate score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	57.7(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models qualify · AHRI 218258554	No models in this size class
Ducted, 2 tons	80.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-24HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-24HDCN42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218385960	No models in this size class
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	70.3(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-36HDCTwith ducted air handler UCHA-36HDC4 of 4 models qualify · AHRI 218385958	No models in this size class
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	76.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)UCHA-48HDCSN4with ducted air handler UCHA-48HDCN45 of 5 models qualify · AHRI 218385962	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	82.4(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)10 of 11 models qualify · AHRI 216498652	50.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)TSHWE230-09K-Owith ductless indoor unit TSHWE230-09K-IAlso listed as TSHWA230-09K-O16 of 20 models qualify · AHRI 217655790
Non-ducted, 2 tons	48.1(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	None on this board (0 of 4 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	57.5(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258550	None on this board (0 of 2 models qualify)
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	31.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models qualify · AHRI 218258552	No 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 type	VKINAll-around score, best model	WaykarAll-around score, best model
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons	69.0(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-18FM2N41 of 1 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258554	No models in this size class
Ducted, 2 tons	79.3(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	No models in this size class
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	69.9(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-27FM3N44 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258555	No models in this size class
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	68.3(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	No models in this size class
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	83.9(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHA-09WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-09WDCN4(I)11 of 11 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498652	46.6(50 is the typical model of its size class)TSHWE230-09K-32-Owith ductless indoor unit TSHWE230-09K-32-IAlso listed as TSHWA230-09K-32-O20 of 20 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218338203
Non-ducted, 2 tons	58.3(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHA-24WDCN4(O)with ductless indoor unit URHA-24WDCN4(I)3 of 3 models have all five ratings · AHRI 216498655	39.1(50 is the typical model of its size class)TSHWE230-24K-Owith ductless indoor unit TSHWE230-24K-IAlso listed as TSHWA230-24K-O4 of 4 models have all five ratings · AHRI 217655805
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons	65.1(50 is the typical model of its size class) (higher)URHT-27FM3N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258550	20.2(50 is the typical model of its size class)TSHWE230-36K-32-Owith ductless indoor unit TSHWE230-36K-32-IAlso listed as TSHWA230-36K-32-O2 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218338195
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons	42.4(50 is the typical model of its size class)URHT-42FM5N42 of 2 models have all five ratings · AHRI 218258552	No models in this size class

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
Rating	VKIN	Waykar
COP at 5°F	beats 98% · 2.49URHA-18WDCNX-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 71% · 2.10TSHWE230-24K-OAlso listed as TSHWA230-24K-ONon-ducted, 2 tons
Capacity retention at 5°F	beats 92% · 100%UCHA-24HDCSN4Ducted, 2 tons	beats 61% · 80%TSHWE115-09K-32-OAlso listed as TSHWA115-09K-32-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
HSPF2	beats 85% · 11.0URHA-09WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 64% · 10.0TSHWE230-09K-OAlso listed as TSHWA230-09K-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
SEER2	beats 99% · 22.0URHT-27FM3N4Ducted, 2.5–3 tons	beats 47% · 21.0TSHWE230-24K-OAlso listed as TSHWA230-24K-ONon-ducted, 2 tons
EER2	beats 98% · 14.0UCHA-24HDCTDucted, 2 tons	beats 56% · 12.5TSHWE230-09K-32-OAlso listed as TSHWA230-09K-32-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons
Heating capacity at 5°F	beats 93% · 18,000 Btu/hURHA-18WDCN4(O)Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons	beats 72% · 12,500 Btu/hTSHWE230-18K-OAlso listed as TSHWA230-18K-ONon-ducted, up to 1.5 tons

More comparisons

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VKIN vs Waykar heat pumps