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Ranked by heating power kept at 5°f only

How much of its mild-weather heating power the unit still delivers at 5°F. At 100% the unit puts out as much heat at 5°F as at 47°F in the test. Lower means less heating output in deep cold. This list ranks by that one rating. For the units that hold up best in the cold overall, see the cold-climate picks.

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

Showing Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons (39,000–56,999 Btu/h cooling). What size is my system?

Top 10 by heating power kept at 5°f only: ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons

Ranked by this one rating, not an overall verdict. Every model here is the same size and type, so the numbers compare directly. Higher is better. One certified pairing per model.
  1. 1RD18AY60AJVCwith indoor coil (H,R)G52*60+TXV and furnace R962V1155A24M4Rheem4 tons · 50,500 Btu/h · DuctedGreat157%
  2. 237MUHAQ60AA3with ducted air handler FE*TT4*60+TXVCarrier (sold as Bryant)4 tons · 47,000 Btu/h · DuctedGood142%
  3. 3RD18AY48AJVCwith indoor coil (H,R)G84*60+TXV and furnace R962V1155A24M4Rheem3.5 tons · 43,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%137%
  4. 4WFPU17Y483Dwith ducted air handler (V,R)48H175P38*+TXV+TDFriedrich4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedBelow the middle136%
  5. 5RP15AY48AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AE*L+CM48B3J+TDRRheem (sold as RUUD)3.5 tons · 42,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%131%
  6. 6BOVA-60MTB-M19Ewith ducted air handler AE*L+DM59A4Z+TXV+TDRBosch3.5 tons · 43,500 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%127%
  7. 7RP15AY60AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AFM59J+TDRRheem4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%124%
  8. 8YH960E2C11with indoor coil AD-62H******+TXV-BLEED and furnace TM8V080C16MP12York4 tons · 47,000 Btu/h · DuctedGreat124%
  9. 9XH960E2C11with ducted air handler FE*TT4*60+TXVYork (sold as Champion Heating and Cooling)4 tons · 48,000 Btu/h · DuctedGreat122%
  10. 105TWV8X48A1with indoor coil D(A,C,E)48C3J+TDR and furnace S8V2C080M5PCBTrane4 tons · 45,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%115%

Every ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 3.5–4.5 tons

These are certified test ratings, not a recommendation for your home. The right size comes from a load calculation by a contractor.

Want this size class’s full distribution and peer percentiles? Switch to Advanced

What good looks like: ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons

Good is better than half of this size class, great is the top quarter, top is the top 10%. The scale comes from the class’s own ratings.

  • Capacity at 5°F vs 47°F

    Heating power kept at 5°F

    How much of its mild-weather heating power the unit still delivers at 5°F.

    Good
    71%+
    Great
    84%+
    Top 10%
    98%+

  • COP at 5°F

    Efficiency on a 5°F day

    How much heat the unit makes from each unit of electricity when it is 5°F outside.

    Good
    2.00+
    Great
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.36+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

    Heating efficiency over a whole winter, measured with a federal test.

    Good
    8.1+
    Great
    9.0+
    Top 10%
    10.4+

Next steps

The advanced view adds the all-sizes boards, each qualifier’s peer percentiles, charts of every model in each size class, and the EER2 and heat output boards.

Open the advanced view