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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

Top 10 by heating power kept at 5°f only: ductless, 2.5–3 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. 1D5CMHAH30EAKMideaAlso sold as MDV M5OX631-30HFN10-M1XD, Bryant 37MGHAQ30EA3, Arcoaire D5CMHAH30EAK; also listed as 37MGHAQ30EA32.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%116%
  2. 2RZA30AAVJU*with ductless indoor unit FCA30A*VJUDaikin2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%109%
  3. 3AC030DXSCCGwith ductless indoor unit AC030DNTDCGSamsung2.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctlessGreat107%
  4. 4AOUH36KUAH1with ductless indoor unit ABUH36KUASFujitsu3 tons · 36,000 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%105%
  5. 5MOU-B36LH-2with ductless indoor unit MIU-B36LF-2Midea (sold as CTMorley)3 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%
  6. 637MBHAQ36AA3with ductless indoor unit 45MCFAQ36XA3CarrierAlso sold as Midea 37MBHAQ36AA3, Midea D5CLHAH36AAK, MDV MOX630-36HFN10-M2X, Arcoaire D5CLHAH36AAK3 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%
  7. 7BZ33-HYP36OUT2-454-G3-Pwith ductless indoor unit BZ33-IFCM36-454-G3-PBreeze333 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%
  8. 8MO1HU-H36B-2Awith ductless indoor unit MFBHS-H36B-2AMidea3 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%
  9. 9BMS36HHUYCwith ductless indoor unit BMS36FCCBlueRidgeAlso listed as BXL2A36UC03 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%
  10. 10CH-RHP36LCU-230VOwith ductless indoor unit CH-RSH36LCFCCooper&Hunter3 tons · 36,400 Btu/h · DuctlessTop 10%104%

Every ductless, 2.5–3 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ductless 2.5–3 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: ductless, 2.5–3 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
    74%+
    Great
    99%+
    Top 10%
    100%+
  • 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
    2.02+
    Top 10%
    2.10+
  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    10.0+
    Great
    10.5+
    Top 10%
    10.7+

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.

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