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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, 2.5–3 tons (27,000–38,999 Btu/h cooling), the most-listed ducted size. Pick yours above. What size is my system?

Top 10 by heating power kept at 5°f only: ducted, 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. 137MURAQ36AA3with ducted air handler C36A***L12*+TXV+AEFE3ACarrier (sold as Bryant)2.5 tons · 28,600 Btu/h · DuctedBelow the middle151%
  2. 25A6H7036A1with ducted air handler CM36A3J+TDRTrane (sold as American Standard)2.5 tons · 29,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%136%
  3. 35TWR7036A1with ducted air handler CM36B4J+TDRTrane2.5 tons · 31,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%135%
  4. 4RP15AY36AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AE*S+CM36A3J+TDRRheem (sold as RUUD)2.5 tons · 32,400 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%132%
  5. 5RP15AY42AJ2Nwith ducted air handler AE*L+CM48B3J+TDRRheem (sold as RUUD)3 tons · 37,200 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%132%
  6. 6RP17AY36AJVCwith indoor coil (V,R)36H***P44*+TXV and furnace R801V0503A14UHNRheem3 tons · 34,200 Btu/h · DuctedGreat128%
  7. 7RD18AY36AJVCwith ducted air handler C(A,C,D,E)36B3J+TDRRheem2.5 tons · 28,600 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%123%
  8. 8HH836E2S11with ducted air handler D(A,C,E)36A4K+JME16C2SN1+TDRYork (sold as Coleman)2.5 tons · 32,000 Btu/h · DuctedGood119%
  9. 9KUSXA301Awith ducted air handler B03-XJ-**-C1BC/CS036S497+TXV+RDS+TDRLG2.5 tons · 27,000 Btu/h · DuctedBelow the middle117%
  10. 10D5CMHAH30EAKMideaAlso sold as MDV M5OX631-30HFN10-M1XD, Bryant 37MGHAQ30EA3, Arcoaire D5CMHAH30EAK; also listed as 37MGHAQ30EA32.5 tons · 30,000 Btu/h · DuctedTop 10%116%

Every ducted, 2.5–3 tons model, highest first

Top cold-climate picks, ducted 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: ducted, 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
    70%+
    Great
    90%+
    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
    2.10+
    Top 10%
    2.36+

  • HSPF2

    Winter-long heating efficiency

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

    Good
    8.3+
    Great
    9.2+
    Top 10%
    10.2+

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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