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Ranked by Capacity retention at 5°F only: 2.5–3 tons, by duct type

Heating capacity at 5°F as a percentage of rated heating capacity at 47°F. This board ranks by that one rating; it is not the overall cold-climate verdict, which is the cold-climate board. Inside one size and duct type the raw ratings are comparable, so these boards rank by the rating itself, more than one model per manufacturer when they earn it. Only manufacturers with a QMID (IRS Qualified Manufacturer ID) on file are ranked.

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LeaderboardsData as of updated · sources

Ducted, 2.5–3 tons: ranked by Capacity retention at 5°F only

Ducted, 2.5–3 tons: ranked by Capacity retention at 5°F (%). Every model here is the same size and duct type, so the raw values are comparable. Ties go to the lower AHRI reference number; every number in a row is from that row’s certification.
# · Outdoor modelManufacturerSize · typeCap. 5/47COP@5°FHSPF2SEER2EER2Btu/h @5°FMeetsCombosAHRI ref.
137MURAQ36AA3BRYANTwith ducted air handler C36A***L12*+TXV+AEFE3ACarrier2.5 tons28,600 Btu/h · Ducted151%1.848.214.59.527,200CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC2,594217889519
25A6H7036A1AMERICAN STANDARDwith ducted air handler CM36A3J+TDRTrane2.5 tons29,600 Btu/h · Ducted136%2.767.514.811.042,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC1,188217155224
35TWR7036A1TRANEwith ducted air handler CM36B4J+TDRTrane2.5 tons31,200 Btu/h · Ducted135%2.977.815.211.242,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC1,024217754353
4RP15AY36AJ2NRUUDwith ducted air handler AE*S+CM36A3J+TDRRheem2.5 tons32,400 Btu/h · Ducted132%2.737.515.211.741,500Xcel592216438511
5RP15AY42AJ2NRUUDwith ducted air handler AE*L+CM48B3J+TDRRheem3 tons37,200 Btu/h · Ducted132%2.937.515.211.250,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC828216438548
6RP17AY36AJVCRHEEMwith indoor coil (V,R)36H***P44*+TXV and furnace R801V0503A14UHNRheem3 tons34,200 Btu/h · Ducted128%2.009.516.010.030,800CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC458218736077
7RD18AY36AJVCRHEEMwith ducted air handler C(A,C,D,E)36B3J+TDRRheem2.5 tons28,600 Btu/h · Ducted123%2.917.514.38.538,000CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOEES CC1,135218796924
8HH836E2S11COLEMANwith ducted air handler D(A,C,E)36A4K+JME16C2SN1+TDRYork2.5 tons32,000 Btu/h · Ducted119%2.849.019.011.732,800CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOEES CC8,200218026263
9KUSXA301ALGwith ducted air handler B03-XJ-**-C1BC/CS036S497+TXV+RDS+TDRLG2.5 tons27,000 Btu/h · Ducted117%1.869.818.213.531,600CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC62217581935
10D5CMHAH30EAKMIDEA · D5C SeriesAlso sold as MDV M5OX631-30HFN10-M1XD, Bryant 37MGHAQ30EA3, Arcoaire D5CMHAH30EAK; also listed as 37MGHAQ30EA3Midea2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Ducted116%1.9510.519.512.536,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC3215357410

Ducted, 2.5–3 tons board

Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons: ranked by Capacity retention at 5°F only

Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons: ranked by Capacity retention at 5°F (%). Every model here is the same size and duct type, so the raw values are comparable. Ties go to the lower AHRI reference number; every number in a row is from that row’s certification.
# · Outdoor modelManufacturerSize · typeCap. 5/47COP@5°FHSPF2SEER2EER2Btu/h @5°FMeetsCombosAHRI ref.
1D5CMHAH30EAKMIDEA · D5C SeriesAlso sold as MDV M5OX631-30HFN10-M1XD, Bryant 37MGHAQ30EA3, Arcoaire D5CMHAH30EAK; also listed as 37MGHAQ30EA3Midea2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted116%2.0010.724.013.236,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC3215357409
2RZA30AAVJU*DAIKINwith ductless indoor unit FCA30A*VJUDaikin2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted109%1.9210.121.013.237,000CEE 25CEE 26Xcel3217175210
3AC030DXSCCGSAMSUNG · High-Wall - Premium (CAC)with ductless indoor unit AC030DNTDCGSamsung2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted107%1.809.521.012.532,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC5216441729
4AOUH36KUAH1FUJITSU · AIRSTAGE H-serieswith ductless indoor unit ABUH36KUASFujitsu3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted105%1.9810.520.812.240,000CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC4217895707
5MOU-B36LH-2CTMorleywith ductless indoor unit MIU-B36LF-2Midea3 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.012.039,500CEE 25CEE 26Xcel3217022114
637MBHAQ36AA3CARRIER · 45M Serieswith ductless indoor unit 45MCFAQ36XA3Also sold as Midea 37MBHAQ36AA3, Midea D5CLHAH36AAK, MDV MOX630-36HFN10-M2X, Arcoaire D5CLHAH36AAKCarrier3 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.212.039,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC16215323843
7BZ33-HYP36OUT2-454-G3-PBreeze33 · BZ33 Serieswith ductless indoor unit BZ33-IFCM36-454-G3-PBreeze333 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.012.039,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC4215449784
8MO1HU-H36B-2AMIDEA · MFB Serieswith ductless indoor unit MFBHS-H36B-2AMidea3 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.012.039,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC4215471442
9BMS36HHUYCBLUERIDGE · BMS Serieswith ductless indoor unit BMS36FCCAlso listed as BXL2A36UC0BlueRidge3 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.012.039,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC3215853964
10CH-RHP36LCU-230VOCooper&Hunter · CH Serieswith ductless indoor unit CH-RSH36LCFCCooper&Hunter3 tons36,400 Btu/h · Non-ducted104%2.0210.820.012.039,500CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC5215864245

Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons board

Download CSV of these Capacity retention at 5°F boardsEvery board above in one file, ranked by value within each peer group.

Typical capacity retention at 5°F by size and duct type

The median model of each peer group. The spread between groups is why models are only compared within their own.
Capacity retention at 5°F by size and duct typeEvery model, one row per peer group; the highlighted row is the one on this board · Low-GWP (R-454B, R-32)
  • All models of the group (shape)
  • Median and middle 50% / 80%
  • Leaderboard models
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons70%1,911 modelsNon-ducted, 2.5–3 tons74%1,085 modelsmedian

Source: AHRI Directory · as of

Median Capacity retention at 5°F of the representative certification, per peer group
Peer groupModelsMedian Cap. 5/47
Ducted, up to 1.5 tons1,82774%
Ducted, 2 tons1,15275%
Ducted, 2.5–3 tons2,19870%
Ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons2,60771%
Ducted, 5 tons and up45853%
Non-ducted, up to 1.5 tons3,56876%
Non-ducted, 2 tons90374%
Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons1,14074%
Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons57081%
Non-ducted, 5 tons and up8565%