Top cold-climate picks: 2.5–3 tons, by duct type
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. COP at 5°F alone is not used: it is measured at whatever heat output the unit delivers at 5°F, so a unit with little output there can still post a high COP. The single-rating boards remain, each labelled as ranked by that one rating. Only manufacturers with a QMID (IRS Qualified Manufacturer ID) on file are ranked.
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Top cold-climate picks: Ducted, 2.5–3 tons
797 of 2,060 models in this size class qualify. 834 keep less than 70% of their heat at 5°F and 420 have no 5°F heat output rating, so they cannot show it. 397 of the qualifiers are from manufacturers with a QMID on file (the ranked pool).
| # · Outdoor model | Manufacturer | Size · type | Cap. 5/47 | COP@5°F | HSPF2 | Btu/h @5°F | SEER2 | EER2 | Meets | Combos | AHRI ref. | Score | Beats on Cap. 5/47 | Beats on COP@5°F | Beats on HSPF2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ARUN038GSS4LG | LG | 3 tons38,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 96% | 3.19 | 10.6 | 40,320 | 20.1 | 14.0 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 8717932 | 97.0 | 94% | 100% | 98% |
| 238MURAQ36AB3*BRYANT HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMSwith indoor coil H,PG48936 and furnace 927TA60080V21 | Carrier | 3 tons38,500 Btu/h · Ducted | 115% | 2.34 | 11.5 | 41,500 | 18.0 | 11.5 | CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOE | 4,874 | 216761988 | 96.4 | 99% | 90% | 100% |
| 338MURAQ30AB3*BRYANT HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMSwith indoor coil H,PG9J936 and furnace 927TA60080V21 | Carrier | 3 tons33,600 Btu/h · Ducted | 125% | 2.24 | 10.5 | 37,600 | 17.0 | 10.5 | CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOE | 3,793 | 216779046 | 95.1 | 100% | 88% | 98% |
| 4BOVD-36HDN1-M20GBOSCHwith indoor coil D(A,C,E)36C44+TDR and furnace BGH96M100C5B | Bosch | 2.5 tons31,200 Btu/h · Ducted | 125% | 2.98 | 9.0 | 32,000 | 18.5 | 11.9 | CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOE | 113 | 215375438 | 89.0 | 100% | 99% | 69% |
| 5NTXSKS30A112**Trane / Mitsubishi Electric · NV-Serieswith ducted air handler PEAD-A30AAAlso listed as SUZ-KA30NA2 | Mitsubishi Electric | 2.5 tons27,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 75% | 3.24 | 11.4 | 22,400 | 18.9 | 11.7 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 4 | 207702771 | 88.1 | 65% | 100% | 100% |
| 6MCY-MAP0367HS-ULTOSHIBA CARRIER · MCY-MAP0367HS-UL | Carrier | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 76% | 3.05 | 10.9 | 27,400 | 20.1 | 12.1 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 2 | 10049878 | 87.6 | 66% | 99% | 98% |
| 7MCY-MAP0367HS-UL*TOSHIBA CARRIER · MCY-MAP0367HS-UL* | Carrier | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 78% | 2.70 | 10.9 | 28,200 | 20.1 | 12.1 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 213350253 | 86.7 | 67% | 95% | 98% |
| 8AOUH30LUAS1FUJITSU · H-Serieswith ducted air handler ARUH30LUAS | Fujitsu | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 93% | 2.04 | 10.0 | 28,000 | 18.5 | 10.4 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 4 | 211078837 | 86.6 | 92% | 75% | 93% |
| 9RO1HHZ30AJ8SRHEEM · Classic Pluswith ducted air handler RIMHHZ30AJ8S | Rheem | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 93% | 2.04 | 10.0 | 28,000 | 18.5 | 10.4 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 6 | 211781741 | 86.6 | 92% | 75% | 93% |
| 10PUZ-HA36NKA1***Mitsubishi Electric · P-Serieswith ducted air handler PVA-A36AAAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric PUZ-HA36NKA, Trane / Mitsubishi Electric TRUZH0361KA00, Trane / Mitsubishi Electric TRUZH0361KA00NA, Trane / Mitsubishi Electric TRUZH0361KA10 | Mitsubishi Electric | 3 tons33,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 95% | 2.00 | 10.0 | 38,000 | 18.2 | 13.2 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 10 | 213617710 | 84.8 | 93% | 68% | 93% |
Top cold-climate picks: Non-ducted, 2.5–3 tons
491 of 1,177 models in this size class qualify. 479 keep less than 70% of their heat at 5°F and 202 have no 5°F heat output rating, so they cannot show it. 232 of the qualifiers are from manufacturers with a QMID on file (the ranked pool).
| # · Outdoor model | Manufacturer | Size · type | Cap. 5/47 | COP@5°F | HSPF2 | Btu/h @5°F | SEER2 | EER2 | Meets | Combos | AHRI ref. | Score | Beats on Cap. 5/47 | Beats on COP@5°F | Beats on HSPF2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1ARUN038GSS4LG | LG | 3 tons38,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 96% | 3.19 | 10.6 | 40,320 | 20.1 | 14.0 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 8717931 | 92.2 | 82% | 100% | 95% |
| 2M4OX630-36HFN1-M1X*MDV · MSEP seris | Midea | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 103% | 2.00 | 10.9 | 37,000 | 22.4 | 12.5 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 213301877 | 90.9 | 97% | 79% | 97% |
| 3SENA-36HF-MOBSENVILLE · SENA Series | Senville | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 103% | 2.00 | 10.9 | 37,000 | 22.4 | 12.5 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 213732656 | 90.9 | 97% | 79% | 97% |
| 4A-VMH36QV-1ACOMFORT-AIRE · A-series | Lennox | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 103% | 2.00 | 10.9 | 37,000 | 22.4 | 12.5 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 6 | 214377756 | 90.9 | 97% | 79% | 97% |
| 5AOU30RLXEHFUJITSU · H-Serieswith ductless indoor unit ASU30RLE | Fujitsu | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 107% | 2.06 | 10.0 | 32,030 | 18.7 | 12.5 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 1 | 8912454 | 90.6 | 98% | 92% | 82% |
| 6PUMY-HP36NKMU1MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC · S-SeriesAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH36A142A; also listed as MXZ-SM36NAMHZ | Mitsubishi Electric | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.00 | 12.0 | 42,000 | 23.0 | 15.0 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 3 | 204834272 | 89.8 | 91% | 79% | 100% |
| 7AOUH30LUAS1FUJITSU · H-Serieswith ductless indoor unit AUUH30LUAS | Fujitsu | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 93% | 2.12 | 10.6 | 28,000 | 21.5 | 11.7 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 4 | 211078832 | 89.6 | 81% | 93% | 95% |
| 8RO1HHZ30AJ8SRHEEM · Classic Pluswith ductless indoor unit RIGHHZ30AJ8S | Rheem | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 93% | 2.12 | 10.6 | 28,000 | 21.5 | 11.7 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 6 | 211781745 | 89.6 | 81% | 93% | 95% |
| 9RO1HFZ30AJ2HRUUD · Classic Pluswith ductless indoor unit UIWHFZ30AJ2S | Rheem | 2.5 tons30,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.06 | 10.0 | 32,030 | 18.7 | 12.5 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 2 | 210368093 | 88.8 | 92% | 92% | 82% |
| 10LUU360HHVLG · LUU360HHVwith ductless indoor unit LCN369HV | LG | 3 tons36,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 93% | 2.10 | 10.6 | 37,000 | 21.5 | 12.6 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 205788768 | 88.7 | 81% | 93% | 93% |
Download CSV of these cold-climate boardsEvery board above in one file, ranked by cold-climate score within each peer group.