Top cold-climate picks: 3.5–4.5 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, 3.5–4.5 tons
569 of 2,074 models in this size class qualify. 904 keep less than 70% of their heat at 5°F and 590 have no 5°F heat output rating, so they cannot show it. 290 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1MLB048S4S-1PLENNOX · M serieswith ducted air handler MMDB048S4-2P | Lennox | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 96% | 2.02 | 10.3 | 46,000 | 14.3 | 8.2 | ES CC | 3 | 205782161 | 88.9 | 97% | 71% | 99% |
| 2MLB048S4S-2PLENNOX · M serieswith ducted air handler MMDB048S4-*P | Lennox | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 96% | 2.02 | 10.2 | 46,000 | 14.3 | 8.1 | None | 10 | 211034449 | 88.6 | 97% | 71% | 99% |
| 3BOVA-60HDN1-M20GBOSCHwith ducted air handler L(E,G)M48G4 | Bosch | 4 tons47,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 83% | 2.61 | 9.5 | 40,000 | 18.5 | 12.0 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 143 | 212675690 | 88.1 | 80% | 92% | 92% |
| 4MCY-MAP0487HS-UL*TOSHIBA CARRIER · MCY-MAP0487HS-UL* | Carrier | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 81% | 2.50 | 10.0 | 39,000 | 17.9 | 11.7 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 3 | 213350254 | 87.7 | 75% | 90% | 98% |
| 5BOVB-60HDN1-M20GBOSCHwith ducted air handler L(E,G)M48G4 | Bosch | 4 tons47,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 83% | 2.48 | 9.5 | 40,000 | 18.5 | 12.0 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 204 | 212675688 | 87.3 | 80% | 89% | 92% |
| 6ROSH42VGSNRHEEMwith ducted air handler RIDH42AXCJAlso sold as RUUD RO1HGZ42AJ8S | Rheem | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 84% | 2.28 | 9.8 | 35,200 | 17.3 | 10.7 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 4 | 207590035 | 87.0 | 80% | 83% | 98% |
| 7AC060BXUPCHSAMSUNGwith ducted air handler L(E,G)M60E4 | Samsung | 4.5 tons56,500 Btu/h · Ducted | 102% | 2.34 | 9.0 | 54,000 | 17.5 | 8.5 | CEE AdvDOEES CC | 4 | 213350966 | 86.4 | 100% | 86% | 74% |
| 8LMU480HHVLG · LMU480HHV | LG | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 90% | 2.02 | 10.0 | 47,000 | 18.5 | 12.6 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 206717009 | 86.4 | 91% | 71% | 98% |
| 9MOE30U-48HFN1-M-[X]MDV · MTI serieswith ducted air handler MTI-48HWFN1-MAlso sold as CTMorley MOU-A48LH-2; also listed as MOE30U-48HFN1-M-[X](GA) | Midea | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 88% | 2.02 | 10.3 | 46,000 | 14.3 | 8.2 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 7 | 204829821 | 86.4 | 89% | 71% | 99% |
| 10CH-HYP48LCUOC&H · CH serieswith ducted air handler CH-48LCDTU/IAlso listed as CH-NHPR48LCU-230VO | Cooper&Hunter | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Ducted | 88% | 2.02 | 10.3 | 46,000 | 14.3 | 8.2 | None | 10 | 205263864 | 86.4 | 89% | 71% | 99% |
Top cold-climate picks: Non-ducted, 3.5–4.5 tons
264 of 479 models in this size class qualify. 164 keep less than 70% of their heat at 5°F and 41 have no 5°F heat output rating, so they cannot show it. 136 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1LMU421HHVLG | LG | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.29 | 11.0 | 48,000 | 21.5 | 13.8 | CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOEES CC | 3 | 206717001 | 97.4 | 98% | 98% | 96% |
| 2LMU480HHVLG | LG | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.34 | 10.5 | 52,500 | 20.5 | 13.1 | CEE 25CEE 26CEE AdvXcelDOEES CC | 3 | 206717002 | 95.8 | 98% | 99% | 90% |
| 3PUMY-HP48NKMU1MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC · S-SeriesAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH48A182A; also listed as MXZ-SM48NAMHZ | Mitsubishi Electric | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.00 | 11.5 | 54,000 | 23.0 | 13.1 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 3 | 204834275 | 90.4 | 98% | 74% | 99% |
| 4M5OG-42HFN1-M-[X]MDV · M5O serieswith ductless indoor unit MSEPB-09HRFN1-MY5W(GA) | Midea | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 100% | 2.00 | 10.5 | 48,000 | 22.3 | 11.7 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 2 | 207617657 | 87.5 | 98% | 74% | 90% |
| 5MXZ-SM42NAMHZ2MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC · Smart MultiAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH42A152B; also listed as PUMY-HP42NKMU2 | Mitsubishi Electric | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 92% | 2.00 | 11.1 | 44,000 | 21.5 | 13.4 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 211016452 | 83.9 | 81% | 74% | 97% |
| 6LUU420HHVLG · LUU420HHVwith ductless indoor unit LCN429HV | LG | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 83% | 2.20 | 10.8 | 40,000 | 19.5 | 12.8 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 205788765 | 83.8 | 61% | 95% | 96% |
| 7MXZ-SM42NAMHZ***Mitsubishi Electric · Smart MultiAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH42A152A, Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH42A152B; also listed as MXZ-SM42NAMHZ2 | Mitsubishi Electric | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 92% | 2.00 | 11.1 | 44,000 | 21.5 | 13.4 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 3 | 213248833 | 83.6 | 80% | 74% | 97% |
| 8RZQ42TBVJU*DAIKINwith ductless indoor unit FCQ42AAVJU | Daikin | 3.5 tons42,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 86% | 2.11 | 10.2 | 40,500 | 18.9 | 10.3 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 5 | 211635166 | 83.0 | 71% | 92% | 86% |
| 9MXZ-SM48NAMHZ2MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC · Smart MultiAlso sold as Trane / Mitsubishi Electric NTXMSH48A182B; also listed as PUMY-HP48NKMU2 | Mitsubishi Electric | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 87% | 2.00 | 11.5 | 47,000 | 23.0 | 13.1 | CEE 25CEE 26XcelES CC | 3 | 211016458 | 82.0 | 73% | 74% | 99% |
| 10MCY-MAP0487HS-UL*TOSHIBA CARRIER · MCY-MAP0487HS-UL* | Carrier | 4 tons48,000 Btu/h · Non-ducted | 79% | 2.60 | 10.3 | 38,000 | 22.6 | 13.2 | CEE 25CEE 26Xcel | 3 | 213350250 | 82.0 | 59% | 100% | 88% |
Download CSV of these cold-climate boardsEvery board above in one file, ranked by cold-climate score within each peer group.