1HVAC Heat Pumps

Compare 18 1HVAC heat pumps by efficiency and total cost of ownership. Operation costs are calculated based on your location and home — enter your details above for personalized estimates.

Name

Brand

Refrigerant

Performance

Operation

12,000 BTU ACiQ Extreme 25.5 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 230V
$1,650 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.17	2,000	1.17	2,000	1.25	5,900
5F	1.8	11,500	1.72	4,100	1.8	11,500
17F	2.71	9,800	2.22	5,300	1.75	12,800
47F	3.74	12,000	4.84	3,800	3.35	16,000
95F	3.91	12,000	8.57	3,800	3.35	13,500

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$1,650
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

12,000 BTU 25 SEER2 ACiQ Single Zone Floor Mount Mini Split System | Extreme Series - R454B | 230V
$2,050 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.1	3,000	1.1	3,000	1.04	4,800
5F	1.88	11,300	1.99	2,100	1.88	11,300
17F	2.71	9,800	2.66	2,900	2.14	12,400
47F	3.86	12,000	4.96	4,400	3.5	16,100
95F	3.66	12,000	5.71	3,700	3.57	14,000

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,050
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

9,000 BTU ACiQ Standard 24.6 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 230V
$980 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.76	4,200	1.76	4,200	1.53	5,000
5F	2.33	8,200	2.11	3,600	2.33	8,200
17F	2.8	8,600	2.47	3,800	2.47	10,200
47F	3.66	10,000	5.35	4,200	3.36	14,200
95F	4.32	9,000	4.33	3,100	3.9	10,900

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$980
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

9,000 BTU ACIQ Standard 24.5 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 115V
$960 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.24	1,100	1.24	1,100	1.3	3,500
5F	2.21	7,300	1.92	3,600	2.21	7,300
17F	2.77	8,800	1.71	1,400	2.77	8,800
47F	4.19	10,000	4.71	4,500	3.83	12,800
95F	4.4	9,000	4.23	2,600	3.53	13,000

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$960
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

18,000 BTU ACiQ Standard 24 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 230V
$1,300 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.32	2,300	1.32	2,300	1.7	8,200
5F	2.35	13,000	2.03	3,600	2.35	13,000
17F	2.59	13,000	2.5	4,700	2.43	15,000
47F	3.82	18,000	5.43	7,600	3.68	22,000
95F	3.97	18,000	3.01	3,600	3.45	20,000

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$1,300
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

12,000 BTU 23 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Floor Mount Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$1,774 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-4.0F	1.92	2,360	1.92	2,360	1.54	8,600
5F	1.89	12,000	2.62	1,700	1.84	12,400
17F	2.56	9,600	3.37	2,300	2.2	12,900
47F	3.23	12,000	4.22	3,600	3.14	15,000
95F	3.82	12,000	5.86	3,200	2.91	13,000

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$1,774
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

12,000 BTU 21.5 SEER2 ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Ceiling Cassette Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$2,330 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.28	700	1.28	700	1.17	5,800
5F	1.89	11,300	2.49	1,700	1.9	11,500
17F	2.55	9,900	3.21	2,300	2.29	14,000
47F	3.26	12,000	4.22	3,600	3.32	15,300
95F	3.74	12,000	5.54	3,400	2.97	13,700

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,330
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

9,000 BTU ACiQ Essentials 19 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 115V
from $650 (3 stores)

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
5F	-	-	1.0	1,400	1.92	6,601
17F	2.46	6,800	1.26	1,724	2.12	8,044
47F	2.93	10,000	3.29	4,036	2.73	11,186
95F	3.66	9,000	3.6	2,700	2.73	11,184

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$650
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

18,000 BTU 21.5 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split System - Extreme Heat - WiFi Enabled
$2,100 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
5F	1.8	18,000	1.44	2,651	1.82	18,571
17F	2.35	15,000	1.91	3,903	1.99	19,200
47F	3.1	18,000	3.8	8,417	3.01	23,211
95F	3.66	18,000	3.16	6,574	3.11	19,127

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,100
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

27,000 BTU Infinity Living DIYCOOL 23 SEER2 Dual Zone Mini Split Wall Mount Heat Pump System R454B | 230V - 12 + 18
from $3,616 (3 stores)

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	2.18	5,200	2.18	5,200	1.19	9,250
5F	2.05	18,700	2.43	5,400	2.05	18,700
17F	2.55	17,600	2.93	6,000	2.11	17,600
47F	3.55	26,400	4.92	8,400	3.67	30,300
95F	3.51	26,000	4.22	7,200	3.32	32,900

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$3,616
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

48,000 BTU Infinity Living DIYCOOL 21.8 SEER2 Dual Zone Mini Split Wall Mount Heat Pump System R454B | 230V - 12 + 18
from $4,742 (11 stores)

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.99	9,500	1.99	9,500	1.4	21,700
5F	2.0	37,000	2.09	10,000	2.0	37,000
17F	2.55	36,400	2.93	12,000	2.1	36,500
47F	3.49	47,500	4.76	13,000	3.22	57,500
95F	3.52	43,000	4.4	12,000	2.8	56,750

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$4,742
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

18,000 BTU 20.2 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Floor or Ceiling Mounted Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$2,347 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.26	900	1.26	900	1.08	8,300
5F	1.86	16,800	2.14	1,900	1.75	17,000
17F	2.3	12,000	3.14	3,000	1.9	17,000
47F	3.01	18,000	3.86	5,400	2.86	21,500
95F	3.66	17,000	5.43	5,000	3.01	19,900

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,347
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

24,000 BTU 20.20 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Floor or Ceiling Mounted Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$2,552 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.29	1,500	1.29	1,500	1.2	12,800
5F	2.1	25,000	2.62	3,400	2.1	25,000
17F	2.64	19,000	3.44	4,700	2.1	28,000
47F	3.56	25,000	4.68	7,500	3.58	30,500
95F	3.43	24,000	5.17	6,700	3.27	26,800

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,552
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

Infinity Living EZ Connect 9,000 BTU 20 SEER Ductless Mini Split AC and Heat Pump | 16ft DIYCOOL Install Kit - 115v
from $1,000 (2 stores)

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.06	1,700	1.06	1,700	1.26	3,300
5F	2.06	6,200	1.35	2,400	2.06	6,200
17F	2.56	7,000	1.73	3,300	2.22	7,200
47F	3.08	10,000	5.1	4,000	3.08	10,600
95F	3.3	9,000	3.3	4,500	3.01	11,200

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$1,000
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

18,000 BTU 20 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Ceiling Cassette Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$2,367 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-4.0F	1.9	4,150	1.9	4,150	1.6	13,700
5F	1.75	16,000	3.03	3,200	1.75	16,000
17F	2.24	15,600	3.37	3,800	1.78	20,000
47F	2.95	17,000	3.83	5,100	2.56	21,000
95F	3.66	16,000	5.59	4,200	2.77	17,000

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,367
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

12,000 BTU 21.5 SEER ACiQ Platinum Single Zone Concealed Duct Mini Split System w/ Extreme Heat
$2,245 at HVACDirect

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-22.0F	1.17	800	1.17	800	1.07	5,500
5F	1.96	12,100	2.13	1,600	1.96	12,100
17F	2.51	10,600	3.06	2,400	1.95	12,600
47F	3.56	12,500	3.75	3,200	3.18	16,300
95F	3.41	12,000	3.52	3,000	3.13	14,400

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$2,245
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

18,000 BTU ACiQ Essentials 21 SEER2 Single Zone Wall Mount Mini Split Heat Pump System - R454B | 230V
from $950 (2 stores)

1HVAC

R-410A

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
5F	-	-	1.8	3,200	2.18	12,050
17F	2.57	11,500	1.89	2,000	2.49	14,370
47F	2.93	18,800	3.51	3,230	3.21	20,570
95F	3.08	18,000	3.74	3,060	3.04	18,900

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$950
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

Infinity Living EZ Connect 24,000 BTU 18 SEER2 Ductless Mini Split AC and Heat Pump | 16ft DIYCOOL Install Kit
from $1,500 (2 stores)

1HVAC

R-454B

Temp	COP	@ rated BTU	COP	@ min BTU	COP	@ max BTU
-13.0F	1.08	5,400	1.08	5,400	1.52	10,600
5F	2.08	17,000	0.61	1,400	2.08	17,000
17F	2.46	16,300	1.8	4,300	2.33	19,700
47F	3.2	25,000	4.43	6,200	3.19	28,300
95F	2.85	24,000	3.26	6,000	2.77	26,500

kWh Per Year, Just Heatpump	-
kWh Backup Heat Needed	-
kWh Total per Year	-
Hours Over Capacity	-
Hours Short Cycling	-
Purchase Cost	$1,500
Energy Cost	-
10-Year Cost	-

Your Home

Customize building details →

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Your Heat Pump Options!

Sorted by annual cost (equipment + estimated energy), based on your area's weather and home.

Type Mini Splits Ducted | Filters

| Energy Star Cold Climate

Name	Brand	SEER2	HSPF2	Works to	Price	Cost/Year

This is a prototype I'm working on, and would love feedback - send any thoughts/comments/suggestions for improvement to tophatmonkey@gmail.com

This page is made to help you figure out heat pumps. Heat pumps used to have universally terrible performance when it got below 40 degrees, but in recent years, that's changed - some now work well down to -22! But that's not true for all heat pumps, which is why I made this tool to use the actual performance metrics to estimate how each would behave with your house, in your specific location and your weather.

How?

First, use the map to choose where your house is.
Using that, we get the hourly weather for your location for the full year.
Then, use the text boxes to describe your house - where is it, how big it is, how well insulated, and how much your electricity costs.
Using that, we make a model of your house and estimate heat loss for every hour.
Using those together, along with capacity/efficiency data at different temps for lots of heat pumps, we estimate how much electricity each one would use, and figure out which ones won't be able to keep up - look for "Hours Over Capacity" to see which heat pumps aren't quite keeping up. A little of that is OK, a lot, not so much.
The page combines the purchase price (amortized) with the annual electricity cost to show a blended cost per year. A more efficient heat pump might cost more upfront, but if you need a lot of heating or cooling, it might end up being cheaper overall. We sort by that annual cost.

This page may look kind of crappy, but don't judge this book by its cover! It's more sophisticated than most pages that look a lot nicer.

Heat pumps are pretty awesome. They're basically air conditioners that can run in either direction, and because they move heat between in and outside instead of just creating it, they can be more than 100% efficient! In many cases, they're in the range of 400% efficient, or even more. You can get more heat in your house using natural gas to generate electricity to run a heat pump than if you burn the gas directly in your house. Crazy!

This tool is for people who are interested in buying a heat pump without going through a contractor, or for any contractors who might find comparisons useful. In many cases, especially with minisplits, it's not too hard to do it yourself, and much cheaper than hiring a professional. But they can be a bit tricky to compare when it comes to efficiency versus cost tradeoffs, which is why I built this tool to help you play around the numbers and figure out what might be right for you.

If you decide to DIY this, though, I'd advise a few things. First, watch a bunch of YouTube DIY videos, but be aware that it's not quite as simple to do a good job of it as they show. If you get one of the MrCool DIY series pumps, you can just use their pre-evacuated linesets, and I've heard that's pretty simple. But if you go with one of the others with normal linesets, you need a vacuum pump, torque wrench, and the other tools they recommend, but you also need a digital micron gauge, a flaring tool, and you probably want a coring tool with shutoff valve, and you might want to do a pressure test with nitrogen, which means you probably need a pressure regulator. You probably also want a higher quality vacuum pump than most YouTubers show. Many YouTubers use an analog manifold, but for pulling a deep vacuum and making sure it holds, that's like trying to measure inches with your car's odometer - the level to which you need to measure is invisible on that scale. Instead, you want a digital micron gauge. This isn't to scare you off, I did my own this way and it wasn't hard once I figured out what I needed, this is just to make it so you don't get halfway into your project before you realize the real cost of doing this right.

1HVAC Heat Pumps

Your Heat Pump Options!

Building Heat Loss Details

Heat Loss Breakdown