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      Best under 1.5-ton central heat pumps

      9 ENERGY STAR certified under 1.5-ton central heat pumps from 6 brands, ranked on their official ratings. Here are the winners for each kind of home, then the full list.

      Best for cold winters

      ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPB

      Under 1.5 ton central · ACIQ Series · cold-climate certified

      SEER2
      17.5
      HSPF2
      9.0
      COP at 5°F
      2.60

      Cold-climate certified, with one of the best efficiencies at 5°F in this size (COP 2.60).

      Full specs and running cost

      Compare all 9 under 1.5-ton central heat pumps

      Filter by brand, efficiency or cold climate

      9 models, ranked by SEER2 (cooling efficiency), then HSPF2.

      #Cold
      1Sharp AY-XP12ZHU1: AE-X12ZHU1AY-XP12ZHU1under 1.5-ton25.016.011.016,000Yes1
      2Atomi Smart AT2239AT2239under 1.5-ton23.913.18.3-No1
      3ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPDACIQ Seriesunder 1.5-ton21.012.510.011,200Yes2
      4MDV MOX330-12HFN10-M3MVB Seriesunder 1.5-ton21.012.510.011,200Yes1
      5Panasonic CU-E9SD3UACS-E9SD3UAW / CU-E9SD3UAunder 1.5-ton20.513.09.9-No1
      6Panasonic CU-E12SD3UACS-E12SD3UAW / CU-E12SD3UAunder 1.5-ton20.012.59.5-No1
      7ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPBACIQ Seriesunder 1.5-ton17.511.79.011,000Yes5
      8MDV MOX330U-12HFN1-MR0MVC Seriesunder 1.5-ton17.511.79.011,000Yes1
      9Daikin DH6VSA121MADH6VSA*Munder 1.5-ton16.511.08.511,000No1

      More about under 1.5-ton central heat pumps

      Top 5 for cold climatesranked by COP at 5°F

      Cold-climate certified models with the highest efficiency at 5°F. Often sold as hyper-heat or low-ambient models.

      #ModelSEER2EER2HSPF2COP at 5°F
      1ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPB17.511.79.02.60
      2MDV MOX330U-12HFN1-MR017.511.79.02.60
      3Sharp AY-XP12ZHU1: AE-X12ZHU125.016.011.02.10
      4ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPD21.012.510.02.00
      5MDV MOX330-12HFN10-M321.012.510.02.00
      Top 5 for hot climatesranked by EER2

      Highest efficiency on a 95°F afternoon, which drives summer bills in places like Phoenix, Houston and Florida.

      #ModelSEER2EER2HSPF2COP at 5°F
      1Sharp AY-XP12ZHU1: AE-X12ZHU125.016.011.02.10
      2Atomi Smart AT223923.913.18.3-
      3Panasonic CU-E9SD3UA20.513.09.9-
      4ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPD21.012.510.02.00
      5MDV MOX330-12HFN10-M321.012.510.02.00
      Top 5 for heatingranked by HSPF2

      Highest seasonal heating efficiency, for homes where the heat pump replaces a furnace.

      #ModelSEER2EER2HSPF2COP at 5°F
      1Sharp AY-XP12ZHU1: AE-X12ZHU125.016.011.02.10
      2ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPD21.012.510.02.00
      3MDV MOX330-12HFN10-M321.012.510.02.00
      4Panasonic CU-E9SD3UA20.513.09.9-
      5Panasonic CU-E12SD3UA20.012.59.5-
      How many square feet does a under 1.5-ton central heat pump cover?400-450 sq ft
      • Hot and dry climate (Phoenix)up to 450 sq ft
      • Hot and humid climate (Houston)up to 450 sq ft
      • Mixed climate (Atlanta)up to 450 sq ft
      • Cold climate (Chicago)up to 450 sq ft
      • Very cold climate (Minneapolis)up to 400 sq ft

      Average insulation, 8 ft ceilings. Sunny rooms, kitchens and older houses need more capacity. Size calculator

      What a under 1.5-ton central heat pump costs to run$26/month typical
      • Hot and dry (Phoenix)$343/yr · best $289
      • Hot and humid (Houston)$307/yr · best $259
      • Mixed (Atlanta)$316/yr · best $275
      • Cold (Chicago)$618/yr · best $549
      • Very cold (Minneapolis)$637/yr · best $569

      Typical = median model of this size (20.5 SEER2, 9.9 HSPF2); best = most efficient. Local electricity prices from the U.S. EIA. Calculate for your home

      Questions4
      What is the best under 1.5-ton central heat pump?
      On certified efficiency, the Sharp AY-XP12ZHU1: AE-X12ZHU1 leads at 25.0 SEER2 and 11.0 HSPF2. For cold climates the ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPB has the best efficiency at 5°F (COP 2.60). The right pick depends on your climate, so compare the lists above.
      How many square feet does a under 1.5-ton central heat pump cover?
      About 400 to 450 sq ft with average insulation: 450 sq ft in a hot and dry climate like Phoenix, 450 sq ft in a hot and humid climate like Houston, 450 sq ft in a mixed climate like Atlanta, 450 sq ft in a cold climate like Chicago, 400 sq ft in a very cold climate like Minneapolis. Cold climates cover less because the heating load is larger.
      How much does a under 1.5-ton central heat pump cost to run?
      A typical under 1.5-ton central heat pump (20.5 SEER2, 9.9 HSPF2) uses about $316 of electricity a year in a mixed climate like Atlanta, roughly $26 a month on average. Across U.S. climates it ranges from $307 to $637 a year. The most efficient model in this class saves about $41 a year in Atlanta.
      Which under 1.5-ton central heat pump works best in cold weather?
      Look for ENERGY STAR cold-climate certification (5 of 9 qualify). The ACIQ ACIQ-12-EHPB has the highest COP at 5°F in this class (2.60) and delivers 11,000 BTU/h at 5°F. Cold-climate units are often marketed as hyper-heat or low-ambient models.

      Other sizes

      ENERGY STAR data, updated October 12, 2026