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      18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · ACIQ Series

      ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C

      Very good cooling efficiency and excellent heating efficiency for a 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #69 of 465 18,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $392 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      24.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 75%
      HSPF2
      12.2 Heating efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 91%
      EER2
      13.5 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Very good · beats 74%
      Heat at 5°F
      14,200 BTU/h72% of its 47°F output
      Excellent · beats 93%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 75% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 14,200 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 91% of mini-splits.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      Think twice if…

      • Nothing stands out - its ratings have no weak spot for its class.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications18,000 BTU, R-454B
      General
      BrandACIQ
      Also sold as1HVAC
      Outdoor unit modelACIQ-18ZS-HP230C
      SeriesACIQ Series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size18,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceFebruary 10, 2025
      Last certifiedJune 29, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better24.0 (range 18.5-24.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.1-13.5
      Cooling capacity16,800-18,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better9.8-12.2
      Capacity at 47°F18,000-20,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F13,200-15,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F12,800-14,200 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.05-2.40
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder72% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with ACIQ-18WS-HP230C at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups9 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      ACIQ-18WS-HP230C · cold climate24.013.511.113,000216980869
      ACIQ-18WS-HP230C 1HVAC · cold climate24.013.511.113,000216980883
      ACIQ-018W-BL-MD · cold climate24.013.511.113,000218457918
      ACIQ-18W-HH-MD · cold climate23.512.710.812,800218471564
      ACIQ-18FM-HH-MD · cold climate22.312.510.412,800218471566
      SCC-18-HH-MB · cold climate22.212.512.213,100217739020
      ACIQ-18CC-HH-MC · cold climate20.712.511.412,800218471565
      ACIQ-18CD-HH-MC · cold climate20.013.311.314,200218471567
      ACIQ-18AHB-HH-MB · cold climate18.512.19.813,000218471559
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$352-$934

      At each state's average electricity price and the city's typical heating and cooling hours.

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C?
      The ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C is rated at up to 24.0 SEER2 and 13.5 EER2 for cooling and up to 12.2 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 9 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 18.5-24.0.
      Is the ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 14,200 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.40, so it is still 2.4 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $352-$934 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $433 in Phoenix and $779 in Minneapolis. The calculator on this page works it out for your city and compares it with your current system.
      Which indoor units work with the ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C?
      ENERGY STAR lists 9 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use ACIQ-18WS-HP230C, 1HVAC ACIQ-18WS-HP230C, ACIQ-018W-BL-MD.
      What refrigerant does the ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C use?
      It uses R-454B.

      Running cost and savings

      Pre-filled with this model. Pick your city and what you heat with today; everything else is optional.

      Heat pump $429/yrYou save $499/yrSee details ↓
      1. Where you live
      Adjust heating and cooling hours

      Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

      2. The heat pump ACIQ ACIQ-18ZS-HP230C
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $429
      Current system, per year
      $928
      You save per year
      $499
      Payback
      14.0 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$2,011

      Cooling $264Heating $165Electricity used: 2,683 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $283

      Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.

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      See all 465 18,000 BTU mini-splits, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of June 29, 2026. How we use the data.