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      18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · DLC-series

      Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK

      Below average cooling efficiency and average heating efficiency for a 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #320 of 465 18,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $477 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      21.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 30%
      HSPF2
      10.2 Heating efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 53%
      EER2
      12.5 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 44%
      Heat at 5°F
      13,300 BTU/h66% of its 47°F output
      Average · beats 48%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 13,300 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 42 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • Cooling cost matters most - its SEER2 is below average for mini-splits.
      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications18,000 BTU, R-410A
      General
      BrandAirquest
      Also sold asSmart Comfort, Tempstar, Midea, Kenmore, Arcoaire, Keeprite, Heil, Day & Night, Comfortmaker, LPS Legacy, Viessmann
      Outdoor unit modelDLCMRBH18BAK
      SeriesDLC-series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size18,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceJanuary 1, 2018
      Last certifiedJune 29, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better21.0 (range 19.0-21.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.0-12.5
      Cooling capacity18,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better9.8-10.2
      Capacity at 47°F19,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F14,400-14,800 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F12,600-13,300 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.00
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder66% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its best matchup at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups42 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.
      - ARCOAIRE21.012.510.212,600207642987
      - COMFORTMAKER21.012.510.212,600207643008
      - DAY & NIGHT21.012.510.212,600207643029
      - HEIL21.012.510.212,600207643050
      - KEEPRITE21.012.510.212,600207643071
      - KENMORE21.012.510.212,600207643092
      - MIDEA21.012.510.212,600207643113
      - TEMPSTAR21.012.510.212,600207643134
      - SMART COMFORT21.012.510.212,600207643155
      - AIRQUEST21.012.510.212,600207643176
      - LPS Legacy21.012.510.212,600211756520
      - Viessmann21.012.510.212,600215569811
      - SMART COMFORT21.012.510.212,600207643155
      - AIRQUEST21.012.510.212,600207643176
      - TEMPSTAR21.012.510.212,600207643134
      - MIDEA21.012.510.212,600207643113
      - KENMORE21.012.510.212,600207643092
      - ARCOAIRE21.012.510.212,600207642987
      - LPS Legacy20.012.310.012,900211756521
      - AIRQUEST20.012.310.012,900207643178
      - SMART COMFORT20.012.310.012,900207643157
      - TEMPSTAR20.012.310.012,900207643136
      - MIDEA20.012.310.012,900207643115
      - KENMORE20.012.310.012,900207643094
      - KEEPRITE20.012.310.012,900207643073
      - HEIL20.012.310.012,900207643052
      - DAY & NIGHT20.012.310.012,900207643031
      - COMFORTMAKER20.012.310.012,900207643010
      - ARCOAIRE20.012.310.012,900207642989
      - Viessmann20.012.310.012,900215569813
      - AIRQUEST · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643177
      - SMART COMFORT · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643156
      - TEMPSTAR · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643135
      - MIDEA · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643114
      - KENMORE · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643093
      - KEEPRITE · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643072
      - HEIL · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643051
      - DAY & NIGHT · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643030
      - COMFORTMAKER · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207643009
      - ARCOAIRE · cold climate19.012.09.813,300207642988
      - LPS Legacy · cold climate19.012.09.813,300211756557
      - Viessmann · cold climate19.012.09.813,300215569812
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$404-$1,158

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

      Questions4
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK?
      The Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK is rated at up to 21.0 SEER2 and 12.5 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.2 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 42 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 19.0-21.0.
      Is the Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 13,300 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.00, so it is still 2.0 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $404-$1,158 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $509 in Phoenix and $975 in Minneapolis. The calculator on this page works it out for your city and compares it with your current system.
      What refrigerant does the Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK use?
      It uses R-410A. R-410A is being phased down under the EPA AIM Act, and new systems are moving to R-454B and R-32.

      Running cost and savings

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

      Heat pump $510/yrYou save $434/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 Airquest DLCMRBH18BAK
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $510
      Current system, per year
      $944
      You save per year
      $434
      Payback
      16.1 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$2,659

      Cooling $302Heating $209Electricity used: 3,190 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $216

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