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      18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · Pular

      BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB

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

      Ranks #130 of 465 18,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $482 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      23.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 70%
      HSPF2
      9.0 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 10%
      EER2
      13.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 62%
      Heat at 5°F
      13,500 BTU/h75% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 27%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 70% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 13,500 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      Think twice if…

      • You mainly need heat - its HSPF2 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
      BrandBOREAL
      Outdoor unit modelKULA18HPJ1OB
      SeriesPular
      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 sinceFebruary 1, 2024
      Last certifiedOctober 17, 2025
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better23.5 (range 23.5)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors13.0
      Cooling capacity18,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better9.0
      Capacity at 47°F18,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F14,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F13,500 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder75% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with KULA18HPJ1IB at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups1 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.
      KULA18HPJ1IB · cold climate23.513.09.013,500213829845
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$364-$1,206

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB?
      The BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB is rated at up to 23.5 SEER2 and 13.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with.
      Is the BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 13,500 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.90, so it is still 1.9 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $364-$1,206 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $481 in Phoenix and $1,032 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 BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB?
      ENERGY STAR lists 1 certified combination for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated one uses KULA18HPJ1IB.
      What refrigerant does the BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB 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 $494/yrYou save $435/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 BOREAL KULA18HPJ1OB
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $494
      Current system, per year
      $928
      You save per year
      $435
      Payback
      16.1 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$2,655

      Cooling $270Heating $224Electricity used: 3,085 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $218

      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 October 17, 2025. How we use the data.