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      3-ton central heat pump · Performance 19 SEER2 VS HP

      Carrier 27VPA936A*030

      Average cooling and heating efficiency for a 3-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #106 of 302 3 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,054 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      18.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 66%
      HSPF2
      9.0 Heating efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 54%
      EER2
      13.5 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 95%
      Heat at 5°F
      26,600 BTU/h71% of its 47°F output
      Very good · beats 71%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 26,600 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 497 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

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

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandCarrier
      Outdoor unit model27VPA936A*030
      SeriesPerformance 19 SEER2 VS HP
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceOctober 15, 2025
      Last certifiedOctober 7, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better18.0 (range 15.2-18.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors10.5-13.5
      Cooling capacity33,400-37,600 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-9.0
      Capacity at 47°F31,800-37,400 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F24,800-37,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F24,600-26,600 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90-2.18
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder71% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with FT5BD4821X at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups497 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 497 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      FT5BD4821X · cold climate-18.013.59.025,400218695521
      FT5AN(B,X)C48L · cold climate-17.012.59.025,000218008849
      FG5ANXC48L · cold climate-17.012.59.025,000218008850
      FT5BD3617X · cold climate-17.013.09.025,400218695505
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58SU*B060M17**1616.512.59.026,000217907782
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58SU*B080M21**2016.512.59.026,000217952520
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58SU*B080M21**2016.512.58.525,000217907564
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climateGG96VTAB60100C**16.012.59.026,400217911049
      CVAMA4821XMA · cold climate58SP*B110V21**2216.012.09.026,200217907623
      CVAMA4821XMA · cold climate58SU*B080M21**2016.012.59.026,000217907625
      CAA**4321AM58CU*B080C21**2016.012.09.024,600217908586
      CVAMA4821XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907646
      CVAMA4821XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907651
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58SP*B090V17**1616.012.59.026,400217907653
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58SP*B090V21**2016.012.59.026,200217907654
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58TN*B090C21**2016.012.59.026,200217907656
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58TP*B090V17**1616.012.59.026,400217907658
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate58TP*B090V21**2016.012.59.026,200217907659
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2016.012.59.026,400217907665
      CVAMA4921XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2016.012.59.026,400217907667
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58TP*B070V17**1616.012.09.026,200217907788
      CVAVA3621XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2216.012.09.026,000217907739
      CVAVA3621XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2216.012.09.026,000217907744
      CVAVA3721XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907770
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58TN*B070C14**1216.012.09.026,400217907784
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58TN*B090C17**1616.012.59.026,200217907786
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58TP*B090V17**1616.012.59.026,000217907789
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate59SP6B080V17**1616.012.09.026,400217907794
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate59TP6C080V17**1616.012.09.026,400217907800
      CVAVA3721XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907775
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58CU*B040C17**1216.012.59.026,000217907776
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58CU*B060C17**1616.012.59.026,000217907777
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58SP*B070V17**1616.012.09.026,200217907779
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58SP*B090V17**1616.012.59.026,000217907780
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58SU*B040M17**1216.012.59.026,000217907781
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate58TN*B070C17**1616.012.09.026,200217907785
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climate59TP7A080V17**1616.012.09.026,400217907802
      CAA**4321AM58SU*B080M21**2016.012.09.024,600217908594
      CVAVA3721XMA · cold climate58SP*B110V21**2216.012.09.026,200217907750
      CAA**4821AM58SP*B090V21**2016.011.59.025,200217908650
      CAA**4821AM58CU*B080C21**2016.012.09.025,000217908646
      CAA**4821AM58SU*B080M21**2016.012.09.025,000217908654
      CAA**4821AM58TP*B090V21**2016.011.59.025,200217908664
      CAA**4821AM59TP6C100V21**2216.011.79.025,000217908698
      CVAVA4221XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2216.012.09.026,000217907868
      CVAVA4221XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2216.012.09.026,000217907873
      CVAVA4821XMA · cold climate58SP*B110V21**2216.012.09.026,200217907882
      CVAVA4821XMA · cold climate58SU*B080M21**2016.012.59.026,000217907884
      CVAVA4821XMA · cold climate58TN*B110C21**2016.012.09.026,200217907890
      CVAVA4821XMA · cold climate59TP6C100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907908
      CVAVA4821XMA · cold climate59TP7A100V21**2216.012.59.026,200217907913
      CAA**4821AM59TP7A100V21**2216.011.79.025,000217908703
      CVAVA3817XMA · cold climateGG96VTAB48080B**16.012.09.026,400217913016
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate59CU5B100C21**2216.012.58.825,000217907577
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58CU*B060C17**1616.012.58.524,800217907555
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58CU*B040C17**1216.012.58.525,000217907554
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58CU*B080C21**2016.012.58.524,800217907556
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58CU*B100C21**2016.012.58.525,000217907557
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58SP*B070V17**1616.012.58.525,000217907558
      CVAMA4321XMA · cold climate58SP*B090V17**1616.012.58.524,800217907559
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$930-$2,530

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Carrier 27VPA936A*030?
      The Carrier 27VPA936A*030 is rated at up to 18.0 SEER2 and 13.5 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 497 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-18.0.
      Is the Carrier 27VPA936A*030 good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 26,600 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.18, so it is still 2.2 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Carrier 27VPA936A*030 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $930-$2,530 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,153 in Phoenix and $2,118 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 Carrier 27VPA936A*030?
      ENERGY STAR lists 497 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use FT5BD4821X, FT5AN(B,X)C48L, FG5ANXC48L.
      What refrigerant does the Carrier 27VPA936A*030 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 $1,147/yrYou save $699/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 Carrier 27VPA936A*030
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,147
      Current system, per year
      $1,845
      You save per year
      $699
      Payback
      19.3 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$6,512

      Cooling $696Heating $450Electricity used: 7,167 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $270

      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 October 7, 2026. How we use the data.