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      9,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · 38MAR-series

      Carrier 38MARBQ09AA3

      Excellent cooling and heating efficiency for a 9,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #40 of 395 9,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $208 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      28.1 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 97%
      HSPF2
      12.4 Heating efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 93%
      EER2
      16.2 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 97%
      Heat at 5°F
      10,800 BTU/h88% of its 47°F output
      Average · beats 48%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 97% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 10,800 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 93% of mini-splits.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      Think twice if…

      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications9,000 BTU, R-410A
      General
      BrandCarrier
      Also sold asBryant, Midea, Payne, WeatherMaker
      Outdoor unit model38MARBQ09AA3
      Series38MAR-series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size9,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceJanuary 1, 2018
      Last certifiedJune 13, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better28.1 (range 20.2-28.1)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors13.0-16.2
      Cooling capacity9,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better10.0-12.4
      Capacity at 47°F9,800-12,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F7,100-10,100 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F9,800-10,800 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.59-2.00
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder88% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with 40MAHBQ09XA3 at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups30 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.
      40MAHBQ09XA3 CARRIER · cold climate28.116.211.510,600206348135
      619AHBQ09XA3 BRYANT · cold climate28.116.211.510,600206348142
      DHMAHBQ09XA3 MIDEA · cold climate28.116.211.510,600206350318
      DHMAHBQ09XA3 PAYNE · cold climate28.116.211.510,600206350313
      DHMAHBQ09XA3 Weathermaker · cold climate28.116.211.510,600206350323
      DHMSHAQ09XA3 Weathermaker25.015.611.09,800206400666
      DHMSHAQ09XA3 MIDEA25.015.611.09,800206400660
      DHMSHAQ09XA3 PAYNE25.015.611.09,800206400654
      619PEQ009BBMA BRYANT25.015.611.09,800206400648
      40MAQB09B--3 CARRIER25.015.611.09,800206400642
      40MCCAQ09XA3 MIDEA · cold climate24.013.012.410,500209270305
      40MCCAQ09XA3 Weathermaker · cold climate24.013.012.410,500209270301
      40MCCAQ09XA3 PAYNE · cold climate24.013.012.410,500209270297
      40MCCAQ09XA3 BRYANT · cold climate24.013.012.410,500209270293
      40MCCAQ09XA3 CARRIER · cold climate24.013.012.410,500209270289
      40MBCQ09---3 MIDEA · cold climate20.513.010.310,000206350371
      40MBCQ09---3 Weathermaker · cold climate20.513.010.310,000206350360
      40MBCQ09---3 PAYNE · cold climate20.513.010.310,000206350349
      40MBCQ09---3 BRYANT · cold climate20.513.010.310,000206350338
      40MBCQ09---3 CARRIER · cold climate20.513.010.310,000206350327
      40MBDAQ09XH3 MIDEA · cold climate20.513.610.010,800211132965
      40MBDAQ09XH3 Weathermaker · cold climate20.513.610.010,800211132954
      40MBDAQ09XH3 PAYNE · cold climate20.513.610.010,800211132943
      40MBDAQ09XH3 BRYANT · cold climate20.513.610.010,800211132932
      40MBDAQ09XH3 CARRIER · cold climate20.513.610.010,800211132920
      40MBDQ09---3 MIDEA · cold climate20.213.212.010,800206350372
      40MBDQ09---3 Weathermaker · cold climate20.213.212.010,800206350361
      40MBDQ09---3 PAYNE · cold climate20.213.212.010,800206350350
      40MBDQ09---3 BRYANT · cold climate20.213.212.010,800206350339
      40MBDQ09---3 CARRIER · cold climate20.213.212.010,800206350328
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$152-$526

      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 38MARBQ09AA3?
      The Carrier 38MARBQ09AA3 is rated at up to 28.1 SEER2 and 16.2 EER2 for cooling and up to 12.4 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 30 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 20.2-28.1.
      Is the Carrier 38MARBQ09AA3 good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 10,800 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 Carrier 38MARBQ09AA3 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $152-$526 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $204 in Phoenix and $452 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 38MARBQ09AA3?
      ENERGY STAR lists 30 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use CARRIER 40MAHBQ09XA3, BRYANT 619AHBQ09XA3, MIDEA DHMAHBQ09XA3.
      What refrigerant does the Carrier 38MARBQ09AA3 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 $211/yrYou save $284/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 38MARBQ09AA3
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $211
      Current system, per year
      $495
      You save per year
      $284
      Payback
      12.3 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$660

      Cooling $113Heating $98Electricity used: 1,320 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $173

      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 13, 2026. How we use the data.