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      2.5-ton central heat pump · 38Mseries

      Carrier 38MURAQ30AB3

      Below average cooling efficiency and very good heating efficiency for a 2.5-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #105 of 199 2.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $927 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      16.2 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 36%
      HSPF2
      9.7 Heating efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 77%
      EER2
      10.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Below average · beats 10%
      Heat at 5°F
      27,000 BTU/h73% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 12%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 27,000 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 77% of central heat pumps.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 20 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

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

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications2.5 ton, R-410A
      General
      BrandCarrier
      Also sold asBryant, Midea, Payne, WeatherMaker, Arcoaire, Comfortmaker, Day & Night, Heil, Tempstar, Airquest, Keeprite
      Outdoor unit model38MURAQ30AB3
      Series38Mseries
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size2.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceJanuary 1, 2022
      Last certifiedJune 4, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better16.2 (range 15.5-16.2)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors10.0-10.5
      Cooling capacity30,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better8.9-9.7
      Capacity at 47°F33,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F21,000-22,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F24,000-27,000 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.80-1.85
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder73% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with 40MUAAQ30XA3 at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups20 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.
      40MUAAQ30XA3 · cold climate16.210.08.924,000208447884
      40MUAAQ30XA3 · cold climate16.210.08.924,000208447902
      40MUAAQ30XA3 · cold climate16.210.08.924,000208447893
      40MUAAQ30XA3 · cold climate16.210.08.924,000208447911
      40MUAAQ30XA3 · cold climate16.210.08.924,000208447920
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622215
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622222
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622229
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622236
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622250
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622257
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622264
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622271
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622278
      DLFUAAH30XAK · cold climate16.210.08.924,000217622243
      40MULAQ36XCX + CI · cold climate15.510.59.727,000213372223
      40MULAQ36XCX + CI · cold climate15.510.59.727,000213372231
      40MULAQ36XCX + CI · cold climate15.510.59.727,000213372239
      40MULAQ36XCX + CI · cold climate15.510.59.727,000213372207
      40MULAQ36XCX + CI · cold climate15.510.59.727,000213372215
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$868-$2,183

      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 38MURAQ30AB3?
      The Carrier 38MURAQ30AB3 is rated at up to 16.2 SEER2 and 10.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.7 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 20 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.5-16.2.
      Is the Carrier 38MURAQ30AB3 good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 27,000 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.85, so it is still 1.9 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Carrier 38MURAQ30AB3 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $868-$2,183 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,051 in Phoenix and $1,809 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 38MURAQ30AB3?
      ENERGY STAR lists 20 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use 40MUAAQ30XA3, DLFUAAH30XAK, 40MULAQ36XCX + CI.
      What refrigerant does the Carrier 38MURAQ30AB3 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 $1,033/yrYou save $563/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 38MURAQ30AB3
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,033
      Current system, per year
      $1,596
      You save per year
      $563
      Payback
      20.4 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$5,869

      Cooling $652Heating $381Electricity used: 6,456 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $198

      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.

      Similar 2.5 ton models

      See all 199 2.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of June 4, 2026. How we use the data.