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      4-ton central heat pump · 38Mseries

      Carrier 38MURAQ48AB3

      Below average cooling efficiency and very good heating efficiency for a 4-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #259 of 319 4 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,442 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      15.9 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 18%
      HSPF2
      9.6 Heating efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 76%
      EER2
      8.6 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Below average · beats 2%
      Heat at 5°F
      46,500 BTU/h89% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 20%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 46,500 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 76% 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

      Specifications4 ton, R-410A
      General
      BrandCarrier
      Also sold asBryant, Midea, Payne, WeatherMaker, Comfortmaker, Day & Night, Heil, Tempstar, Airquest, Keeprite, Arcoaire
      Outdoor unit model38MURAQ48AB3
      Series38Mseries
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size4 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 better15.9 (range 15.6-15.9)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors8.2-8.6
      Cooling capacity47,000-48,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better9.4-9.6
      Capacity at 47°F50,000-52,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F36,000-38,500 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F46,000-46,500 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder89% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with 40MUAAQ60XA3 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.
      40MUAAQ60XA3 · cold climate15.98.69.646,500217197648
      40MUAAQ60XA3 · cold climate15.98.69.646,500217197652
      40MUAAQ60XA3 · cold climate15.98.69.646,500217197656
      40MUAAQ60XA3 · cold climate15.98.69.646,500217197660
      40MUAAQ60XA3 · cold climate15.98.69.646,500217197664
      40MUAAQ48XA3 · cold climate15.68.29.446,000208447882
      40MUAAQ48XA3 · cold climate15.68.29.446,000208447891
      40MUAAQ48XA3 · cold climate15.68.29.446,000208447900
      40MUAAQ48XA3 · cold climate15.68.29.446,000208447909
      40MUAAQ48XA3 · cold climate15.68.29.446,000208447918
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622224
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622231
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622238
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622252
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622259
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622266
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622273
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622280
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622245
      DLFUAAH48XAK · cold climate15.68.29.446,000217622217
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,374-$3,371

      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 38MURAQ48AB3?
      The Carrier 38MURAQ48AB3 is rated at up to 15.9 SEER2 and 8.6 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.6 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 20 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.6-15.9.
      Is the Carrier 38MURAQ48AB3 good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 46,500 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 Carrier 38MURAQ48AB3 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,374-$3,371 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,660 in Phoenix and $2,782 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 38MURAQ48AB3?
      ENERGY STAR lists 20 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use 40MUAAQ60XA3, 40MUAAQ48XA3, DLFUAAH48XAK.
      What refrigerant does the Carrier 38MURAQ48AB3 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 $1,624/yrYou save $849/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 38MURAQ48AB3
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,624
      Current system, per year
      $2,473
      You save per year
      $849
      Payback
      20.6 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$9,013

      Cooling $1,041Heating $583Electricity used: 10,149 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $280

      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 4 ton models

      See all 319 4 ton central heat pumps, ranked

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