What is the SEER2 rating of the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA?

The Carrier GH5SAN518**AA is rated at up to 15.5 SEER2 and 12.5 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 100 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-15.5.

Is the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA good for cold climates?

It is not cold-climate certified: none of its matchups meet the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria (a COP of at least 1.75 at 5°F among other limits). In places with frequent sub-zero nights, pick a cold-climate 1.5-ton model.

How much does the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA cost to run per year?

At its rated efficiency it costs about $548-$1,398 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $666 in Phoenix and $1,161 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 GH5SAN518**AA?

ENERGY STAR lists 100 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use FMA5X24**AL, CVAMA3217XMA, FM(C,U)5Z18**AL.

1.5-ton central heat pump · 15 SEER2 HP

Carrier GH5SAN518**AA

Below average cooling and heating efficiency for a 1.5-ton central heat pump, but not rated for cold climates.

Ranks #141 of 170 1.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $591 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

SEER2: 15.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
Below average · beats 15%
HSPF2: 8.0 Heating efficiency over a season
Below average · beats 12%
EER2: 12.5 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
Very good · beats 80%
Heat at 5°F: 8,600 BTU/h46% of its 47°F output
Average · beats 58%

A good fit if…

You want a choice of indoor units - 100 certified pairings.

Think twice if…

You often see nights below 0°F - it is not cold-climate certified.
Cooling cost matters most - its SEER2 is below average for central heat pumps.
You mainly need heat - its HSPF2 is below average for central heat pumps.
Comfort and noise matter - a single-stage compressor runs only full-on or off.

Calculate my running cost

Details

Specifications1.5 ton, R-454B

General
Brand	Carrier
Also sold as	Bryant
Outdoor unit model	GH5SAN518**AA
Series	15 SEER2 HP
Type	Central heat pump
Nominal size	1.5 ton
CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power	Single stage
Refrigerant	R-454B
Connected (smart) capable	No
On the market since	July 1, 2022
Last certified	June 29, 2026
Cooling
SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	15.5 (range 15.2-15.5)
EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors	11.7-12.5
Cooling capacity	17,400-18,900 BTU/h
Heating
HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	7.8-8.0
Capacity at 47°F	16,400-18,300 BTU/h
Capacity at 17°F	10,500-11,000 BTU/h
Capacity at 5°F	8,200-8,600 BTU/h
COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater	1.88-2.10
ENERGY STAR cold climate	No

Heating output as it gets colder46% kept at 5°F

Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with FMA5X24**AL at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

Certified matchups100 indoor units

The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 100 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

Indoor unit	Furnace	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	Heat @5°F	AHRI ref.
FMA5X24**AL	-	15.5	12.5	8.0	8,200	214423917
FMA5X24**AL	-	15.5	12.5	8.0	8,200	214423920
CVAMA3217XMA	58S(B,C)B070M17*12	15.5	12.0	7.8	8,200	214195434
CVAMA3217XMA	8(0,1)SB36070M17**	15.5	12.0	7.8	8,200	214195437
CVAMA3217XMA	58S(B,C)B070M17*16	15.5	12.0	7.8	8,200	214195464
CVAMA3217XMA	8(0,1)SB48070M17**	15.5	12.0	7.8	8,200	214195467
FM(C,U)5Z18**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,500	215828777
FM(C,U)5Z18**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,500	215828780
FM(C,U)5Z24**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,500	215828809
FM(C,U)5Z24**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,500	215828812
FM(C,U)5S30**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,600	218452513
FM(C,U)5S30**AL	-	15.2	12.0	8.0	8,600	218452510
CAA**2517AM	58TPB045V14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126671
CAA**2517AM	82TB36045V14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126674
CAA**1917AM	58S(B,C)B070M14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124799
CAA**1917AM	8(0,1)SB36070M14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124802
CAA**1917AM	58S(B,C)B070M17*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,300	214124829
CAA**1917AM	8(0,1)SB36070M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,300	214124832
CAA**2517AM	58S(B,C)B045M14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126082
CAA**2517AM	8(0,1)SB36045M14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126085
CAA**2517AM	58TPB070V14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126701
CAA**2517AM	82TB36070V14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126704
CAA**2517AM	58TPB070V17*16	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,500	214126713
CAA**2517AM	82TB48070V17**	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,500	214126716
CAA**1917AM	58S(B,C)B045M14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124769
CAA**1917AM	8(0,1)SB36045M14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124772
CAA**1917AM	58TPB070V14*12	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,400	214125312
CAA**1917AM	82TB36070V14**	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,400	214125315
CAA**2517AM	58S(B,C)B070M14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126142
CAA**2517AM	8(0,1)SB36070M14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126145
CAA**2517AM	58S(B,C)B070M17*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126174
CAA**2517AM	8(0,1)SB36070M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126177
CAA**2517AM	58S(B,C)B070M17*16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,500	214126204
CAA**2517AM	8(0,1)SB48070M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,500	214126207
CAA**2517AM	58S(B,C)B090M17*14	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126236
CAA**2517AM	8(0,1)SB42090M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126239
CAA**1917AM	58S(B,C)B070M17*16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124857
CAA**1917AM	8(0,1)SB48070M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124860
CAA**2517AM	59SC6A080M17**16	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,500	214127076
CAA**1917AM	58S(B,C)B090M17*14	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124887
CAA**1917AM	8(0,1)SB42090M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214124890
CAA**2517AM	59SC2E080M17**16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214127012
CAA**2517AM	912SE48080M17***	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214127015
CAA**2517AM	58SUA040E17*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126395
CAA**2517AM	83SA36040E17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126398
CAA**2517AM	58SUB040M17*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126459
CAA**2517AM	83SB36040M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126462
CAA**2517AM	58SUB060M17*16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126491
CAA**2517AM	83SB48060M17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126494
CAA**2517AM	916SA48080M17***	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,500	214127079
CAA**1917AM	59SU5B060M17**16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214125757
CAA**1917AM	935SB48060M17***	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214125760
CAA**2517AM	58TNB070C14*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126550
CAA**2517AM	88TB36070C14**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,400	214126553
CAA**2517AM	59SU5B060M17**16	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,500	214127185
CAA**2517AM	935SB48060M17***	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,500	214127188
CAA**1917AM	58SPB070V17*16	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,400	214124994
CAA**1917AM	82SB48070V17**	15.2	11.7	7.8	8,400	214124997
CAA**1917AM	58SUA040E17*12	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,300	214125019
CAA**1917AM	83SA36040E17**	15.2	12.0	7.8	8,300	214125022

Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$548-$1,398

Phoenix, AZ$666/yr
Miami, FL$548/yr
Houston, TX$597/yr
Atlanta, GA$591/yr
Los Angeles, CA$573/yr
New York, NY$1,398/yr
Chicago, IL$1,132/yr
Denver, CO$939/yr
Seattle, WA$575/yr
Minneapolis, MN$1,161/yr

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 GH5SAN518**AA?: The Carrier GH5SAN518**AA is rated at up to 15.5 SEER2 and 12.5 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 100 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-15.5.
Is the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA good for cold climates?: It is not cold-climate certified: none of its matchups meet the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria (a COP of at least 1.75 at 5°F among other limits). In places with frequent sub-zero nights, pick a cold-climate 1.5-ton model.
How much does the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA cost to run per year?: At its rated efficiency it costs about $548-$1,398 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $666 in Phoenix and $1,161 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 GH5SAN518**AA?: ENERGY STAR lists 100 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use FMA5X24**AL, CVAMA3217XMA, FM(C,U)5Z18**AL.
What refrigerant does the Carrier GH5SAN518**AA 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 $656/yrYou save $267/yrSee details ↓

1. Where you live

StateCityElectricity ¢ per kWh

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.

Cooling hours full-load hours per yearHeating hours full-load hours per year

2. The heat pump Carrier GH5SAN518**AA

Find a model (fills in the ratings below)

SEER2 cooling efficiencyHSPF2 heating efficiencyCooling capacity BTU/hHeating capacity BTU/h

3. What it replaces

Current heatingFurnace efficiency (AFUE %)Gas price, $/thermCurrent coolingOld AC rating SEER2 (10 ≈ 15+ years old)

4. Price replace the example with your quote

Installed price, $Rebates and incentives, $ utility, state

Heat pump, per year: $656
Current system, per year: $923
You save per year: $267
Payback: 26.2 years
Net after 10 years: -$4,326

Cooling $411Heating $245Electricity used: 4,100 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $51

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 1.5 ton models

Grandaire W5H5S18*K*AAA15.5 SEER2 · 8.0 HSPF2
Bryant PH5SAN518**AA15.5 SEER2 · 8.0 HSPF2
Heil B5H6S18*K*AAA15.5 SEER2 · 8.0 HSPF2
York YH518E2S1116.0 SEER2 · 7.8 HSPF2
Heil H5H6S18*K*AAA15.5 SEER2 · 8.0 HSPF2
Friedrich FWP15AY18AJ2N16.0 SEER2 · 7.8 HSPF2
Heil N5H5S18*K*AAA15.5 SEER2 · 8.0 HSPF2
Coleman XH518E2S1116.0 SEER2 · 7.8 HSPF2

See all 170 1.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of June 29, 2026. How we use the data.