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      48,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · DLC-series

      Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK

      Below average cooling efficiency and average heating efficiency for a 48,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #99 of 146 48,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,326 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      18.9 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 8%
      HSPF2
      10.0 Heating efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 43%
      EER2
      9.3 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Below average · beats 2%
      Heat at 5°F
      35,600 BTU/h70% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 32%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 35,600 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 24 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

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

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications48,000 BTU, R-410A
      General
      BrandDay & Night
      Also sold asArcoaire, Keeprite, Kenmore, Heil, Tempstar, Smart Comfort, Comfortmaker, Airquest, Midea, LPS Legacy, Viessmann
      Outdoor unit modelDLCLRCH48AAK
      SeriesDLC-series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size48,000 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 better18.9 (range 15.2-18.9)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors8.8-9.3
      Cooling capacity48,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better9.7-10.0
      Capacity at 47°F50,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F29,000-35,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F35,000-35,600 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.85-1.93
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder70% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with DLFLFAH48XAK at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups24 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.
      DLFLFAH48XAK DAY & NIGHT · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683340
      DLFLFAH48XAK ARCOAIRE · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683326
      DLFLFAH48XAK KEEPRITE · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683354
      DLFLFAH48XAK KENMORE · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683361
      DLFLFAH48XAK HEIL · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683347
      DLFLFAH48XAK TEMPSTAR · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683375
      DLFLFAH48XAK SMART COMFORT · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683382
      DLFLFAH48XAK COMFORTMAKER · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683333
      DLFLFAH48XAK AIRQUEST · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683389
      DLFLFAH48XAK MIDEA · cold climate18.99.310.035,000207683368
      DLFLFAH48XAK LPS Legacy · cold climate18.99.310.035,000211756559
      DLFLFAH48XAK Viessmann · cold climate18.99.310.035,000215569832
      DLFLDAH48XHK HEIL · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132723
      DLFLDAH48XHK ARCOAIRE · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132711
      DLFLDAH48XHK DAY & NIGHT · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132719
      DLFLDAH48XHK SMART COMFORT · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132743
      DLFLDAH48XHK COMFORTMAKER · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132715
      DLFLDAH48XHK KEEPRITE · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132727
      DLFLDAH48XHK KENMORE · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132731
      DLFLDAH48XHK MIDEA · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132735
      DLFLDAH48XHK TEMPSTAR · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132739
      DLFLDAH48XHK AIRQUEST · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211132747
      DLFLDAH48XHK LPS Legacy · cold climate15.28.89.735,600211756589
      DLFLDAH48XHK Viessmann · cold climate15.28.89.735,600215569867
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,193-$3,165

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK?
      The Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK is rated at up to 18.9 SEER2 and 9.3 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 24 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-18.9.
      Is the Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 35,600 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.93, so it is still 1.9 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,193-$3,165 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,467 in Phoenix and $2,641 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 Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK?
      ENERGY STAR lists 24 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use DAY & NIGHT DLFLFAH48XAK, ARCOAIRE DLFLFAH48XAK, KEEPRITE DLFLFAH48XAK.
      What refrigerant does the Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK 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 $1,454/yrYou save $1,054/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 Day & Night DLCLRCH48AAK
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,454
      Current system, per year
      $2,508
      You save per year
      $1,054
      Payback
      17.1 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$7,462

      Cooling $894Heating $560Electricity used: 9,087 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $474

      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.