HVAC Rated
    Menu

      3.5-ton central heat pump · DRAC

      DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN

      Below average cooling and heating efficiency for a 3.5-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #71 of 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,308 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      16.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 26%
      HSPF2
      8.1 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 20%
      EER2
      11.7 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 43%
      Heat at 5°F
      19,300 BTU/h48% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 39%

      A good fit if…

      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 19,300 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 50 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • 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.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3.5 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandDuraSTAR
      Outdoor unit modelDRHP15B42AJ2AN
      SeriesDRAC
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerTwo-stage
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceSeptember 12, 2024
      Last certifiedFebruary 27, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better16.0 (range 15.2-16.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.7
      Cooling capacity40,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-8.1
      Capacity at 47°F40,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F27,000-40,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F18,700-19,300 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.00
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder48% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with DRBEF4821STANMC at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups50 indoor units

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

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW070141716.011.78.119,300216687097
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521U16.011.78.118,800216687093
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW125252416.011.78.118,800216687109
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521U16.011.78.118,800216687100
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW100152115.211.78.119,100216686804
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR95UHAW100152115.211.78.119,000216686805
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW100152115.211.78.119,100216686807
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW070152115.211.78.119,100216686806
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW115152415.211.78.118,800216686808
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR95UHAW100152115.211.78.119,000216686811
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075152115.211.78.118,900216686813
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW070152115.211.78.119,100216686812
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW085152115.211.78.119,200216686810
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR95M4AW085152115.211.78.119,200216686809
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW150152415.211.78.118,800216686814
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW125152415.211.78.118,700216686818
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521S15.211.78.118,800216686816
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075152115.211.78.118,800216686819
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075241715.211.78.119,300216686820
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075141715.211.78.118,800216686815
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521N15.211.78.118,800216686824
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075152115.211.78.118,900216686830
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW125252415.211.78.118,700216686827
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075252115.211.78.118,900216686821
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW100252115.211.78.118,800216686828
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW100252115.211.78.118,700216686823
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW100152115.211.78.118,700216686822
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW150252415.211.78.118,800216686826
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW100252115.211.78.118,700216686835
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075141715.211.78.119,300216686833
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW125152415.211.78.118,800216686832
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075252115.211.78.118,900216686834
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521N15.211.78.118,800216686836
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075252115.211.78.118,800216686837
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW100241715.211.78.119,000216686831
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075252115.211.78.118,800216686838
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW075152115.211.78.118,800216686844
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80DZAW100152115.211.78.118,700216686842
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW100141715.211.78.119,000216686840
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW100252115.211.78.119,100216686908
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW1001521S15.211.78.118,800216686841
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW100252115.211.78.118,800216686839
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR80UHAW075241715.211.78.118,800216686843
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW100252115.211.78.119,100216686912
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW070252115.211.78.119,100216686973
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW085252115.211.78.119,200216686911
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW085252115.211.78.119,200216686910
      DRBEF4824STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW115252415.211.78.118,800216686913
      DRBEF4821STANMC · cold climateDR96M4AW070252115.211.78.119,100216686909
      DRAH2TB4821ASTNN-15.211.77.8-215574165
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,175-$3,124

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN?
      The DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN is rated at up to 16.0 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.1 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 50 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-16.0.
      Is the DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 19,300 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 DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,175-$3,124 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,446 in Phoenix and $2,608 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 DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN?
      ENERGY STAR lists 50 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use DRBEF4821STANMC, DRBEF4824STANMC, DRAH2TB4821ASTNN.
      What refrigerant does the DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN 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 $1,433/yrYou save $629/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 DuraSTAR DRHP15B42AJ2AN
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,433
      Current system, per year
      $2,063
      You save per year
      $629
      Payback
      23.8 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$8,706

      Cooling $880Heating $553Electricity used: 8,957 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $149

      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 3.5 ton models

      See all 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of February 27, 2026. How we use the data.