What is the SEER2 rating of the DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A?

The DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A is rated at up to 17.4 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.3 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 47 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-17.4.

Is the DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A good for cold climates?

Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 39,000 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 DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A cost to run per year?

At its rated efficiency it costs about $925-$2,283 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,151 in Phoenix and $1,875 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 DRU1H36S2A?

ENERGY STAR lists 47 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use DRUM3036S2A, DRUF3622S2A, DRUC3621S2A.

3-ton central heat pump · DRU Series

DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A

Average cooling efficiency and excellent heating efficiency for a 3-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

Ranks #134 of 302 3 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $985 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

SEER2: 17.4 Cooling efficiency over a season
Average · beats 55%
HSPF2: 10.3 Heating efficiency over a season
Excellent · beats 92%
EER2: 11.7 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
Average · beats 43%
Heat at 5°F: 39,000 BTU/h105% 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 39,000 BTU/h at 5°F.
It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 92% of central heat pumps.
You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
You want a choice of indoor units - 47 certified pairings.

Think twice if…

Nothing stands out - its ratings have no weak spot for its class.

Calculate my running cost

Details

Specifications3 ton, R-454B

General
Brand	DuraSTAR
Outdoor unit model	DRU1H36S2A
Series	DRU Series
Type	Central heat pump
Nominal size	3 ton
CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power	Continuously variable
Refrigerant	R-454B
Connected (smart) capable	No
On the market since	December 8, 2020
Last certified	March 11, 2026
Cooling
SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	17.4 (range 15.2-17.4)
EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors	10.1-11.7
Cooling capacity	34,000-36,000 BTU/h
Heating
HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	8.4-10.3
Capacity at 47°F	35,000-38,000 BTU/h
Capacity at 17°F	27,000-31,800 BTU/h
Capacity at 5°F	31,000-39,000 BTU/h
COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater	1.75-1.90
ENERGY STAR cold climate	Yes

Heating output as it gets colder105% kept at 5°F

Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with DRUM3036S2A at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

Certified matchups47 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 unit	Furnace	SEER2	EER2	HSPF2	Heat @5°F	AHRI ref.
DRUM3036S2A · cold climate	-	17.4	11.7	10.3	39,000	215374887
DRUF3622S2A · cold climate	-	16.8	11.2	9.6	34,600	217465409
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RL18100C20MPS1	16.8	11.4	9.6	34,000	218072091
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RL18100C16MPS1	16.7	11.4	9.5	34,000	218072090
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RL18080C16MPS1	16.7	10.9	9.5	34,000	218072089
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	RL18080B12MPS1	16.4	10.6	9.4	34,000	218072088
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RG19080C16MPS1	16.3	10.7	9.2	34,000	218072034
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	MGV96U060B3C	16.3	10.8	9.2	33,000	218071742
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	S9V2C100U5VS***	16.2	11.0	9.3	33,000	218071885
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	S9V2C100D5VS***	16.2	11.0	9.3	33,000	218071884
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML296UH110XV60C*	16.1	11.0	9.5	33,000	218072313
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	S9V2C080U5VS***	16.0	10.9	9.4	33,000	218071883
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	MGV96U080C4C	16.0	11.0	9.3	33,000	218071744
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	MGV96U080B3C	16.0	10.7	9.1	33,000	218071743
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RG19100C20MPS1	15.9	11.1	9.2	34,000	218072037
DRUC3614S2A · cold climate	RL18040A12MPS1	15.9	10.2	8.5	32,000	218072086
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	-	15.8	10.7	9.4	36,000	217493437
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	-	15.8	10.7	9.4	36,000	217493439
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RG19080C20MPS1	15.8	10.7	9.4	34,000	218072035
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML196UH090XE36C*	15.8	10.7	9.2	33,000	218072308
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	S9X2C080U5PSB**	15.6	10.6	9.3	33,000	218071978
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	S9X1C080U5PSB**	15.6	10.6	9.3	33,000	218071892
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML193UH090XE36C*	15.6	10.7	9.2	33,000	218072304
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	S9V2B080U4VS***	15.5	10.4	9.2	33,000	218071718
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML296UH090XV48B*	15.5	10.7	9.1	33,000	218072312
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML296UH090XV48C*	15.5	10.7	9.1	33,000	218072404
DRUC3614S2A · cold climate	RG19060A10MPS1	15.5	10.1	8.4	32,000	218072033
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	RG19100C16MPS1	15.4	11.0	9.2	34,000	218072036
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	ML193DF070XE36B*	15.4	10.5	9.1	33,000	218072301
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	ML196UH070XE36B*	15.4	10.5	8.7	31,000	218072306
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	RG19080B12MPS1	15.3	10.6	9.6	35,000	218071725
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	RG19060B12MPS1	15.3	10.6	9.5	34,000	218071723
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML193DF090XE48C*	15.3	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072395
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML193DF090XE48B*	15.3	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072303
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML296DF090XV60C*	15.3	10.6	9.2	33,000	218072311
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML196DF090XE48C*	15.3	10.8	9.1	32,000	218072400
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML196DF090XE48B*	15.3	10.8	9.1	32,000	218072307
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	ML193UH070XE36B*	15.3	10.4	9.0	33,000	218072302
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	S9V2B040U3VS***	15.3	10.3	8.9	33,000	218071715
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML196UH090XE48C*	15.2	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072402
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML193UH090XE48C*	15.2	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072397
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML196UH090XE48B*	15.2	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072309
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	ML193UH090XE48B*	15.2	10.7	9.3	33,000	218072305
DRUC3621S2A · cold climate	MGV96U100C5C	15.2	11.0	9.3	34,000	218071745
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	S9V2B060D3VS***	15.2	10.3	9.0	33,000	218071717
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	S9V2B060U4VS***	15.2	10.3	9.0	33,000	218071716
DRUC3617S2A · cold climate	ML296DF070XV48B*	15.2	10.3	8.9	33,000	218072310

Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$925-$2,283

Phoenix, AZ$1,151/yr
Miami, FL$967/yr
Houston, TX$1,030/yr
Atlanta, GA$985/yr
Los Angeles, CA$945/yr
New York, NY$2,283/yr
Chicago, IL$1,840/yr
Denver, CO$1,519/yr
Seattle, WA$925/yr
Minneapolis, MN$1,875/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 DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A?: The DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A is rated at up to 17.4 SEER2 and 11.7 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.3 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 47 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-17.4.
Is the DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A good for cold climates?: Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 39,000 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 DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A cost to run per year?: At its rated efficiency it costs about $925-$2,283 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,151 in Phoenix and $1,875 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 DRU1H36S2A?: ENERGY STAR lists 47 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use DRUM3036S2A, DRUF3622S2A, DRUC3621S2A.
What refrigerant does the DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A 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 $1,120/yrYou save $737/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 DuraSTAR DRU1H36S2A

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: $1,120
Current system, per year: $1,856
You save per year: $737
Payback: 18.3 years
Net after 10 years: -$6,135

Cooling $728Heating $391Electricity used: 6,998 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $304

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 ton models

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Comfort-Aire A-VXP36SA-1 · cold climate17.4 SEER2 · 10.3 HSPF2
ECOER ESCA17H-36ABA · cold climate17.4 SEER2 · 10.3 HSPF2
Capella CCB1-H36A-O · cold climate17.4 SEER2 · 10.3 HSPF2
Elios ESHMB36R2AN1 · cold climate17.4 SEER2 · 10.3 HSPF2
Samsung AC036FCUPCG · cold climate17.5 SEER2 · 8.5 HSPF2
InfinityLiving EZ-36-HPB · cold climate17.4 SEER2 · 10.3 HSPF2

See all 302 3 ton central heat pumps, ranked

Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of March 11, 2026. How we use the data.