3.5-ton central heat pump · Connect
GE Appliances NS18H60HA5
Very good cooling and heating efficiency for a 3.5-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.
Ranks #22 of 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,311 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.
- SEER2
- 18.3 Cooling efficiency over a seasonVery good · beats 74%
- HSPF2
- 9.6 Heating efficiency over a seasonVery good · beats 76%
- EER2
- 11.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F dayBelow average · beats 23%
- Heat at 5°F
- 45,000 BTU/h82% of its 47°F outputBelow average · beats 27%
A good fit if…
- You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 74% of central heat pumps.
- Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 45,000 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.
Think twice if…
- Nothing stands out - its ratings have no weak spot for its class.
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | GE Appliances |
| Outdoor unit model | NS18H60HA5 |
| Series | Connect |
| Type | Central heat pump |
| Nominal size | 3.5 ton |
| CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power | Continuously variable |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Connected (smart) capable | No |
| On the market since | October 16, 2024 |
| Last certified | July 17, 2026 |
| Cooling | |
| SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 18.3 (range 15.2-18.3) |
| EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors | 9.6-11.7 |
| Cooling capacity | 42,500-55,500 BTU/h |
| Heating | |
| HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 8.1-9.6 |
| Capacity at 47°F | 47,000-56,500 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 17°F | 38,000-45,000 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 5°F | 39,000-45,000 BTU/h |
| COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater | 1.75-1.95 |
| ENERGY STAR cold climate | Yes |
Heating output as it gets colder
Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NCUC49CT5****+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:
Certified matchups
The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 352 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V4CF*** | 18.3 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313772 |
| NAM48V1TA5 · cold climate | - | 18.0 | 11.7 | 9.5 | 42,000 | 215869483 |
| NAM42V2TA5 · cold climate | - | 18.0 | 11.0 | 9.5 | 42,500 | 216604757 |
| NAM48E3TA5 · cold climate | - | 18.0 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 43,000 | 216705366 |
| NAS42E1TB5 · cold climate | - | 17.9 | 10.7 | 9.6 | 45,000 | 218635942 |
| NAS48E1TB5 · cold climate | - | 17.9 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 44,500 | 218635943 |
| NCUC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V4CF*** | 17.8 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313734 |
| NCHC42CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V4CF*** | 17.8 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313827 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U090V5CF*** | 17.7 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313782 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80L090V5CF*** | 17.7 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313785 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110V5C*** | 17.7 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124169 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80L110V5CF*** | 17.7 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313787 |
| NAM42E1TA5 · cold climate | - | 17.6 | 10.5 | 9.0 | 43,000 | 216604754 |
| NAM42V1TA5 · cold climate | - | 17.6 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 43,000 | 216604755 |
| NCHC42BT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U070V4BF*** | 17.6 | 10.0 | 9.4 | 39,000 | 217313812 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF93U110S4CF*** | 17.6 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313778 |
| NAM42E3TA5 · cold climate | - | 17.5 | 11.0 | 9.4 | 42,500 | 216705365 |
| NAM48E1TA5 · cold climate | - | 17.5 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 43,000 | 216604756 |
| NAM48V2TA5 · cold climate | - | 17.5 | 10.5 | 9.0 | 43,000 | 216604758 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110V5CF*** | 17.5 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313792 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80X100V5C*** | 17.5 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124171 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80X080V4B*** | 17.5 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124170 |
| NCUC48BT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U070V4BF*** | 17.5 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313722 |
| NCHC48BT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U070V4BF*** | 17.5 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313865 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF98U110M5C*** | 17.4 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124177 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V4CF*** | 17.4 | 10.4 | 8.8 | 41,000 | 218668533 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF96U090S4CF*** | 17.4 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313767 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U110V4CF*** | 17.4 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313774 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110V5CF*** | 17.4 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,000 | 217313970 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF93U090S4CF*** | 17.3 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313776 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97X080V5C*** | 17.3 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 216743596 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF96D090S4C*** | 17.3 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124212 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF93D090S4CF*** | 17.3 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313920 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U110V5C*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 216743597 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U090S5C*** | 17.2 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217124175 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110S5C*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217124176 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF96U110V5C*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217177719 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090T4CF*** | 17.2 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313770 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110S5CF*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313790 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80D110S5C*** | 17.2 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217124213 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF96U110V5CF*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313803 |
| NCHC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V4CF*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313878 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80D110V5CF*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313925 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U090S5C*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,500 | 217124221 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110S5C*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,500 | 217124222 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110S5CF*** | 17.2 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,500 | 217313968 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97U090V5C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 216743598 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF98U090M5C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217124178 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97D090M4C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217124211 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF96U090V5C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217177720 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF97D090T4CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,000 | 217313918 |
| NCUC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U110V5C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 39,500 | 217124156 |
| NCUC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U090V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 39,500 | 217313744 |
| NCUC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80L090V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 39,500 | 217313746 |
| NCUC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80L110V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 39,500 | 217313748 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80U090V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,000 | 217313961 |
| NCUC60CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80L090V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,000 | 217313963 |
| NCUC49CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF95X080S4C*** | 17.1 | 11.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217124167 |
| NCDC48CT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80D090V5CF*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 39,500 | 217313923 |
| NCDC60DT5****+TDR · cold climate | NF80D110S5C*** | 17.1 | 10.0 | 8.5 | 40,000 | 217124241 |
Yearly running cost in 10 large cities
- Phoenix, AZ$1,433/yr
- Miami, FL$1,156/yr
- Houston, TX$1,285/yr
- Atlanta, GA$1,311/yr
- Los Angeles, CA$1,278/yr
- New York, NY$3,145/yr
- Chicago, IL$2,556/yr
- Denver, CO$2,127/yr
- Seattle, WA$1,309/yr
- Minneapolis, MN$2,633/yr
At each state's average electricity price and the city's typical heating and cooling hours.
Questions
- What is the SEER2 rating of the GE Appliances NS18H60HA5?
- The GE Appliances NS18H60HA5 is rated at up to 18.3 SEER2 and 11.0 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 352 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-18.3.
- Is the GE Appliances NS18H60HA5 good for cold climates?
- Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 45,000 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.95, so it is still 2.0 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
- How much does the GE Appliances NS18H60HA5 cost to run per year?
- At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,156-$3,145 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,433 in Phoenix and $2,633 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 GE Appliances NS18H60HA5?
- ENERGY STAR lists 352 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCUC49CT5****+TDR, NAM48V1TA5, NAM42V2TA5.
- What refrigerant does the GE Appliances NS18H60HA5 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.
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See all 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of July 17, 2026. How we use the data.