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      1.5-ton central heat pump · NS16H Series

      GE NS16H18SA5-**A

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

      Ranks #94 of 170 1.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $592 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      16.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 40%
      HSPF2
      7.8 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 5%
      EER2
      14.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 98%
      Heat at 5°F
      8,500 BTU/h46% of its 47°F output
      Average · beats 51%

      A good fit if…

      • You want a choice of indoor units - 39 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • You often see nights below 0°F - it is not cold-climate certified.
      • 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
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS16H18SA5-**A
      SeriesNS16H Series
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size1.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerSingle stage
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceNovember 1, 2024
      Last certifiedSeptember 30, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better16.5 (range 15.2-16.5)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors13.0-14.2
      Cooling capacity18,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8
      Capacity at 47°F17,500-18,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F10,500-11,200 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F7,900-8,500 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.86-2.06
      ENERGY STAR cold climateNo
      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 NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups39 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.
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070S3A*16.514.07.88,100216497325
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80L070S3A*16.514.07.88,100216497326
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*16.514.07.88,100216497327
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070T3A*16.514.27.88,200216497322
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045S3A*16.514.07.88,100216497323
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80L045S3A*16.514.07.88,100216497324
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070V3A*16.514.27.88,200217052148
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070T3A*16.013.87.88,000216497301
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045S3A*16.013.87.87,900216497302
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80L045S3A*16.013.87.87,900216497303
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80L070S3A*16.013.87.88,000216497305
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*16.013.87.88,000216497306
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF95X060S3B*16.013.87.88,300216497308
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF80U070S3B*16.013.87.88,200216497309
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF80L070S3B*16.013.87.88,200216497310
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF97U045V3B*16.013.67.88,200216497313
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF97X060V3B*16.013.67.88,300216497316
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF98U070M3B*16.013.87.88,200216497317
      NAM18V1TA5*--16.013.67.88,100216497253
      NAM24E1TA5*--16.013.87.88,200216497255
      NAM24V1TA5*--16.013.87.88,400216497256
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045T3A*16.013.87.88,300216497321
      NAM24V2TA5*--16.013.87.88,300216497257
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070S3A*16.013.87.88,000216497304
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070V3A*16.013.87.88,000217052145
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF80U090V4B*16.013.67.88,200217052146
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF97U070V3B*16.013.87.88,200217052147
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF97U070T3B*16.013.67.88,200218159778
      NCHC24BT5*-**+TDRNF97U045T3B*16.013.87.88,300218159777
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045T3A*15.513.47.88,100216497300
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80X060S3A*15.513.67.88,000216497299
      NCHC24AT5*-**+TDRNF80X040S3A*15.513.67.88,000216497298
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF96D045S3B*15.513.27.88,400216497342
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF97D070M3B*15.513.27.88,400216497344
      NAM24P1TA5*--15.213.27.88,400216497254
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF80D070S3B*15.213.07.88,400216497341
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF96D070S4B*15.213.07.88,500216497343
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF97D070T4B*15.213.07.88,400218159776
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF97D045T3B*15.213.07.88,400218159775
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$514-$1,428

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the GE NS16H18SA5-**A?
      The GE NS16H18SA5-**A is rated at up to 16.5 SEER2 and 14.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 7.8 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 39 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-16.5.
      Is the GE NS16H18SA5-**A 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 GE NS16H18SA5-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $514-$1,428 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $641 in Phoenix and $1,199 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 NS16H18SA5-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 39 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR, NCHC24AT5*-**+TDR, NCHC24BT5*-**+TDR.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS16H18SA5-**A 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 $640/yrYou save $285/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 GE NS16H18SA5-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $640
      Current system, per year
      $925
      You save per year
      $285
      Payback
      24.5 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$4,147

      Cooling $384Heating $256Electricity used: 3,997 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $69

      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

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      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of September 30, 2026. How we use the data.