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      3.5-ton central heat pump · NS16H Series

      GE NS16H42SA5-**A

      Below average cooling and heating efficiency for a 3.5-ton central heat pump, but not rated for cold climates.

      Ranks #99 of 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,323 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      15.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 15%
      HSPF2
      8.2 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 28%
      EER2
      13.2 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 93%
      Heat at 5°F
      20,800 BTU/h50% of its 47°F output
      Average · beats 67%

      A good fit if…

      • You want a choice of indoor units - 42 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • You often see nights below 0°F - it is not cold-climate certified.
      • 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.
      • Comfort and noise matter - a single-stage compressor runs only full-on or off.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3.5 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS16H42SA5-**A
      SeriesNS16H Series
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerSingle stage
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceNovember 1, 2024
      Last certifiedApril 22, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better15.5 (range 15.2-15.5)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.6-13.2
      Cooling capacity41,000-42,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-8.2
      Capacity at 47°F39,000-40,500 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F24,600-25,800 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F19,400-20,800 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.00-2.14
      ENERGY STAR cold climateNo
      Heating output as it gets colder50% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups42 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.
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*15.513.28.019,400216497650
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*15.513.08.019,700216497651
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*15.513.07.819,500216497652
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*15.512.87.819,500216497655
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110V5C*15.512.87.819,600216497656
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.512.87.819,600216497657
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V4C*15.512.87.819,600216497658
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*15.513.07.820,400216497637
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M4C*15.512.87.819,600216497661
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U110M5C*15.512.67.819,600216497663
      NAM42V1TA5*--15.512.87.820,600216497628
      NCHC42BT5*-**+TDRNF80U090T4B*15.513.07.819,500216497670
      NCHC42BT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S4B*15.513.27.819,400216497671
      NCHC42BT5*-**+TDRNF80L090S4B*15.513.27.819,400216497672
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*15.513.07.820,400216497634
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*15.513.07.820,600216497635
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*15.513.07.820,400216497636
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*15.513.07.819,500216497653
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*15.512.87.820,400216497639
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110T5C*15.512.87.819,900218159789
      NAM48V2TA5*--15.212.68.220,400216497631
      NAM42V2TA5*--15.212.68.120,200216497630
      NAM48V1TA5*--15.212.88.019,600216497629
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M4C*15.212.67.820,600216497645
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF95X100S5C*15.212.87.819,700216497649
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF96U090S4C*15.212.67.820,000216497654
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M3C*15.212.67.819,700216497660
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110V5C*15.212.87.820,600216497640
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V4C*15.212.87.820,600216497642
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF98U090M5C*15.212.67.819,800216497662
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*15.212.87.819,900216497659
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.212.87.820,600216497641
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97X080V5C*15.212.67.820,800216497643
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF98U110M5C*15.212.87.820,600216497647
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110V5C*15.212.67.820,600217052195
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090V3C*15.212.67.820,600217052196
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090V3C*15.212.87.819,600217052199
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090V5C*15.212.67.820,000217052200
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF80U110V5C*15.212.67.819,700217052198
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97U110T5C*15.212.87.820,600218159788
      NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090T4C*15.212.87.819,900218159787
      NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDRNF97U090T4C*15.212.67.820,800218159786
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,254-$3,104

      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 NS16H42SA5-**A?
      The GE NS16H42SA5-**A is rated at up to 15.5 SEER2 and 13.2 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.2 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 42 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-15.5.
      Is the GE NS16H42SA5-**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 3.5-ton model.
      How much does the GE NS16H42SA5-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,254-$3,104 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,512 in Phoenix and $2,567 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 NS16H42SA5-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 42 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCU[C,U]49CT5*-**+TDR, NCU[C,U]48CT5*-**+TDR, NAM42V1TA5*-.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS16H42SA5-**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 $1,482/yrYou save $625/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 NS16H42SA5-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,482
      Current system, per year
      $2,107
      You save per year
      $625
      Payback
      24.8 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$9,248

      Cooling $942Heating $540Electricity used: 9,262 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $129

      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 April 22, 2026. How we use the data.