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      1.5-ton central heat pump · NS17H

      GE NS17H18SA4-**A

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

      Ranks #78 of 170 1.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $549 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      16.8 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 45%
      HSPF2
      8.5 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 38%
      EER2
      14.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 98%
      Heat at 5°F
      9,700 BTU/h45% of its 47°F output
      Very good · beats 70%

      A good fit if…

      • You want a choice of indoor units - 248 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.
      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.
      • Comfort and noise matter - a single-stage compressor runs only full-on or off.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications1.5 ton, R-410A
      General
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS17H18SA4-**A
      SeriesNS17H
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size1.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerSingle stage
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceJanuary 5, 2022
      Last certifiedMay 27, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better16.8 (range 15.2-16.8)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.2-14.0
      Cooling capacity18,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-8.5
      Capacity at 47°F16,800-18,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F10,200-12,100 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F7,500-9,700 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90-2.16
      ENERGY STAR cold climateNo
      Heating output as it gets colder45% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NCHC30BT4+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups248 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 248 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF80X080V4B-*16.814.08.18,000210261965
      NCHC24BT4+TDRNF80X080V4B-*16.814.08.18,400210261950
      NCHC24AT4+TDRNF80X060V3A-*16.814.08.18,200210261938
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF80X080V4B-*16.814.08.17,800210261926
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF80X080V4B-*16.814.08.17,800210262013
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF97X060V3B-*16.814.08.17,800210261968
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*16.814.08.17,800217491184
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97X060V3B*16.814.08.17,800217491462
      NCHC24AT5D-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*16.814.08.18,200217491161
      NCHC24BT5D-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*16.814.08.18,400217491181
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*16.814.08.18,000217491182
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF97X060V3B-*16.813.58.07,800210262016
      NCUU30AP4+TDR+TXVNF80U070T3A-*16.813.58.07,600210261910
      NCUC30AT4+TDRNF80X060V3A-*16.814.08.07,900210262001
      NCUC30AT4+TDRNF80U070T3A-*16.813.58.07,600210261997
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF97U070M3B-*16.813.58.07,800210262017
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF97U070M3B-*16.814.08.07,800210261969
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF97U070M3B-*16.813.58.07,800210261930
      NCUU30AP4+TDR+TXVNF80X060V3A-*16.814.08.07,900210261914
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF97X040V3B-*16.813.58.07,800210261928
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF97X060V3B-*16.813.58.07,800210261929
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF97X040V3B-*16.814.08.07,800210261967
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF97X040V3B-*16.813.58.07,800210262015
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF97U070V3B16.814.08.07,800215283258
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070V3B16.814.08.07,800215283262
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF97U070V3B16.813.58.07,800215283275
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070V3B16.813.58.07,800215283279
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF97U070V3B16.813.58.07,800215283288
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF98U070M3B16.814.08.07,800215438178
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF98U070M3B16.813.58.07,800215438180
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF98U070M3B16.813.58.07,800215438182
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF80U070S3B-*16.813.58.07,700210261961
      NCUC30AT5D-**+TDRNF80U070T3A*16.813.58.07,600217491036
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80L070S3B*16.813.58.07,700217490953
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80U070S3B*16.813.58.07,700217491021
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070V3B*16.814.08.07,800217491395
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070V3B*16.813.58.07,800217491397
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070M3B*16.814.08.07,800217491382
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U070M3B*16.813.58.07,800217491384
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97X040V3B*16.814.08.07,800217491449
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97X040V3B*16.813.58.07,800217491451
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97X060V3B*16.813.58.07,800217491464
      NCUC30AT5D-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*16.814.08.07,900217491163
      NCUC30AT4+TDRNF80U045S3A-*16.813.57.87,700210261998
      NCUU30AP4+TDR+TXVNF80U045S3A-*16.813.57.87,700210261911
      NCUC30BT4+TDRNF80U070S3B-*16.813.57.87,700210262009
      NCUU30BP4+TDR+TXVNF80U070S3B-*16.813.57.87,700210261922
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80L070S3B*16.813.57.87,700217490955
      NCUC30AT5D-**+TDRNF80L045S3A*16.813.57.87,700217490935
      NCUC30AT5D-**+TDRNF80U045S3A*16.813.57.87,700217490992
      NCUC30BT5D-**+TDRNF80U070S3B*16.813.57.87,700217491023
      NCUC24AT4+TDRNF80X060V3A-*16.614.08.18,100210261977
      NCUU24AP4+TDR+TXVNF80X060V3A-*16.614.08.18,100210261890
      NCUC24AT5D-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*16.614.08.18,100217491162
      NCUC30AT4+TDRNF80U070V3A-*16.613.58.08,000210262002
      NCUU30AP4+TDR+TXVNF80U070V3A-*16.613.58.08,000210261915
      NCHC30BT4+TDRNF97U045V3B16.613.58.07,800215283256
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U045V3B16.613.58.07,800215283260
      NCHC30BT5D-**+TDRNF97U045V3B*16.613.58.07,800217491369
      NCUC30AT5D-**+TDRNF80U070V3A*16.613.58.08,000217491046
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$503-$1,303

      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 NS17H18SA4-**A?
      The GE NS17H18SA4-**A is rated at up to 16.8 SEER2 and 14.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.5 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 248 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-16.8.
      Is the GE NS17H18SA4-**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 NS17H18SA4-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $503-$1,303 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $614 in Phoenix and $1,084 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 NS17H18SA4-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 248 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCHC30BT4+TDR, NCHC24BT4+TDR, NCHC24AT4+TDR.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS17H18SA4-**A use?
      It uses R-410A. R-410A is being phased down under the EPA AIM Act, and new systems are moving to R-454B and R-32.

      Running cost and savings

      Pre-filled with this model. Pick your city and what you heat with today; everything else is optional.

      Heat pump $606/yrYou save $312/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 NS17H18SA4-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $606
      Current system, per year
      $918
      You save per year
      $312
      Payback
      22.4 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$3,881

      Cooling $377Heating $229Electricity used: 3,790 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $97

      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

      See all 170 1.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

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