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      3.5-ton central heat pump · NS17H

      GE NS17H42SA4-**A

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

      Ranks #92 of 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,294 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      15.6 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 17%
      HSPF2
      8.3 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 30%
      EER2
      13.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Very good · beats 89%
      Heat at 5°F
      21,800 BTU/h52% of its 47°F output
      Very good · beats 76%

      A good fit if…

      • You want a choice of indoor units - 52 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.
      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3.5 ton, R-410A
      General
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS17H42SA4-**A
      SeriesNS17H
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerSingle stage
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceOctober 25, 2022
      Last certifiedOctober 27, 2025
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better15.6 (range 15.2-15.6)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.5-13.0
      Cooling capacity40,500-42,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-8.3
      Capacity at 47°F37,600-42,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F25,000-27,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F19,600-21,800 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.00-2.20
      ENERGY STAR cold climateNo
      Heating output as it gets colder52% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NAM42V2TA4 at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups52 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.
      NAM42V2TA4-15.613.08.320,600210677859
      NCDC48CT4+TDRNF80D110S5C-*15.613.08.321,800213355845
      NCDC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80D110S5C*15.613.08.321,800217490932
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF80X100V5C-*15.613.07.819,900210262453
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF80X100V5C-*15.613.07.819,900210262463
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.613.07.819,900217491209
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80U090T4B*15.613.07.819,900217491093
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.613.07.819,700217491208
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*15.613.07.819,600217491124
      NAM42V1TA4-15.413.08.120,200210720481
      NAM42V1TA5D--15.413.08.120,200217490918
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*15.413.08.020,200217491194
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF80U110S5C-*15.412.57.819,800210262450
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF80U110T5C-*15.413.07.819,900210262458
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF80U110S5C-*15.412.57.819,800210262460
      NCHC48CT4+TDRNF80X100V5C-*15.413.07.820,200210262457
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF80U090S5C-*15.412.57.819,800210262449
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF80U090S5C-*15.412.57.819,800210262459
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF80U110T5C-*15.413.07.819,900210262448
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80L090S4B*15.413.07.820,000217490977
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80U070S3B*15.413.07.820,200217491033
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*15.412.57.819,800217491075
      NCHC42CT5D-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.413.07.820,000217491206
      NCHC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80X100V5C*15.413.07.820,200217491207
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*15.413.07.819,600217490985
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*15.412.57.819,800217490986
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80L070S3B*15.413.07.820,200217490965
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*15.413.07.819,900217491125
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*15.413.07.819,600217491113
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*15.412.57.819,800217491114
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF80U090S4B*15.413.07.820,000217491066
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF97X080V4C-*15.212.57.820,000210262454
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF96U110S5C-*15.212.57.819,900210262452
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF96U110S5C-*15.212.57.819,900210262462
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF96U090S4C-*15.212.57.819,900210262461
      NCHC48CT4+TDRNF80U110T5C-*15.213.07.820,200210262455
      NCUC49CT4+TDRNF97X080V4C-*15.212.57.820,000210262464
      NCHC48CT4+TDRNF80U110S5C-*15.212.57.820,200210262456
      NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXVNF96U090S4C-*15.212.57.819,900210262451
      NCHC48BT5D-**+TDRNF80L090S4B*15.213.07.820,200217490978
      NCHC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80L110S5C*15.212.57.820,200217490984
      NCHC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110S5C*15.212.57.820,200217491112
      NCHC42BT5D-**+TDRNF95X060S3B*15.212.57.820,000217491239
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF96U110S5C*15.212.57.819,900217491342
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF96U090S4C*15.212.57.819,900217491321
      NCHC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80U110T5C*15.213.07.820,200217491123
      NCUC48BT5D-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*15.213.07.820,000217491195
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF97X080V4C*15.213.07.820,000217491479
      NCHC48BT5D-**+TDRNF80U090S4B*15.213.07.820,200217491067
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF97U090M4C*15.212.57.820,000217491421
      NCUC49CT5D-**+TDRNF97X080V4C*15.212.57.820,000217491480
      NCUC48CT5D-**+TDRNF80U090S5C*15.212.57.820,000217491074
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,231-$3,032

      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 NS17H42SA4-**A?
      The GE NS17H42SA4-**A is rated at up to 15.6 SEER2 and 13.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.3 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 52 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-15.6.
      Is the GE NS17H42SA4-**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 NS17H42SA4-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,231-$3,032 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,482 in Phoenix and $2,506 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 NS17H42SA4-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 52 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NAM42V2TA4, NCDC48CT4+TDR, NCDC48CT5D-**+TDR.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS17H42SA4-**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 $1,451/yrYou save $630/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 NS17H42SA4-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,451
      Current system, per year
      $2,081
      You save per year
      $630
      Payback
      24.6 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$9,201

      Cooling $925Heating $526Electricity used: 9,071 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $140

      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 October 27, 2025. How we use the data.