4-ton central heat pump · NS17H
GE NS17H48SA4-**A
Below average cooling and heating efficiency for a 4-ton central heat pump, but not rated for cold climates.
Ranks #271 of 319 4 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,490 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.
- SEER2
- 15.6 Cooling efficiency over a seasonBelow average · beats 17%
- HSPF2
- 8.5 Heating efficiency over a seasonBelow average · beats 38%
- EER2
- 13.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F dayVery good · beats 89%
- Heat at 5°F
- 25,600 BTU/h54% of its 47°F outputExcellent · beats 94%
A good fit if…
- You want a choice of indoor units - 134 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.
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | GE |
| Outdoor unit model | NS17H48SA4-**A |
| Series | NS17H |
| Type | Central heat pump |
| Nominal size | 4 ton |
| CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power | Single stage |
| Refrigerant | R-410A |
| Connected (smart) capable | No |
| On the market since | October 1, 2022 |
| Last certified | October 27, 2025 |
| Cooling | |
| SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 15.6 (range 15.2-15.6) |
| EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors | 12.5-13.0 |
| Cooling capacity | 46,000-48,000 BTU/h |
| Heating | |
| HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 8.0-8.5 |
| Capacity at 47°F | 44,500-47,000 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 17°F | 30,000-31,800 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 5°F | 24,200-25,600 BTU/h |
| COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater | 2.18-2.38 |
| ENERGY STAR cold climate | No |
Heating output as it gets colder
Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NCUC60CT4+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 134 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262642 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,200 | 210262512 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262520 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.6 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,200 | 210262556 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,200 | 210262634 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80X100V5C* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217491213 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110T5C* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.3 | 25,200 | 217491131 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U090S5C* | 15.6 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,200 | 217491077 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 210262638 |
| NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,000 | 210262498 |
| NCUU48CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.6 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,200 | 210262476 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 210262516 |
| NCUC49CT4+TDR | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,000 | 210262603 |
| NCUC48CT4+TDR | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.6 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,200 | 210262581 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U090S5C* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 217491081 |
| NCUC49CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U090S5C* | 15.6 | 13.0 | 8.1 | 25,000 | 217491079 |
| NCUC48CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110T5C* | 15.6 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,200 | 217491128 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262517 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF96U110S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262558 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262552 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF80U110S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262639 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF80U110V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262643 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 210262559 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 210262521 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80X100V5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 217491210 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110V5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217491138 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF96U110S5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217491344 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80L110S5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217490989 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110S5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217491117 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110T5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,400 | 217491127 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF96U090S4C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262518 |
| NCUC49CT4+TDR | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262599 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF96U110S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 210262641 |
| NCUU48CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 210262480 |
| NCUC48CT4+TDR | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 210262589 |
| NCUC49CT4+TDR | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262607 |
| NCUC48CT4+TDR | NF80U090S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 210262585 |
| NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262502 |
| NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110T5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262494 |
| NCUU48CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80X100V5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 210262484 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF96U110S5C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 210262519 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF96U090S4C-* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 210262640 |
| NCUC48CT5D-**+TDR | NF80X100V5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 217491211 |
| NCUC49CT5D-**+TDR | NF80X100V5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 217491212 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF96U110S5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,200 | 217491347 |
| NCUC48CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U090S5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 24,400 | 217491078 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF96U090S4C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 217491323 |
| NCUC49CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110T5C* | 15.4 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,400 | 217491129 |
| NAM48V2TA4 | - | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.5 | 24,400 | 210677861 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF80U110V5C-* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 210262560 |
| NAM48V1TA4 | - | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 24,200 | 210720482 |
| NCHC51CT4+TDR | NF80U110S5C-* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 210262557 |
| NCUC60CT4+TDR | NF97X080V4C-* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 210262644 |
| NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV | NF97X080V4C-* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 210262522 |
| NAM48V1TA5D- | - | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 24,200 | 217490919 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110V5C* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 217491136 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80L110S5C* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 217490987 |
| NCUC60CT5D-**+TDR | NF97X080V4C* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 217491481 |
| NCHC51CT5D-**+TDR | NF80U110S5C* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.3 | 25,600 | 217491115 |
| NCUU49CP4+TDR+TXV | NF80U110V5C-* | 15.2 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 25,600 | 210262503 |
Yearly running cost in 10 large cities
- Phoenix, AZ$1,723/yr
- Miami, FL$1,440/yr
- Houston, TX$1,542/yr
- Atlanta, GA$1,490/yr
- Los Angeles, CA$1,434/yr
- New York, NY$3,474/yr
- Chicago, IL$2,804/yr
- Denver, CO$2,318/yr
- Seattle, WA$1,414/yr
- Minneapolis, MN$2,863/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 NS17H48SA4-**A?
- The GE NS17H48SA4-**A is rated at up to 15.6 SEER2 and 13.0 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 134 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-15.6.
- Is the GE NS17H48SA4-**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 4-ton model.
- How much does the GE NS17H48SA4-**A cost to run per year?
- At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,414-$3,474 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,723 in Phoenix and $2,863 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 NS17H48SA4-**A?
- ENERGY STAR lists 134 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NCUC60CT4+TDR, NCUU60CP4+TDR+TXV, NCHC51CT4+TDR.
- What refrigerant does the GE NS17H48SA4-**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.
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See all 319 4 ton central heat pumps, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of October 27, 2025. How we use the data.