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      3-ton central heat pump · NS21H Series

      GE NS21H36MA5-**A

      Excellent cooling and heating efficiency for a 3-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #24 of 302 3 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $829 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      20.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 94%
      HSPF2
      10.4 Heating efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 94%
      EER2
      12.2 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Very good · beats 75%
      Heat at 5°F
      24,400 BTU/h75% of its 47°F output
      Excellent · beats 97%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 94% of central heat pumps.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 24,400 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 94% of central heat pumps.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      Think twice if…

      • Nothing stands out - its ratings have no weak spot for its class.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandGE
      Outdoor unit modelNS21H36MA5-**A
      SeriesNS21H Series
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceAugust 5, 2025
      Last certifiedSeptember 22, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better20.0 (range 15.2-20.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.0-12.2
      Cooling capacity32,000-34,800 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better8.5-10.4
      Capacity at 47°F30,000-34,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F26,600-31,400 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F18,400-24,400 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90-2.46
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder75% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with NAM42V1TA5*- at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups133 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 133 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      NAM42V1TA5*- · cold climate-20.012.29.023,800217642528
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF97D070M3B*19.511.29.219,200217642660
      NAM42E1TA5*- · cold climate-19.511.78.524,400217642561
      NAM36V1TA5*- · cold climate-19.512.08.524,200217642563
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF80X080V4B*19.011.210.423,000217642650
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF97X040V3B*19.011.210.423,200217642651
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF98U070M3B*19.011.510.422,800217642653
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80X060S3A*19.011.210.422,600217642632
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070T3A*19.011.510.422,400217642634
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80L045S3A*19.011.510.422,400217642636
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80X040S3A*19.011.210.422,600217642717
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045S3A*19.011.510.422,400217642635
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U070M3B*19.011.09.422,800217642684
      NCDC36CT5*-**+TDRNF97D090M4C*19.011.29.219,500217642676
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97X040V3B*19.011.29.023,200217642682
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF80U070S3B*18.511.510.422,600217642644
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF97X060V3B*18.511.210.423,200217642652
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80L070S3A*18.511.510.422,600217642638
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF80L070S3B*18.511.510.422,600217642645
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF97U070T3B*18.511.210.422,600218159768
      NCHC42CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U090M3C*18.511.29.622,600217642690
      NCDC36CT5*-**+TDRNF97D110M5C*18.511.29.219,500217642680
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80U045T3A*18.511.29.024,200217642665
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80X080V4B*18.511.29.022,800217642681
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97X060V3B*18.511.29.023,200217642683
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80X080V4B*18.511.29.022,200217642453
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97X040V3B*18.511.09.022,600217642454
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U070M3B*18.511.29.022,200217642456
      NCU[C,U]36AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80X060V3A*18.511.29.022,400217642458
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80X060V3A*18.511.08.818,400217642639
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97X060V3B*18.511.08.522,400217642455
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80U070S3B*18.511.58.522,000217642559
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80L070S3B*18.511.58.522,000217642560
      NCDC36CT5*-**+TDRNF97D110V5C*18.511.28.519,500217901805
      NCU[C,U]37CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U090M4C*18.511.78.521,400218374411
      NCU[C,U]37CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U090M3C*18.511.78.521,400218374410
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF95X060S3B*18.011.510.422,400217642642
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF96U070S3B*18.011.210.422,600217642648
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U045T3A*18.011.210.422,800217642633
      NCU[C,U]30AT5*-**+TDRNF80U070S3A*18.011.210.422,600217642637
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF97U045T3B*18.011.510.422,400218159765
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF95X040S3B*18.011.210.222,600217642641
      NCU[C,U]30BT5*-**+TDRNF80U090V4B*18.011.510.022,600217901799
      NCHC42CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97X080V4C*18.011.29.622,600217642688
      NCHC42CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U090M4C*18.011.29.622,600217642691
      NCHC42CT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF98U110M5C*18.011.59.622,600217642693
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF96D070S4B*18.011.09.019,500217642658
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF95X060S3B*18.011.59.022,400217642659
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80U070S3B*18.011.59.022,600217642666
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80L070S3B*18.011.59.022,600217642670
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF96U070S3B*18.011.29.022,600217642677
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97U070T3B*18.011.29.022,600218159769
      NCHC30BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97U045T3B*18.011.09.022,400218159766
      NCDC36BT5*-**+TDRNF97D070T4B*18.011.09.019,400218159762
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80U070T3A*18.011.58.523,800217642667
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80U045S3A*18.011.58.524,000217642669
      NCHC30AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80L045S3A*18.011.58.524,000217642671
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF96U070S3B*18.011.28.522,000217642529
      NCU[C,U]36BT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF97U045V3B*18.011.58.521,400217642530
      NCU[C,U]36AT5*-**+TDR · cold climateNF80X040S3A*18.011.28.521,800217642531
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$778-$1,951

      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 NS21H36MA5-**A?
      The GE NS21H36MA5-**A is rated at up to 20.0 SEER2 and 12.2 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.4 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 133 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-20.0.
      Is the GE NS21H36MA5-**A good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 24,400 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.46, so it is still 2.5 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the GE NS21H36MA5-**A cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $778-$1,951 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $941 in Phoenix and $1,616 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 NS21H36MA5-**A?
      ENERGY STAR lists 133 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use NAM42V1TA5*-, NCDC36BT5*-**+TDR, NAM42E1TA5*-.
      What refrigerant does the GE NS21H36MA5-**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 $925/yrYou save $761/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 NS21H36MA5-**A
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $925
      Current system, per year
      $1,686
      You save per year
      $761
      Payback
      16.4 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$4,889

      Cooling $584Heating $340Electricity used: 5,779 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $364

      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.

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      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of September 22, 2026. How we use the data.