3-ton central heat pump · Mainline 18 SEER2 HP
Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA
Average cooling efficiency and below average heating efficiency for a 3-ton central heat pump, but not rated for cold climates.
Ranks #196 of 302 3 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,176 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.
- SEER2
- 16.5 Cooling efficiency over a seasonAverage · beats 40%
- HSPF2
- 8.5 Heating efficiency over a seasonBelow average · beats 38%
- EER2
- 12.5 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F dayVery good · beats 80%
- Heat at 5°F
- 19,600 BTU/h50% of its 47°F outputExcellent · beats 95%
A good fit if…
- You want a choice of indoor units - 186 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.
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kenmore |
| Outdoor unit model | (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA |
| Series | Mainline 18 SEER2 HP |
| Type | Central heat pump |
| Nominal size | 3 ton |
| CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power | Two-stage |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Connected (smart) capable | No |
| On the market since | November 1, 2024 |
| Last certified | June 29, 2026 |
| Cooling | |
| SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 16.5 (range 15.2-16.5) |
| EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors | 11.7-13.0 |
| Cooling capacity | 33,800-37,600 BTU/h |
| Heating | |
| HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better | 7.8-8.5 |
| Capacity at 47°F | 37,200-39,000 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 17°F | 23,000-24,200 BTU/h |
| Capacity at 5°F | 17,500-19,600 BTU/h |
| COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater | 1.84-2.40 |
| 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 FTMA5B48L0C 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 186 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTMA5B48L0C | - | 16.5 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 18,700 | 216360597 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.5 | 19,100 | 216358221 |
| EA*5X43M21A*+WALLCON | *80CSU0802120B* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.5 | 19,200 | 216358541 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80MSU0601716A* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357261 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80MSU0601716A* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358213 |
| EA*5X43M21A*+WALLCON | *80CSU0802120A* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.0 | 19,300 | 216358157 |
| FCMA5B48L0C*+WALLCON | - | 16.0 | 13.0 | 8.0 | 18,900 | 216360613 |
| EA*5X37M21A*+WALLCON | *80CSU0802120B* | 16.0 | 12.0 | 8.0 | 19,300 | 216357581 |
| EVM5X48M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 16.0 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 17,500 | 216354477 |
| EVM5X49M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 16.0 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 17,700 | 216354741 |
| EVD5X38M17A | *80VSL0901716B* | 16.0 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 17,600 | 216355613 |
| EVD5X38M17A | *80MSU0401712A* | 16.0 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 17,600 | 216355621 |
| EVD5X38M17A | *80MSU0601716A* | 16.0 | 12.5 | 7.8 | 17,600 | 216355629 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80VSL0902120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358677 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80VSL1102122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358685 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80MSU0401712A* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358693 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80MSU0601716A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,000 | 216358701 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,000 | 216358709 |
| EA*5X37M21A*+WALLCON | *80CSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357205 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80VSL0901716B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357229 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80VSL0902120B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357237 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80VSL1102122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216357245 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80MSU0401712A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357253 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216357269 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216357277 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80VTL0902120B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357341 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *80VTL1102122B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,500 | 216357349 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358717 |
| EA*5X42M21A | *96VTN1002122B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 18,800 | 216358029 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *96VSN1002120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358885 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *95MSU1002122A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,000 | 216358925 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80VTL0902120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358781 |
| ESH5X42M12A | *80MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,000 | 216359661 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *80VTL1102122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358789 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *96VSN0802120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357437 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *96VSN1002120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216357445 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *95MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216357461 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *95MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216357469 |
| EA*5X37M21A | *95MSU1002122A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216357477 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80VSL0701716B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216358173 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80VSL0901716B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358181 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80VSL0902120B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358189 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *95MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358917 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80VSL1102122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358197 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80MSU0401712A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358205 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *80MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216358229 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *96VTN1002120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358989 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *95MSU1002122A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358429 |
| EA*5X48M21A | *96VTN1002122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,100 | 216358997 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *96VTN1002122B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358501 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *96VSN0802120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358389 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *96VSN1002120B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216358397 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *95MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358413 |
| EA*5X37M17A | *80VSL0901716B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 18,900 | 216356941 |
| EA*5X37M17A | *80MSU0401712A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 18,800 | 216356949 |
| EA*5X37M17A | *80MSU0601716A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 18,800 | 216356957 |
| EA*5X42M21A | *80MSU0802120A* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 18,800 | 216357749 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *95MSU1002120A* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,400 | 216358421 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *96VTN0802120B* | 15.5 | 11.7 | 8.1 | 19,300 | 216358485 |
| EA*5X43M21A | *96VTN1002120B* | 15.5 | 12.0 | 8.1 | 19,200 | 216358493 |
Yearly running cost in 10 large cities
- Phoenix, AZ$1,273/yr
- Miami, FL$1,021/yr
- Houston, TX$1,142/yr
- Atlanta, GA$1,176/yr
- Los Angeles, CA$1,149/yr
- New York, NY$2,835/yr
- Chicago, IL$2,307/yr
- Denver, CO$1,922/yr
- Seattle, WA$1,184/yr
- Minneapolis, MN$2,380/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 Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA?
- The Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA is rated at up to 16.5 SEER2 and 12.5 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 186 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-16.5.
- Is the Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA 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-ton model.
- How much does the Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA cost to run per year?
- At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,021-$2,835 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,273 in Phoenix and $2,380 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 Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA?
- ENERGY STAR lists 186 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use FTMA5B48L0C, EA*5X43M21A, EA*5X43M21A*+WALLCON.
- What refrigerant does the Kenmore (C,H,T)5H8T36*K*AAA 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.
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- Carrier 37MUHAQ36AA3+TIC2025-0016 · cold climate16.5 SEER2 · 8.5 HSPF2
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- Trane 5TWX5036A116.5 SEER2 · 8.5 HSPF2
See all 302 3 ton central heat pumps, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of June 29, 2026. How we use the data.