What is the SEER2 rating of the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A?

The Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A is rated at up to 20.5 SEER2 and 12.2 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.6 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 191 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.7-20.5.

Is the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A good for cold climates?

Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 39,500 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.20, so it is still 2.2 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.

How much does the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A cost to run per year?

At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,068-$3,019 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,340 in Phoenix and $2,540 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 Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A?

ENERGY STAR lists 191 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR, CBK48MVT-060-230-, CBK48MVT-048-230-.

4-ton central heat pump · Elite EL21KLV SERIES

Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A

Excellent cooling efficiency and very good heating efficiency for a 4-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

Ranks #7 of 319 4 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,247 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

SEER2: 20.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
Excellent · beats 96%
HSPF2: 9.6 Heating efficiency over a season
Very good · beats 76%
EER2: 12.2 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
Very good · beats 75%
Heat at 5°F: 39,500 BTU/h73% of its 47°F output
Very good · beats 76%

A good fit if…

You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 96% of central heat pumps.
Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 39,500 BTU/h at 5°F.
It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 76% 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

Specifications4 ton, R-454B

General
Brand	Lennox
Outdoor unit model	EL21KLV-048-230A
Series	Elite EL21KLV SERIES
Type	Central heat pump
Nominal size	4 ton
CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low power	Continuously variable
Refrigerant	R-454B
Connected (smart) capable	No
On the market since	March 7, 2025
Last certified	September 30, 2026
Cooling
SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	20.5 (range 15.7-20.5)
EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors	11.0-13.4
Cooling capacity	43,500-48,000 BTU/h
Heating
HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better	7.8-9.6
Capacity at 47°F	42,500-52,000 BTU/h
Capacity at 17°F	34,200-44,500 BTU/h
Capacity at 5°F	29,000-39,500 BTU/h
COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater	1.88-2.20
ENERGY STAR cold climate	Yes

Heating output as it gets colder73% kept at 5°F

Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

Certified matchups191 indoor units

The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 191 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.
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL280UH110E48C*	20.5	12.2	9.6	34,200	217121643
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH080NV60C*	20.5	12.0	9.5	34,000	217117107
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090V60C*	20.5	12.0	9.5	34,200	217117108
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090XV60C*	20.5	12.0	9.5	34,200	217117109
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH100NV60C*	20.5	12.0	9.5	34,200	217117110
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH110XV48C*	20.5	11.7	9.5	34,200	217117120
CBK48MVT-060-230- · cold climate	-	20.5	12.0	9.0	32,600	217117001
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	ML180UH110V60C*	20.5	12.2	9.0	34,000	217121648
CBK48MVT-048-230- · cold climate	-	20.5	12.5	9.0	33,000	217462485
CK40[C,U]T-50/60C-**+TDR	SL280UH080NV60C*	20.5	12.2	8.5	29,400	217117072
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SL280UH135V60D*	20.5	12.6	8.5	31,200	217117075
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SLP99UH135XV60D*	20.5	12.6	8.5	31,400	217117077
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SL280UH080NV60C*	20.5	12.4	8.5	31,400	217117089
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SL297UH080NV48C*	20.5	12.4	8.5	31,400	217117090
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SLP99UH090XV60C*	20.5	12.4	8.5	31,400	217117092
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	EL297UH110XV60C*	20.5	12.4	8.5	31,400	217117093
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	EL297UH135XV60D*	20.5	12.6	8.5	31,400	217117094
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SL280DF090V60C*	20.5	12.0	8.2	32,000	217443392
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SL280DF110V60C*	20.5	12.0	8.2	32,000	217443394
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SLP99DF090XV60C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,400	217443398
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SLP99DF090XV48C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,400	217443397
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SLP99DF110XV60C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,400	217443399
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	SL280DF080NV60C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,200	217443401
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	EL297DF090XV60C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,400	217443403
CK40DT-48C-**+TDR	EL297DF110XV60C*	20.5	11.7	8.2	32,400	217443404
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	ML180UH110E60C*	20.0	12.0	9.6	34,400	217121647
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	ML180UH110XE60C*	20.0	12.0	9.6	34,400	217121649
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH110V60C*	20.0	12.0	9.5	34,200	217117111
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH110XV60C*	20.0	12.0	9.5	34,200	217117112
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL297UH080NV60C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,200	217117114
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH090XV48C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,400	217117115
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH090XV60C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,400	217117116
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH110XV60C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,200	217117117
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH090XV48C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,400	217117118
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH090XV60C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,400	217117119
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH110XV60C*	20.0	11.7	9.5	34,200	217117121
CK40[C,U]T-60D-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH135V60D*	20.0	12.4	9.0	33,800	217117101
CK40[C,U]T-60D-**+TDR · cold climate	SL297UH080NV60C*	20.0	12.0	9.0	34,000	217117103
CK40[C,U]T-60D-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH135XV60D*	20.0	12.2	9.0	34,000	217117104
CK40[C,U]T-60D-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH110XV60C*	20.0	12.2	9.0	34,000	217117105
CK40[C,U]T-60D-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH135XV60D*	20.0	12.2	9.0	34,000	217117106
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	ML296UH110XV60C*	20.0	12.0	9.0	34,000	217121655
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR	ML297UH110XV60C*	20.0	12.0	9.0	31,200	218690728
CK40HT-60D-**+TDR	SL297UH080NV60C*	20.0	12.2	8.5	31,600	217117091
CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR · cold climate	ML193UH110XE48C*	20.0	12.0	8.5	34,000	217121974
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH080NV60C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,200	217443383
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090V60C*	20.0	12.0	8.5	33,200	217443384
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090XV60C*	20.0	12.0	8.5	33,200	217443385
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH110V60C*	20.0	12.0	8.5	33,200	217443387
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH110XV60C*	20.0	12.0	8.5	33,200	217443388
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH090XV48C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,400	217443393
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	SLP99UH110XV60C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,200	217443396
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH090XV48C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,400	217443400
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH110XV48C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,200	217443405
CK40HT-51/61C-**+TDR · cold climate	EL297UH110XV60C*	20.0	11.7	8.5	33,200	217443406
CK40HT-48C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH080NV60C*	20.0	12.0	8.2	33,800	217117056
CK40HT-48C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090V60C*	20.0	11.7	8.2	33,800	217117057
CK40HT-48C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH090XV60C*	20.0	11.7	8.2	33,800	217117058
CK40HT-48C-**+TDR · cold climate	SL280UH100NV60C*	20.0	12.0	8.2	33,800	217117059
CK40[C,U]T-50/60C-**+TDR	SL280UH090V60C*	20.0	12.0	8.2	29,600	217117073

Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,068-$3,019

Phoenix, AZ$1,340/yr
Miami, FL$1,068/yr
Houston, TX$1,202/yr
Atlanta, GA$1,247/yr
Los Angeles, CA$1,221/yr
New York, NY$3,019/yr
Chicago, IL$2,459/yr
Denver, CO$2,050/yr
Seattle, WA$1,265/yr
Minneapolis, MN$2,540/yr

At each state's average electricity price and the city's typical heating and cooling hours.

Questions5

What is the SEER2 rating of the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A?: The Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A is rated at up to 20.5 SEER2 and 12.2 EER2 for cooling and up to 9.6 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 191 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.7-20.5.
Is the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A good for cold climates?: Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 39,500 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.20, so it is still 2.2 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
How much does the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A cost to run per year?: At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,068-$3,019 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,340 in Phoenix and $2,540 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 Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A?: ENERGY STAR lists 191 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use CK40[C,U]T-60C-**+TDR, CBK48MVT-060-230-, CBK48MVT-048-230-.
What refrigerant does the Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A 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 $1,341/yrYou save $1,057/yrSee details ↓

1. Where you live

StateCityElectricity ¢ per kWh

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.

Cooling hours full-load hours per yearHeating hours full-load hours per year

2. The heat pump Lennox EL21KLV-048-230A

Find a model (fills in the ratings below)

SEER2 cooling efficiencyHSPF2 heating efficiencyCooling capacity BTU/hHeating capacity BTU/h

3. What it replaces

Current heatingFurnace efficiency (AFUE %)Gas price, $/thermCurrent coolingOld AC rating SEER2 (10 ≈ 15+ years old)

4. Price replace the example with your quote

Installed price, $Rebates and incentives, $ utility, state

Heat pump, per year: $1,341
Current system, per year: $2,398
You save per year: $1,057
Payback: 16.6 years
Net after 10 years: -$6,933

Cooling $798Heating $543Electricity used: 8,381 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $498

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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Armstrong Air A7CP21V48P-**A · cold climate20.5 SEER2 · 9.6 HSPF2
Trane/American Standard 5HCL9048A1000A · cold climate20.2 SEER2 · 8.7 HSPF2
Carrier 27VNA154A*030 · cold climate21.0 SEER2 · 10.5 HSPF2
SAMYOU VUH48-VA6BA(O) · cold climate20.0 SEER2 · 11.0 HSPF2
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Midea MDV-V48WMN10T · cold climate20.0 SEER2 · 10.1 HSPF2

See all 319 4 ton central heat pumps, ranked

Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of September 30, 2026. How we use the data.