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      18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · D5C Series

      Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK

      Very good cooling efficiency and average heating efficiency for a 18,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #31 of 465 18,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $465 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      25.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 83%
      HSPF2
      10.5 Heating efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 61%
      EER2
      15.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Excellent · beats 91%
      Heat at 5°F
      19,000 BTU/h95% of its 47°F output
      Average · beats 48%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 83% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 19,000 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 36 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

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

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications18,000 BTU, R-454B
      General
      BrandArcoaire
      Also sold asComfortmaker, Day & Night, Heil, Keeprite, Kenmore, Midea, Tempstar, Smart Comfort, Airquest, LPS Legacy, Viessmann
      Outdoor unit modelD5CMHAH18CAK
      SeriesD5C Series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size18,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceNovember 15, 2018
      Last certifiedMay 28, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better25.0 (range 20.0-25.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors13.0-15.0
      Cooling capacity19,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better10.0-10.5
      Capacity at 47°F20,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F20,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F18,000-19,000 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.00
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder95% kept at 5°F

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

      Certified matchups36 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      - ARCOAIRE · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357125
      - COMFORTMAKER · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357190
      - DAY & NIGHT · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357232
      - HEIL · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357274
      - KEEPRITE · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357316
      - KENMORE · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357358
      - MIDEA · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357400
      - TEMPSTAR · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357457
      - SMART COMFORT · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357526
      - AIRQUEST · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357568
      - LPS Legacy · cold climate25.015.010.519,000215357610
      - Viessmann · cold climate25.015.010.519,000217178817
      - ARCOAIRE · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357129
      - COMFORTMAKER · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357192
      - DAY & NIGHT · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357234
      - HEIL · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357276
      - KEEPRITE · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357318
      - KENMORE · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357360
      - MIDEA · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357402
      - TEMPSTAR · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357461
      - SMART COMFORT · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357528
      - AIRQUEST · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357570
      - LPS Legacy · cold climate22.514.010.318,500215357612
      - Viessmann · cold climate22.514.010.318,500217178819
      - ARCOAIRE · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357127
      - COMFORTMAKER · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357191
      - DAY & NIGHT · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357233
      - HEIL · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357275
      - KEEPRITE · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357317
      - KENMORE · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357359
      - MIDEA · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357401
      - TEMPSTAR · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357459
      - SMART COMFORT · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357527
      - AIRQUEST · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357569
      - LPS Legacy · cold climate20.013.010.018,000215357611
      - Viessmann · cold climate20.013.010.018,000217178818
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$360-$1,156

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

      Questions4
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK?
      The Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK is rated at up to 25.0 SEER2 and 15.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.5 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 36 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 20.0-25.0.
      Is the Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 19,000 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.00, so it is still 2.0 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $360-$1,156 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $471 in Phoenix and $986 in Minneapolis. The calculator on this page works it out for your city and compares it with your current system.
      What refrigerant does the Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK 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 $481/yrYou save $515/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 Arcoaire D5CMHAH18CAK
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $481
      Current system, per year
      $996
      You save per year
      $515
      Payback
      13.6 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$1,848

      Cooling $268Heating $213Electricity used: 3,005 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $286

      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 May 28, 2026. How we use the data.