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      12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · DE-series

      Elios DEA12HOS25230E8

      Very good cooling and heating efficiency for a 12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #111 of 394 12,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $275 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      25.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 83%
      HSPF2
      11.0 Heating efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 75%
      EER2
      13.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 62%
      Heat at 5°F
      8,400 BTU/h70% of its 47°F output
      Excellent · beats 91%

      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 8,400 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 75% of mini-splits.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      Think twice if…

      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications12,000 BTU, R-410A
      General
      BrandElios
      Outdoor unit modelDEA12HOS25230E8
      SeriesDE-series
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size12,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceJanuary 26, 2019
      Last certifiedMay 12, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better25.0 (range 19.0-25.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.7-14.0
      Cooling capacity11,500-12,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better10.0-11.0
      Capacity at 47°F12,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F8,900-9,300 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F8,000-8,400 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater2.26-2.39
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder70% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with DUB12HIFU230X5A at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups10 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.
      DUB12HIFU230X5A ELIOS · cold climate25.013.011.08,400214844431
      DEA12HIW25230E8 ELIOS24.613.710.78,000207742425
      DEA12HIW25230E8 ELIOS24.613.710.78,000207742425
      DUA12HIFU230E5 ELIOS · cold climate22.713.010.28,400207742459
      DUA12HIFU230E5 ELIOS · cold climate22.713.010.28,400207742459
      DUA12HICU230X5 ELIOS22.714.010.08,000207742434
      DUA12HICU230X5 ELIOS22.714.010.08,000207742434
      DUA12HIDU230X5 ELIOS · cold climate19.011.710.38,400207742446
      DM12HIDU230X5 ELIOS · cold climate19.011.710.38,400214810646
      DUA12HIDU230X5 ELIOS · cold climate19.011.710.38,400207742446
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$227-$673

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Elios DEA12HOS25230E8?
      The Elios DEA12HOS25230E8 is rated at up to 25.0 SEER2 and 13.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 11.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 10 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 19.0-25.0.
      Is the Elios DEA12HOS25230E8 good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 8,400 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 2.39, so it is still 2.4 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Elios DEA12HOS25230E8 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $227-$673 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $289 in Phoenix and $569 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 Elios DEA12HOS25230E8?
      ENERGY STAR lists 10 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use ELIOS DUB12HIFU230X5A, ELIOS DEA12HIW25230E8, ELIOS DUA12HIFU230E5.
      What refrigerant does the Elios DEA12HOS25230E8 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.

      Heat pump $291/yrYou save $328/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 Elios DEA12HOS25230E8
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $291
      Current system, per year
      $619
      You save per year
      $328
      Payback
      13.7 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$1,224

      Cooling $169Heating $122Electricity used: 1,820 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $183

      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 12, 2026. How we use the data.