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      2.5-ton central heat pump · PRESTIGE SERIES

      Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC

      Excellent cooling efficiency and very good heating efficiency for a 2.5-ton central heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #7 of 199 2.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $845 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      20.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Excellent · beats 94%
      HSPF2
      10.0 Heating efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 84%
      EER2
      12.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 64%
      Heat at 5°F
      29,600 BTU/h86% of its 47°F output
      Very good · beats 76%

      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 29,600 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 84% 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

      Specifications2.5 ton, R-454B
      General
      BrandFriedrich
      Also sold asRheem, RUSSELL, Sure, Ruud
      Outdoor unit modelRD18AY36AJVC
      SeriesPRESTIGE SERIES
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size2.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-454B
      Connected (smart) capableYes
      On the market sinceDecember 14, 2024
      Last certifiedSeptember 16, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better20.0 (range 15.2-20.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.7-13.0
      Cooling capacity31,000-32,800 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better8.1-10.0
      Capacity at 47°F31,000-36,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F28,000-31,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F23,600-29,600 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.90-2.20
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder86% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with SH2VY3621STACN at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups1,142 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 1,142 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      SH2VY3621STACN · cold climate-20.012.08.527,400216892273
      RH2VY3621STACN · cold climate-20.012.08.527,400216891863
      RH2VY3621STACN · cold climate-20.012.08.527,400216891865
      SH2VY3621STACN · cold climate-20.012.08.527,400216892070
      FRH2VY3621STACN · cold climate-20.012.08.527,400217166006
      RH2VY3621MTACN · cold climate-19.013.010.027,800216613162
      RH2VY3621MTACN-19.013.010.027,800216613168
      RH2VY3621MTACN · cold climate-19.013.010.027,800216613163
      RH2VY3621MTACN-19.013.010.027,800216613167
      RH2VY3621MTACN · cold climate-19.013.010.027,800216613170
      TCFY3624MTANM · cold climateS962V1155A24M419.012.010.027,600216892267
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateFR802V1005A21DZ19.012.010.027,600216891263
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateR801V0754A17DZ19.012.010.028,000216891264
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR921V1155A24M419.012.010.027,600216891745
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR951V0705A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891750
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V0755A21UH19.012.010.027,800216891753
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1005A21UHS19.012.010.027,800216891789
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR98MV1005A21UP19.012.010.028,000216891790
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR951V0705A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891806
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU97MV1005A21DHS19.012.010.027,800216891791
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU97MV1155A24DHS19.012.010.027,800216891793
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR802V0755A21UH19.012.010.027,800216891794
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR921V0855A21M419.012.010.028,000216891796
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR97MV0855A21DH19.012.010.027,800216891807
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR951V0855A21M419.012.010.028,000216891798
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU97MV0855A21DHS19.012.010.027,800216891799
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR802V1505A24UH19.012.010.027,800216891800
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR951V0705A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891801
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1255A24DZ19.012.010.027,800216891803
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR98MV1005A21UP19.012.010.028,000216891809
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU98MV1005A21UPS19.012.010.028,000216891810
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR801V1005A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891813
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V0755A21UH19.012.010.027,800216891812
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V0755A21DZ19.012.010.027,800216891811
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR98MV1155A24UP19.012.010.027,800216891814
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR801V1005A21DZ19.012.010.027,600216891815
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1005A21DZ19.012.010.027,600216891816
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1005A21DZ19.012.010.027,600216891817
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU98MV1155A24UPS19.012.010.027,800216891818
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR801V1005A21UHN19.012.010.027,800216891819
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR921V1155A24M419.012.010.027,600216891822
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR801V1255A24DZ19.012.010.027,800216891820
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateU98MV0855A21UPS19.012.010.027,800216891823
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V1005A21DZ19.012.010.027,600216891825
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1255A24DZ19.012.010.027,800216891826
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR98MV0855A21UP19.012.010.027,800216891827
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V1505A24UH19.012.010.027,800216891829
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1005A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891830
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR951V1155A24M419.012.010.027,600216891831
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR921V0855A21M419.012.010.028,000216891833
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR801V1255A24UH19.012.010.027,800216891834
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateR802V0755A21DZ19.012.010.027,800216891835
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR802V1255A24UH19.012.010.027,800216891828
      RCFY3624MTANM · cold climateFR802V1005A21UH19.012.010.027,800216891836
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateU98MV0855A21UPS19.012.010.027,800216891247
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateR801V0755A21DZ19.012.010.027,800216891294
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateFR801V1005A21UHN19.012.010.027,800216891249
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateFR802V1004A17UH19.012.010.027,800216891250
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateFR98MV0855A21UP19.012.010.027,800216891251
      RCFY3621MTANM · cold climateR951V0705A21UHU19.012.010.027,800216891252
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$748-$2,027

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC?
      The Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC is rated at up to 20.0 SEER2 and 12.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.0 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 1142 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-20.0.
      Is the Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 29,600 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 Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $748-$2,027 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $925 in Phoenix and $1,697 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 Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC?
      ENERGY STAR lists 1142 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use SH2VY3621STACN, RH2VY3621STACN, FRH2VY3621STACN.
      What refrigerant does the Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC 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 $920/yrYou save $726/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 Friedrich RD18AY36AJVC
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $920
      Current system, per year
      $1,646
      You save per year
      $726
      Payback
      16.5 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$4,741

      Cooling $560Heating $361Electricity used: 5,752 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $343

      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.

      Similar 2.5 ton models

      See all 199 2.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of September 16, 2026. How we use the data.