HVAC Rated
    Menu

      3.5-ton central heat pump · LX SERIES

      York YH2F42TB21

      Below average cooling and heating efficiency for a 3.5-ton central heat pump, but not rated for cold climates.

      Ranks #87 of 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps for cooling efficiency, and costs about $1,315 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      16.0 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 26%
      HSPF2
      8.1 Heating efficiency over a season
      Below average · beats 20%
      EER2
      12.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Average · beats 64%
      Heat at 5°F
      22,600 BTU/h55% of its 47°F output
      Excellent · beats 96%

      A good fit if…

      • You want a choice of indoor units - 449 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • You often see nights below 0°F - it is not cold-climate certified.
      • Cooling cost matters most - its SEER2 is below average for central heat pumps.
      • You mainly need heat - its HSPF2 is below average for central heat pumps.
      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications3.5 ton, R-410A
      General
      BrandYork
      Outdoor unit modelYH2F42TB21
      SeriesLX SERIES
      TypeCentral heat pump
      Nominal size3.5 ton
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerTwo-stage
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceMay 18, 2023
      Last certifiedJuly 17, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better16.0 (range 15.2-16.0)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.7-12.0
      Cooling capacity39,500-42,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better7.8-8.1
      Capacity at 47°F37,400-41,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F24,200-26,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F18,400-22,600 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.98-2.42
      ENERGY STAR cold climateNo
      Heating output as it gets colder55% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with XAHC48FBCN1 at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups449 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit and furnace. The 60 highest-rated of 449 are shown. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitFurnaceSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E080C20LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475505
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E080C20LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475040
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E120C20LMPS116.011.78.122,200212475491
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E120C16LMPS116.011.78.122,400212475714
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E080C20LMPS116.011.78.121,000212475937
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E100C20LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475929
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E080C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475731
      XAFD48FBCN1Y81E130D20LMPS116.012.08.120,800212475710
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E100C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475501
      XAFC48FBCN1Y81E080C20LMPS116.011.78.121,000212475939
      XAFD48FBCN1Y81E080C16LMPS116.011.78.121,200212475044
      XAHD48FBCN1Y82E120C20LMPS116.011.78.122,200212413384
      XAFD48FBCN1Y82E120C20LMPS116.011.78.121,200212413388
      XAHD48FBCN1Y82E100C20LMPS116.012.08.121,800212413393
      XAHC48FBCN1Y82E100C20LMPS116.012.08.122,200212413395
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY82E100C20LMPS116.011.78.121,000212413398
      XAFC48FBCN1Y82E120C20LMPS116.011.78.120,800212413390
      XAFD48FBCN1Y82E100C20LMPS116.012.08.120,800212413397
      XAFC48FBCN1Y82E100C20LMPS116.011.78.121,000212413399
      XAFD48FBCN1Y82E100C16LMPS116.012.08.120,800212413406
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY82E080C16LMPS116.012.08.121,000212413416
      XAFD48FBCN1Y82E080C16LMPS116.012.08.121,000212413415
      XAHD48FBCN1Y82E100C16LMPS116.012.08.122,000212413402
      XAHC48FBCN1Y82E080C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212413413
      XAFD48FBCN1Y81E130D20SMPS116.012.08.120,800212413427
      XAHC48FBCN1Y82E080B12LMPS116.012.08.122,000212413420
      XAFC48FBCN1Y82E080C16LMPS116.012.08.121,000212413417
      XAHD48FBCN1Y82E080C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212413411
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E080C20SMPS116.012.08.122,200212413470
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E080C16SMPS116.012.08.122,200212413479
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E080C16SMPS116.012.08.122,200212413481
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E080C20SMPS116.012.08.122,200212413472
      XAFD48FBCN1Y81E080C16SMPS116.011.78.121,200212413483
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E080C20SMPS116.011.78.121,000212413475
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E080B12SMPS116.012.08.122,000212413488
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E080C16SMPS116.011.78.121,200212413484
      XAFC48FBCN1Y81E080C16SMPS116.011.78.121,200212413485
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E120C16LMPS116.011.78.121,400212475493
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E080C16LMPS116.011.78.121,200212475507
      XAFC48FBCN1Y81E080C16LMPS116.011.78.121,200212475509
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E100C20LMPS116.012.08.122,200212476104
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E120C20LMPS116.011.78.122,200212475028
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E130D20SMPS116.012.08.122,000212413425
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E120C20SMPS116.011.78.122,200212413429
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E120C20SMPS116.011.78.122,200212413431
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E120C16SMPS116.012.08.122,000212413438
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E120C16SMPS116.011.78.122,400212413440
      XAFC48FBCN1Y81E120C16SMPS116.011.78.121,400212413444
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY81E120C16SMPS116.011.78.121,400212413443
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E100C20SMPS116.012.08.122,200212413447
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E130D20LMPS116.012.08.122,000212475256
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E120C16LMPS116.012.08.122,000212475260
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E080C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475271
      XAHC48FBCN1Y81E100B12LMPS116.011.78.122,200212475268
      XAFC48FBCN1Y81E120C16LMPS116.011.78.121,400212475495
      XAHD48FBCN1Y81E100C16LMPS116.012.08.122,200212475036
      XAHC48FBCN1Y91E080C20SMPS116.011.78.122,400212413378
      XAHC48FBCN1Y82E120C20LMPS116.012.08.122,000212413386
      XAFC48FXXN1+TXVY82E120C20LMPS116.011.78.120,800212413389
      XAFD48FBCN1Y81E080C20LMPS116.011.78.121,000212476111
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$1,189-$3,131

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the York YH2F42TB21?
      The York YH2F42TB21 is rated at up to 16.0 SEER2 and 12.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 8.1 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 449 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 15.2-16.0.
      Is the York YH2F42TB21 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 3.5-ton model.
      How much does the York YH2F42TB21 cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $1,189-$3,131 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $1,459 in Phoenix and $2,611 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 York YH2F42TB21?
      ENERGY STAR lists 449 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use XAHC48FBCN1, XAHD48FBCN1, XAFC48FXXN1+TXV.
      What refrigerant does the York YH2F42TB21 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 $1,444/yrYou save $636/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 York YH2F42TB21
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $1,444
      Current system, per year
      $2,080
      You save per year
      $636
      Payback
      23.6 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$8,640

      Cooling $891Heating $553Electricity used: 9,026 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $150

      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 3.5 ton models

      See all 138 3.5 ton central heat pumps, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of July 17, 2026. How we use the data.