Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 80% of its heat at 5°F, so backup heat rarely runs
- Variable-speed compressor: quieter, steadier temperatures and better humidity control
- Uses newer, lower-impact R-454B refrigerant
Good to know
- Efficiency depends on the indoor unit: SEER2 ranges 15.2–19.3, so ask which pairing you're quoted
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (15.2) and HSPF2 (9.6). Assumes the unit is correctly sized. How we calculate.
Heating capacity as it gets colder
A heat pump's output falls as outdoor temperature drops. This is the certified heat output of the Lennox EL18KSLV-036-230A** at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 36,200 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 77% · at 5°F: 80%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $974 a year in Louisiana to $3,654 in Maine, driven by local electricity prices and how much heating or cooling the climate needs. Click a column to sort.
| State | Price | Heating | Cooling | Total / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 12.87¢ | $361 | $613 | $974 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $997 | $122 | $1,119 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $271 | $857 | $1,127 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $521 | $619 | $1,139 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $612 | $545 | $1,157 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $753 | $415 | $1,169 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $1,022 | $171 | $1,192 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $422 | $789 | $1,211 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $779 | $463 | $1,242 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $886 | $362 | $1,247 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $749 | $513 | $1,263 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $695 | $601 | $1,296 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1,014 | $285 | $1,299 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $701 | $606 | $1,307 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $574 | $758 | $1,332 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $720 | $622 | $1,343 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1,126 | $223 | $1,349 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $832 | $529 | $1,362 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $993 | $393 | $1,386 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1,140 | $290 | $1,431 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $1,177 | $311 | $1,488 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $1,092 | $420 | $1,512 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $1,117 | $405 | $1,522 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1,061 | $462 | $1,523 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1,447 | $172 | $1,619 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1,377 | $286 | $1,663 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1,548 | $143 | $1,691 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1,365 | $345 | $1,710 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1,275 | $445 | $1,720 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $1,561 | $167 | $1,728 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1,519 | $235 | $1,753 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1,074 | $709 | $1,782 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $1,574 | $305 | $1,878 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $1,554 | $369 | $1,924 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1,459 | $510 | $1,969 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $1,627 | $368 | $1,995 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $1,862 | $225 | $2,088 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1,746 | $415 | $2,161 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $1,946 | $277 | $2,223 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $1,777 | $527 | $2,304 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1,667 | $681 | $2,348 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2,213 | $329 | $2,541 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $2,162 | $379 | $2,542 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $2,486 | $255 | $2,741 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $2,486 | $403 | $2,889 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $2,528 | $444 | $2,971 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $95 | $2,921 | $3,016 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $2,771 | $329 | $3,100 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $2,811 | $436 | $3,247 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $3,538 | $70 | $3,608 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $3,348 | $306 | $3,654 |
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Lennox EL18KSLV-036-230A** at U.S.-average rates.
| Model | Cooling BTU/h | SEER2 | HSPF2 | 5°F kept | Est. yearly cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruud UP19AY36AJVC | 34,200 | 19–21 | 10 | 87% | $1,353 (−$288) | Compare |
| Bryant 37MUHAQ36AA3 | 36,000 | 15.8–18 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,527 (−$114) | Compare |
| Daikin DH9VSA361CA* | 34,200 | 16.9–21 | 10 | 100% | $1,398 (−$243) | Compare |
| Panasonic CU-HM36BAHU | 36,000 | 15.6–17.4 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,533 (−$108) | Compare |
| MrCool CENTRAL-36-HP-C-230B00-O | 36,000 | 15.2–17.4 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,545 (−$96) | Compare |
| Midea MO1SE-H36B-2A | 36,000 | 15.2–18 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,545 (−$96) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Lennox |
| Outdoor model | EL18KSLV-036-230A** |
| Certified by | Lennox Industries |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 36,200 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 3 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 15.2 – 19.3 |
| EER2 (best) | 12 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 9.6 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 38,500 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 29,600 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 30,800 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 1.95 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 355 |
| Latest certification | 2026-09 |
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), retrieved November 7, 2026. Capacities and HSPF2 are the highest values across certified pairings; confirm your exact system's AHRI reference number with your installer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Lennox EL18KSLV-036-230A** cost to run per year?
At the U.S. average residential electricity price of 18.16¢/kWh and typical national heating and cooling hours, we estimate about $1,641 per year ($1,165 heating, $476 cooling). It ranges from about $974 in Louisiana to $3,654 in Maine.
Does the Lennox EL18KSLV-036-230A** work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 30,800 BTU/h at 5°F, 80% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 1.95 at 5°F.
What size is the Lennox EL18KSLV-036-230A**?
It is rated at 36,200 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 3 tons, and 38,500 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.