Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 95% 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, 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 (9.7). 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 Panasonic CU-HM18BAHU at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 18,000 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 80% · at 5°F: 95%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $481 a year in Louisiana to $1,787 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¢ | $176 | $305 | $481 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $487 | $61 | $548 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $132 | $426 | $558 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $254 | $308 | $562 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $299 | $271 | $570 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $368 | $207 | $575 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $499 | $85 | $584 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $206 | $392 | $598 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $381 | $230 | $611 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $432 | $180 | $612 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $366 | $255 | $621 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $495 | $142 | $637 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $340 | $299 | $638 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $343 | $301 | $644 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $280 | $377 | $657 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $550 | $111 | $661 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $352 | $309 | $661 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $406 | $263 | $670 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $485 | $196 | $681 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $557 | $144 | $701 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $575 | $155 | $730 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $533 | $209 | $742 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $545 | $202 | $747 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $518 | $230 | $748 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $707 | $85 | $792 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $673 | $142 | $815 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $756 | $71 | $827 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $667 | $171 | $838 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $623 | $221 | $844 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $762 | $83 | $845 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $742 | $117 | $858 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $524 | $352 | $877 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $769 | $152 | $920 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $759 | $184 | $943 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $713 | $253 | $966 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $795 | $183 | $978 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $910 | $112 | $1,022 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $853 | $206 | $1,059 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $950 | $138 | $1,088 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $868 | $262 | $1,130 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $814 | $338 | $1,153 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $1,081 | $163 | $1,244 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $1,056 | $189 | $1,245 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $1,214 | $127 | $1,341 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $1,214 | $200 | $1,415 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $1,235 | $221 | $1,455 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $46 | $1,453 | $1,499 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $1,354 | $164 | $1,517 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $1,373 | $217 | $1,590 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $1,728 | $35 | $1,763 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $1,635 | $152 | $1,787 |
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Panasonic CU-HM18BAHU at U.S.-average rates.
| Model | Cooling BTU/h | SEER2 | HSPF2 | 5°F kept | Est. yearly cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midea MO1HE-H18B-2A | 18,000 | 15.2–19.3 | 10.8 | 103% | $748 (−$58) | Compare |
| LG KUSXB181A | 18,000 | 15.2–17.5 | 10 | 110% | $818 (+$12) | Compare |
| Day & Night D5CUHAH18AAK+KSAIC0701230 | 18,700 | 15.2–16.5 | 9 | 87% | $898 (+$92) | Compare |
| Daikin DH6VSA1810A* | 17,100 | 16–19 | 8.8 | 75% | $788 (−$18) | Compare |
| Lennox EL17XP1-018-230A** | 18,000 | 15.2–16.8 | 8.5 | 54% | $852 (+$46) | Compare |
| MrCool MHP17018A-**A | 18,000 | 15.2–16.8 | 8.1 | 47% | $879 (+$73) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Outdoor model | CU-HM18BAHU |
| Certified by | Panasonic |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 18,000 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 1.5 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 15.2 – 19 |
| EER2 (best) | 12.5 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 9.7 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 19,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 15,200 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 18,000 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 2.06 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 15 |
| Latest certification | 2025-10 |
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 Panasonic CU-HM18BAHU 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 $806 per year ($569 heating, $237 cooling). It ranges from about $481 in Louisiana to $1,787 in Maine.
Does the Panasonic CU-HM18BAHU work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 18,000 BTU/h at 5°F, 95% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 2.06 at 5°F.
What size is the Panasonic CU-HM18BAHU?
It is rated at 18,000 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 1.5 tons, and 19,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.