Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 92% 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
- No notable drawbacks in the certified data.
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (15.2) and HSPF2 (9.5). 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-HM48BAHU at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 48,000 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 79% · at 5°F: 92%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $1,287 a year in Louisiana to $4,800 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¢ | $474 | $813 | $1,287 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $1,309 | $162 | $1,471 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $355 | $1,136 | $1,491 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $684 | $820 | $1,504 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $803 | $723 | $1,526 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $989 | $551 | $1,540 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $1,341 | $226 | $1,567 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $554 | $1,046 | $1,600 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $1,023 | $614 | $1,637 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $1,162 | $479 | $1,641 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $983 | $681 | $1,664 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $912 | $796 | $1,709 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1,331 | $378 | $1,709 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $921 | $803 | $1,724 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $754 | $1,005 | $1,758 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $945 | $825 | $1,771 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1,478 | $296 | $1,773 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $1,092 | $702 | $1,794 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $1,303 | $521 | $1,825 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1,497 | $385 | $1,881 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $1,545 | $412 | $1,957 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $1,433 | $556 | $1,990 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $1,466 | $537 | $2,003 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1,393 | $613 | $2,005 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1,899 | $228 | $2,127 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1,807 | $380 | $2,187 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $2,032 | $189 | $2,221 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1,792 | $457 | $2,248 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1,673 | $591 | $2,264 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $2,049 | $221 | $2,270 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1,993 | $311 | $2,304 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1,409 | $939 | $2,349 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $2,065 | $404 | $2,469 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $2,040 | $490 | $2,530 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1,915 | $676 | $2,591 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $2,135 | $488 | $2,623 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2,444 | $299 | $2,743 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $2,292 | $550 | $2,842 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2,554 | $368 | $2,922 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $2,331 | $699 | $3,031 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $2,188 | $902 | $3,090 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2,904 | $436 | $3,340 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $2,838 | $503 | $3,341 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $3,262 | $339 | $3,601 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $3,263 | $534 | $3,797 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $3,317 | $588 | $3,905 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $124 | $3,874 | $3,998 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $3,637 | $436 | $4,073 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $3,690 | $578 | $4,267 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $4,644 | $93 | $4,737 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $4,394 | $406 | $4,800 |
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-HM48BAHU at U.S.-average rates.
| Model | Cooling BTU/h | SEER2 | HSPF2 | 5°F kept | Est. yearly cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruud UP19AY48AJVC | 45,500 | 18–19 | 10 | 92% | $1,827 (−$333) | Compare |
| Gree GUD60W2/NHE-D(U) | 53,000 | 16–19 | 10.5 | 100% | $2,156 (−$4) | Compare |
| Heil B5H3V48*K*AAA* | 46,500 | 20–23 | 9.5 | 76% | $1,963 (−$197) | Compare |
| Tempstar T5H3V48*K*AAA* | 46,500 | 19.5–23 | 9.5 | 72% | $2,113 (−$47) | Compare |
| Rheem RD18AY48AJVC | 43,500 | 16–19 | 10 | 88% | $1,793 (−$368) | Compare |
| Rheem RD18AY60AJVC | 52,000 | 16–18 | 10 | 66% | $2,393 (+$232) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Outdoor model | CU-HM48BAHU |
| Certified by | Panasonic |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 48,000 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 4 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 15.2 – 16.6 |
| EER2 (best) | 10.5 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 9.5 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 50,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 39,500 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 46,000 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 1.9 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 9 |
| Latest certification | 2026-10 |
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-HM48BAHU 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 $2,160 per year ($1,529 heating, $631 cooling). It ranges from about $1,287 in Louisiana to $4,800 in Maine.
Does the Panasonic CU-HM48BAHU work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 46,000 BTU/h at 5°F, 92% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 1.9 at 5°F.
What size is the Panasonic CU-HM48BAHU?
It is rated at 48,000 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 4 tons, and 50,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.