Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: cold and very cold climatesStrengths
- Keeps 83% of its heat at 5°F, so backup heat rarely runs
- Variable-speed compressor: quieter, steadier temperatures and better humidity control
- Also sold under 4 other badges, so you can compare more quotes for the same unit
Good to know
- Uses R-410A, a refrigerant being phased down; future service may cost more
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (17) and HSPF2 (8.5). 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 Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 34,200 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 88% · at 5°F: 83%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $899 a year in Louisiana to $3,796 in Alaska, 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¢ | $382 | $518 | $899 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $286 | $724 | $1,009 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $550 | $523 | $1,073 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $646 | $461 | $1,107 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $446 | $666 | $1,112 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $796 | $351 | $1,147 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $1,053 | $103 | $1,156 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $823 | $391 | $1,214 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $1,079 | $144 | $1,223 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $791 | $434 | $1,225 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $935 | $305 | $1,241 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $734 | $507 | $1,242 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $606 | $640 | $1,247 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $741 | $512 | $1,253 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $761 | $526 | $1,286 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1,071 | $241 | $1,312 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $879 | $447 | $1,326 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1,189 | $188 | $1,377 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $1,049 | $332 | $1,381 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1,204 | $245 | $1,449 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $1,243 | $262 | $1,506 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $1,153 | $355 | $1,508 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1,121 | $390 | $1,511 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $1,179 | $342 | $1,522 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1,528 | $145 | $1,673 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1,454 | $242 | $1,696 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1,346 | $376 | $1,723 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1,134 | $598 | $1,732 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1,442 | $291 | $1,733 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1,635 | $120 | $1,755 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $1,649 | $141 | $1,790 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1,604 | $198 | $1,802 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $1,662 | $257 | $1,919 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $1,642 | $312 | $1,954 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1,541 | $431 | $1,971 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $1,718 | $311 | $2,029 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $1,967 | $190 | $2,157 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1,844 | $350 | $2,194 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2,055 | $234 | $2,289 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $1,876 | $446 | $2,322 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1,761 | $575 | $2,335 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $100 | $2,468 | $2,568 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $2,284 | $321 | $2,604 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2,337 | $278 | $2,614 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $2,625 | $216 | $2,841 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $2,626 | $340 | $2,966 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $2,670 | $375 | $3,044 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $2,927 | $278 | $3,205 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $2,969 | $368 | $3,337 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $3,536 | $258 | $3,794 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $3,737 | $59 | $3,796 |
Same equipment sold under other brands
These listings share the same certifying manufacturer (Rheem Sales Company, Inc.) and identical certified capacities and efficiency ratings, so they are almost certainly the same hardware with a different badge. If you get quotes for any of them, you are comparing installation price and warranty, not equipment. How rebadging works.
- Friedrich RD17AZ36AJ3N
- Rheem RD17AZ36AJ3N
- RUSSELL RD17AZ36AJ3N
- Sure RD17AZ36AJ3N
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N 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 (−$279) | Compare |
| Payne 37MUHAQ30AA3 | 30,000 | 15.3–17.5 | 10.8 | 98% | $1,306 (−$326) | Compare |
| Midea MO1HE-H30B-2A | 30,000 | 15.2–17.5 | 10.8 | 98% | $1,309 (−$323) | Compare |
| Bryant 37MUHAQ36AA3 | 36,000 | 15.8–18 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,527 (−$105) | Compare |
| Daikin DH9VSA361CA* | 34,200 | 16.9–21 | 10 | 100% | $1,398 (−$235) | Compare |
| Panasonic CU-HM36BAHU | 36,000 | 15.6–17.4 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,533 (−$100) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Ruud |
| Outdoor model | RD17AZ36AJ3N |
| Certified by | Rheem Sales Company, Inc. |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Variable-speed (inverter) |
| Refrigerant | R-410A |
| Cooling capacity | 34,200 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 3 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 17 – 19 |
| EER2 (best) | 12 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 8.5 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 36,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 31,600 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 29,800 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 2.3 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | Yes |
| Certified indoor pairings | 44 |
| Latest certification | 2026-06 |
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 Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N 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 $1,632 per year ($1,231 heating, $402 cooling). It ranges from about $899 in Louisiana to $3,796 in Alaska.
Does the Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N work in cold weather?
Yes. It is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified and delivers 29,800 BTU/h at 5°F, 83% of its 47°F capacity, with a COP of 2.3 at 5°F.
What size is the Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N?
It is rated at 34,200 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 3 tons, and 36,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.
Is the Ruud RD17AZ36AJ3N the same as the Friedrich RD17AZ36AJ3N?
Very likely. Both are certified by Rheem Sales Company, Inc. with identical capacities and efficiency ratings in the ENERGY STAR database, which indicates the same equipment sold under different brands.