Our take in 30 seconds
Best for: mild climates or homes with backup heatStrengths
- Uses newer, lower-impact R-454B refrigerant
- Also sold under 6 other badges, so you can compare more quotes for the same unit
Good to know
- Only 50% of its heat output remains at 5°F; plan on backup heat in hard freezes
Running-cost calculator
Pre-filled with EIA prices · edit any fieldUses the base certified SEER2 (15.2) 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 Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA* at the three ENERGY STAR test temperatures (cooling capacity is 38,000 BTU/h for reference).
Retention at 17°F: 62% · at 5°F: 50%. Learn how to use these numbers in our cold-climate guide.
Estimated running cost in every state
Same unit, very different bills: from about $1,057 a year in Louisiana to $4,152 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¢ | $413 | $643 | $1,057 |
| Florida | 14.99¢ | $309 | $899 | $1,209 |
| Mississippi | 14.43¢ | $596 | $649 | $1,245 |
| Washington | 14.63¢ | $1,141 | $128 | $1,269 |
| Nevada | 12.72¢ | $700 | $572 | $1,273 |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $862 | $436 | $1,298 |
| Arizona | 15.05¢ | $483 | $828 | $1,311 |
| Oregon | 15.92¢ | $1,169 | $179 | $1,348 |
| North Carolina | 14.95¢ | $892 | $486 | $1,378 |
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $1,013 | $380 | $1,393 |
| Arkansas | 14.37¢ | $857 | $539 | $1,396 |
| South Carolina | 15.76¢ | $795 | $630 | $1,426 |
| Georgia | 15.90¢ | $802 | $636 | $1,438 |
| Texas | 15.91¢ | $657 | $796 | $1,452 |
| Utah | 13.31¢ | $1,160 | $299 | $1,460 |
| Alabama | 16.33¢ | $824 | $653 | $1,477 |
| Oklahoma | 14.82¢ | $952 | $556 | $1,508 |
| Idaho | 13.37¢ | $1,288 | $234 | $1,522 |
| New Mexico | 16.51¢ | $1,136 | $413 | $1,549 |
| Nebraska | 13.54¢ | $1,305 | $305 | $1,609 |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $1,347 | $326 | $1,673 |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $1,250 | $441 | $1,690 |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $1,214 | $485 | $1,699 |
| Kansas | 15.47¢ | $1,278 | $425 | $1,703 |
| Wyoming | 14.43¢ | $1,655 | $180 | $1,836 |
| Colorado | 17.17¢ | $1,576 | $300 | $1,876 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢ | $1,771 | $150 | $1,921 |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $1,562 | $362 | $1,924 |
| Delaware | 18.70¢ | $1,459 | $468 | $1,926 |
| Montana | 15.57¢ | $1,786 | $175 | $1,961 |
| California | 29.75¢ | $1,228 | $744 | $1,972 |
| South Dakota | 15.15¢ | $1,738 | $246 | $1,984 |
| Iowa | 17.06¢ | $1,800 | $320 | $2,120 |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $1,778 | $388 | $2,166 |
| Maryland | 21.40¢ | $1,669 | $535 | $2,204 |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $1,862 | $386 | $2,248 |
| Minnesota | 17.20¢ | $2,131 | $236 | $2,367 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.77¢ | $1,998 | $435 | $2,433 |
| Wisconsin | 19.41¢ | $2,226 | $291 | $2,518 |
| New Jersey | 24.61¢ | $2,032 | $554 | $2,586 |
| District of Columbia | 25.98¢ | $1,907 | $714 | $2,622 |
| Connecticut | 24.51¢ | $2,474 | $398 | $2,872 |
| Michigan | 22.99¢ | $2,532 | $345 | $2,876 |
| Vermont | 23.84¢ | $2,844 | $268 | $3,112 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢ | $108 | $3,067 | $3,175 |
| Rhode Island | 28.18¢ | $2,845 | $423 | $3,267 |
| New York | 28.65¢ | $2,892 | $466 | $3,358 |
| New Hampshire | 27.64¢ | $3,170 | $346 | $3,516 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢ | $3,217 | $457 | $3,674 |
| Alaska | 29.41¢ | $4,048 | $74 | $4,122 |
| Maine | 32.11¢ | $3,831 | $321 | $4,152 |
Same equipment sold under other brands
These listings share the same certifying manufacturer (Carrier Corporation) 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.
- Comfortmaker C5H8T36*K*AAA*
- Day & Night C5H8T36*K*AAA*
- Keeprite C5H8T36*K*AAA*
- Airquest H5H8T36*K*AAA*
Plus 2 more identical listings in the ENERGY STAR database.
Similar-size alternatives
Other ducted split system units within ±15% of this model's cooling capacity, sorted by efficiency. Cost difference is versus the Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA* 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 (−$479) | Compare |
| Bryant 37MUHAQ36AA3 | 36,000 | 15.8–18 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,527 (−$305) | Compare |
| Daikin DH9VSA361CA* | 34,200 | 16.9–21 | 10 | 100% | $1,398 (−$435) | Compare |
| Panasonic CU-HM36BAHU | 36,000 | 15.6–17.4 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,533 (−$300) | Compare |
| MrCool CENTRAL-36-HP-C-230B00-O | 36,000 | 15.2–17.4 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,545 (−$287) | Compare |
| Midea MO1SE-H36B-2A | 36,000 | 15.2–18 | 10.3 | 103% | $1,545 (−$287) | Compare |
Full specifications
| Brand | Tempstar |
| Outdoor model | T5H8T36*K*AAA* |
| Certified by | Carrier Corporation |
| Product type | Ducted split system |
| Compressor | Two-stage |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |
| Cooling capacity | 38,000 BTU/h |
| Nominal size | 3 tons |
| SEER2 (certified range) | 15.2 – 16.5 |
| EER2 (best) | 13 |
| HSPF2 (best) | 8.5 |
| Heating capacity @ 47°F | 39,000 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 17°F | 24,200 BTU/h |
| Heating capacity @ 5°F | 19,600 BTU/h |
| COP @ 5°F | 2.4 |
| ENERGY STAR cold-climate | No |
| Certified indoor pairings | 211 |
| 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 Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA* 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 $1,833 per year ($1,333 heating, $499 cooling). It ranges from about $1,057 in Louisiana to $4,152 in Maine.
Does the Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA* work in cold weather?
It is not ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified. It delivers 19,600 BTU/h at 5°F (50% of its 47°F capacity), so in very cold climates expect more reliance on backup heat.
What size is the Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA*?
It is rated at 38,000 BTU/h of cooling, roughly 3 tons, and 39,000 BTU/h of heating at 47°F. Proper sizing should be confirmed with a Manual J load calculation.
Is the Tempstar T5H8T36*K*AAA* the same as the Comfortmaker C5H8T36*K*AAA*?
Very likely. Both are certified by Carrier Corporation with identical capacities and efficiency ratings in the ENERGY STAR database, which indicates the same equipment sold under different brands.