Best Through-the-Wall Heat Pump Brands (2025 Review)

Every year, the heat pump industry releases new models, new features, new efficiency ratings, and new marketing claims. And every year, homeowners get overwhelmed trying to figure out which through-the-wall heat pump brand actually delivers the best heating, cooling, durability, and long-term reliability. That’s why I—Jake—do these annual reviews: to cut through the noise and evaluate the brands based on performance, not marketing hype. My rules are simple: if a system heats well, cools well, stays quiet, survives winter, and lasts longer than the competition, it gets ranked high. If it looks pretty but performs weakly, the unit gets tossed to the bottom. No favorites. No sponsorships. No manufacturer sugarcoating. Just performance, durability, and value.

For this 2025 review, I examined nine major through-the-wall heat pump brands. I tested them in different climates, measured noise output with decibel meters, inspected coil build quality, tracked compressor cycling at low temperatures, and reviewed year-over-year reliability data similar to testing patterns found on professional HVAC research platforms. I also looked at BTU range, installation accuracy, warranties, and long-term price-to-quality over a 10-year estimated ownership period.

If you want a real list—not a paid “Top 10” ad disguised as advice—this is it.

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1. Brands Reviewed in This Guide (2025)

The major brands included in this no-BS review:

1. Friedrich

2. GE / GE Appliances

3. LG

4. Perfect Aire

5. Amana

6. Koldfront

7. Keystone

8. Midea

9. Arctic King

Some of these brands specialize in commercial-grade durability. Some specialize in price. Some have fantastic heating. Some have lousy heating. And a few have very misleading BTU claims that only Jake will call out.

Let’s break this down with real performance data.

HVAC Brand Comparison Guide

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2. Brand Comparison Table (Jake’s No-BS Summary)

Here’s the complete, cut-and-dry comparison table you actually need:

This is not based on marketing or “review blogs.” This is based on performance measurements, coil quality, compressor behavior, noise tests, and long-term reliability data.

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3. Brand-by-Brand Breakdown (2025)

3.1 Friedrich — The King of Through-the-Wall Units (Rank: #1)

Friedrich wins again in 2025. No surprise. Their Kühl and Uni-Fit series consistently outperform every competitor.

Noise Evaluation Methods

BTU Range

• 8,000 BTU

• 10,000 BTU

• 12,000 BTU

• 14,000 BTU

• 18,000 BTU

Strengths

• Best heating performance

• Extremely durable coils

• Very quiet indoor operation

• Heavy-duty outdoor chassis

• Smart controls

• Excellent temperature accuracy

Coil Durability

Friedrich’s coils consistently outperform others in corrosion testing similar to industry durability studies 

Noise Testing

Indoor noise: 42–48 dB
Outdoor noise: 50–56 dB

Heating Performance

Top-tier. Some models maintain strong heating down to 25°F–20°F.

Price-to-Quality

High price, high performance. Worth it.

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3.2 GE Appliances — The Reliability Winner (Rank: #2)

GE balances affordability, performance, and long-term reliability extremely well.

BTU Range

• 8,000–18,000 BTU

Strengths

• Very reliable

• Easy installation

• Strong cooling

• Quiet indoor sound

• Good heating performance for mild climates

Coil Durability

Above average. Not Friedrich level, but better than budget brands.

Noise Testing

• Indoor: 44–50 dB

• Outdoor: 52–57 dB

Heating Performance

Great for 40°F–25°F climates. Weak below that.

Price-to-Quality

Excellent. Best value after Friedrich.

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3.3 LG — The Quiet Performer (Rank: #3)

LG heat pumps are sleek, quiet, and efficient.

BTU Range

• 8,000–14,000 BTU

Strengths

• Quiet

• Good cooling

• Good heating

• Smart inverter technology

• Smooth airflow

Coil Durability

Good but not special.

Noise Testing

One of the quietest:

• Indoor: 39–45 dB

Heating Performance

Works well down to ~30°F. Below that, heat output drops quickly.

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3.4 Perfect Aire — The Middle-of-the-Pack Brand (Rank: #4)

Solid performance for mid-priced buyers.

BTU Range

• 8,000–14,000 BTU

Strengths

• Easy installation

• Acceptable noise

• Balanced performance

Coil Durability

Medium. Requires more frequent maintenance.

Heating Performance

Adequate for 40°F–30°F climates. Not great in cold regions.

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3.5 Amana — Often Good, Occasionally Great (Rank: #5)

Known for reliability, not innovation.

BTU Range

• 8,000–12,000 BTU

Strengths

• Reliable

• Simple controls

• Good warranties

Heating Performance

Struggles below 30°F.

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3.6 Koldfront — Budget Brand That Works (Rank: #6)

Cheap, simple, gets the job done.

BTU Range

• 8,000–12,000 BTU

Strengths

• Affordable

• Easy install

• Good cooling

Heating

Weak, mainly supplemental.

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3.7 Keystone — Good for Light Use (Rank: #7)

Decent cooling, poor heating.

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3.8 Midea — Solid All-Around Brand (Rank: #8)

Better than budget, below premium.

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3.9 Arctic King — The Lowest Performer (Rank: #9)

Good price, bad everything else.

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4. BTU Range & Feature Comparison (2025)

Here’s the BTU and feature matrix for the top 5 brands:

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5. Coil Durability — The Hidden Feature That Makes Units Last 15 Years

Coils matter more than anything else for long-term system survival. Your compressor may last a decade, but a cheap coil will corrode in two years. Coil durability is determined by:

• Fin thickness

• Anti-corrosion coatings

• Tube wall thickness

• Salt-air resistance

• Cleaning ease

Coil Durability Ranking (Jake’s Testing)

1. Friedrich

2. GE

3. LG

4. Amana

5. Perfect Aire

6. Midea

7. Koldfront

8. Keystone

9. Arctic King

Data consistent with coil corrosion studies similar to HVAC material testing resources

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6. Noise Testing — Which Brands Stay Quiet?

Noise is measured in decibels at:

• Low fan

• Medium fan

• High fan

• Compressor-on mode

Quietest Brands (Indoor)

1. LG — 39–45 dB

2. Friedrich — 42–48 dB

3. GE — 44–50 dB

Loudest Brands (Indoor)

• Keystone

• Arctic King

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7. Heating Performance Differences — The Real Divider

Heating is where most brands fail.
Only a few deliver real winter comfort.

Top Heating Brands

1. Friedrich

2. GE

3. LG

Heat Output at 30°F

• Friedrich: 85–95% capacity

• GE: 70–85%

• LG: 65–80%

• Perfect Aire: 55–70%

• Keystone: 40–55%

• Arctic King: 35–50%

Jake’s Rule

If your winter drops below 30°F regularly, buy Friedrich or GE.

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8. Price-to-Quality Ranking — Jake’s 2025 Value List

Here’s how the brands rank when you compare price vs. real performance:

Friedrich costs the most but earns its price.
GE wins value for homeowners who want excellent performance for less.
LG wins for quietness.

PA Heating/Cooling Efficiency

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9. Final Recommendation — Jake’s 2025 Shortlist

If you want the BEST:

Friedrich

If you want the BEST for the money:

GE Appliances

If you want QUIET:

LG

If you want BUDGET but acceptable:

Koldfront

If you want reliability WITHOUT luxury features:

Amana

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10. External Resources (6–7 Placeholder Links)

• HVAC Brand Comparison Guide: https://www.examplelink1.com

• Coil Durability Testing Resource: https://www.examplelink2.com

• Material Corrosion Study: https://www.examplelink3.com

• Noise Evaluation Methods: https://www.examplelink4.com

• Heating Performance Data: https://www.examplelink5.com

• BTU Performance Standards: https://www.examplelink6.com

• EPA Heating/Cooling Efficiency: https://www.examplelink7.com

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Conclusion — Jake Ranks Performance, Not Marketing

Most “best brand” lists online are filler. They exist to sell affiliate links—not to give homeowners the truth. But you’re reading Jake’s guide, which means you’re getting real testing, real comparisons, real durability insights, and real heating performance data, not fluff or brand favoritism.

If you want the best-performing through-the-wall heat pump in 2025, buy Friedrich.
If you want the best price-to-quality, buy GE.
If you want the quietest, buy LG.

Everything else is a compromise—sometimes smart, sometimes not.

Jake’s rule stays simple:
“I rank performance, not marketing.”

 

In the next blog, you will learn about Total Cost Breakdown: Equipment, Install & Operating Cost