ACiQ 5 Ton Cooling Only Air Conditioning Condenser | 13.4 SEER2 | R454B (R5A4S60AKANA)
Check current price on AC Direct →
Key features
- 5-ton cooling capacity suited to larger residential spaces
- 13.4 SEER2 efficiency rating meets current federal minimum standards
- R-454B refrigerant complies with EPA phasedown regulations and has lower global warming potential than R-410A
- Cooling-only condenser requires a separate compatible air handler or coil
- Sold factory-direct without dealer markup, reducing upfront purchase cost
- 12-year parts warranty included without requiring dealer registration
About this system
The ACiQ R5A4S60AKANA is a 5-ton, cooling-only condensing unit rated at 13.4 SEER2, designed to pair with a compatible air handler or furnace coil in a split-system configuration. Running on R-454B refrigerant, a lower-GWP alternative to the outgoing R-410A, this unit meets current EPA requirements and positions buyers ahead of the phasedown curve without requiring a premium-efficiency system to do it. At 5 tons, it is sized for larger homes, typically in the 2,200 to 3,000 square foot range depending on climate, insulation, and local heat load calculations.
ACiQ is AC Direct’s house brand, sold direct-to-consumer without dealer markup, which is the core of its value proposition. The actual manufacturer has not been disclosed publicly, though forum discussion has pointed to ties with the ICP and Carrier family. That lineage is unconfirmed, but build quality in early owner reports has been described as solid. At 13.4 SEER2, this unit sits at the federally compliant baseline tier for most regions, making it a straightforward replacement choice for homeowners who want a dependable, code-compliant system without paying for efficiency they may not recoup in their climate or ownership timeline. It is a cooling-only condenser, so buyers need to confirm their existing or planned air handler is R-454B-compatible before purchasing.
The ACiQ R5A4S60AKANA delivers a code-compliant, R-454B-ready 5-ton condenser at a price that consistently undercuts name-brand equivalents, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious replacement projects. Efficiency sits at the baseline tier, so it is not the right pick if operating-cost savings are the primary goal, but for homeowners prioritizing upfront cost and a long warranty, the value math is real. Long-term reliability data is still accumulating, which is the honest caveat that comes with any newer brand.
Overall score is the average of the five ratings above.
What we like
- Factory-direct pricing removes dealer markup, offering genuine cost savings versus name-brand equivalents
- 12-year parts warranty is longer than the 10-year standard offered by most competing brands at this tier
- R-454B refrigerant is future-compliant, avoiding a refrigerant transition cost later in the system's life
- Early owner feedback consistently notes quiet operation and responsive customer support from ACiQ
- 5-ton capacity in a single-stage cooling-only configuration keeps the system straightforward to install and service
Trade-offs
- 13.4 SEER2 is baseline efficiency, so operating cost savings over an older system will be modest compared to a 16+ SEER2 unit
- The manufacturer's identity is not publicly disclosed, which makes it harder for technicians to cross-reference parts or service history
- No dealer network means service depends entirely on independent contractors who may be unfamiliar with the brand
- Long-term reliability data is thin because the brand is relatively new, and Consumer Reports has not yet assigned a reliability score
What homeowners and pros say about ACiQ
Early owner feedback collected through Google dealer reviews and direct purchaser reports on HVAC forums paints a cautiously positive picture of ACiQ equipment, with quiet operation, solid build quality out of the box, and responsive support from the AC Direct team cited repeatedly. That said, Consumer Reports has not yet assigned ACiQ a reliability score, noting there is insufficient long-term data to rank the brand, and that honest gap matters for a 5-ton system expected to run for 15 or more years. The brand is new enough that the failure-mode picture is still forming.
HVAC professionals working on ACiQ installs have flagged a few recurring concerns worth knowing before you buy. Because the manufacturer is not publicly disclosed, cross-referencing parts to a parent brand’s catalog is not straightforward, which adds friction in a service call. Contractors accustomed to Carrier or Trane equipment may need extra time to source components through ACiQ’s own parts channel. The move to R-454B also means technicians must have updated recovery equipment and certification for the new refrigerant, which is a universal issue across the industry right now but still worth confirming with your installer before scheduling the job.
Sources: Consumer Reports heat pump ratings, HVACDirect on the ACiQ brand, AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance, U.S. DOE appliance and equipment efficiency standards.
What it costs to run
At 13.4 SEER2, cooling this 5-ton system for a typical 1200-hour cooling season at the U.S. average electricity rate of $0.17/kWh works out to roughly $913 per year in cooling, about $0 less per year than a minimum-efficiency 13.4 SEER2 unit of the same size. Your real cost depends on your climate and local rate.
Method: (60,000 BTU/hr ÷ 13.4 SEER2) × 1200 hours ÷ 1000 × $0.17/kWh. Rate source: U.S. EIA average; cooling hours: moderate-climate estimate.
How it compares
| Brand | Comparable model | SEER2 | Stage | Price position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACiQ | R5A4S60AKANA | 13.4 | Single-stage | Value pick |
| Carrier | Comfort 24ACC6 (6 Series) | 13.4 | Single-stage | Priced noticeably higher through dealer network |
| Trane | XR13c | 13.4 | Single-stage | Priced higher with dealer installation typically bundled |
| Lennox | Merit ML14XC1 | 14.3 | Single-stage | Priced higher; slight efficiency edge over this unit |
Competitor rows are comparable single-stage units at similar efficiency; price is relative position, not a quote.
Questions about this system
Will my existing air handler work with this condenser, or do I need to replace it too?
This unit uses R-454B refrigerant, which is not backward-compatible with R-410A equipment. If your current air handler or evaporator coil was designed for R-410A, it will need to be replaced or confirmed as R-454B-rated before this condenser can be installed. Check the air handler's spec sheet or contact ACiQ directly to confirm compatibility.
How does 13.4 SEER2 affect my electricity bill compared to my old unit?
If you are replacing a system from the early 2000s rated around 10 SEER, you can expect a meaningful reduction in cooling costs, often 20 to 30 percent depending on runtime. If you are replacing a unit already rated at 13 SEER or higher, the savings will be modest. A higher-SEER2 unit will outperform this one operationally, but the payback period on the price difference can be long, especially in milder climates.
Who actually manufactures ACiQ equipment, and does it matter for parts availability?
ACiQ is AC Direct's house brand and the underlying manufacturer has not been publicly confirmed, though forum discussion has suggested a possible connection to the ICP and Carrier family. Because the lineage is not official, technicians cannot simply cross-reference parts to a parent brand, which can add friction when sourcing components for a repair. ACiQ does carry its own parts catalog, so availability through that channel is the more reliable path.
What does the 12-year warranty actually cover, and are there registration requirements?
ACiQ's 12-year warranty covers parts and is included without requiring dealer registration, which is a meaningful advantage over brands that require professional installation registration to unlock their full coverage. You should still read the warranty terms carefully to confirm labor is not included, as that is typical across the industry, and to understand any conditions around licensed installation.
Can any HVAC contractor install and service this unit, or does it need an ACiQ-certified tech?
Any licensed HVAC technician can install and service this unit, but ACiQ does not operate a dealer network, so there is no certified-installer program to lean on. Because the brand is newer and the manufacturer is not disclosed, some contractors may be less familiar with it than they are with Carrier or Trane equipment. It is worth confirming your installer is comfortable working with R-454B systems, as that refrigerant requires updated tools and procedures regardless of brand.
Specifications
| Cooling capacity | 5 Ton |
| Efficiency | 13.4 SEER2 |
| Refrigerant | R-454B |