The Mystery of Nearly Identical Heat Pumps
If you’ve been researching modern side-discharge heat pumps-especially models similar to the Carrier 37MURA/38MURA-you may have noticed a pattern:
- The outdoor units from Carrier, Bryant, Midea, Panasonic, ACiQ, and MrCool often look almost identical.
- Spec sheets mention the same compressor families and very similar dimensions.
- But the published heating capacities and efficiency ratings aren’t always the same.
So are these “crossover” side-discharge systems basically the same machine with different stickers, or are there real differences that matter for Bay Area homeowners?
As a local HVAC contractor, Bay Area Climate Control installs and services many of these platforms. Here’s what’s really going on-and what matters when you’re choosing a system for your home.
One Platform, Many Names
A big part of the world’s heat pump market is built on OEM manufacturing. Companies like Midea design and build complete outdoor units and air handlers, then sell that platform to other brands, who:
- Re-brand the equipment under their own name
- Customize controls and firmware
- Pair it with their own indoor coils or air handlers
- Set their own warranty and distribution network
That’s why the side-discharge “cube” or “slim” heat pumps from:
- Carrier (37MURA / 38MURA family)
- Bryant (sister brand to Carrier)
- Panasonic
- ACiQ
- MrCool
can share a lot of the same “DNA” as Midea-branded equipment.
Under the sheet metal, many of these systems are cousins-but that doesn’t mean they’re identical in performance or ownership experience.
How Each Brand Fits Into the Picture
Carrier & Bryant: Sister Brands, Tuned Platforms
Carrier and Bryant are sister brands under the same parent company. Their side-discharge inverter heat pumps:
- Often use a Midea-built platform as the base
- Add Carrier/Bryant-specific controls, boards, and coil pairings
- Come with detailed expanded capacity tables (47°F, 17°F, 5°F, and often low-ambient data)
- Are distributed through a strong professional contractor network
Carrier’s “37MURA/38MURA”-type systems and the equivalent Bryant models are essentially the same engineering with different branding and slight control/warranty differences.
For Bay Area homes, the big advantages of the Carrier/Bryant versions are:
- Clear documentation on low-temperature performance
- Strong warranty and distributor support
- Lots of experience in the field among professional installers
Midea (Original OEM Brand)
Midea is the OEM behind a huge number of ductless and side-discharge systems worldwide. When you see the Midea name:
- You’re often getting the baseline platform that many other brands are built on.
- Specs can look very similar to Carrier/Bryant products because the core hardware is closely related.
However, the availability of local parts, documentation, and trained technicians varies by region. In the Bay Area, support is often better through the bigger branded channels (Carrier/Bryant/Panasonic) than through Midea-branded residential equipment.
Panasonic
Panasonic often uses similar inverter technology and platforms, sometimes with Midea as the OEM, but:
- They lean into quiet operation and indoor air quality
- They may pair the outdoor unit with their own indoor coils and controls
- Distribution and installer familiarity can be more limited than Carrier/Bryant in our area
For Bay Area homeowners, Panasonic can be a good choice if you have a contractor who knows the line and can get parts easily.
ACiQ
ACiQ is a house brand (often sold online) that frequently uses Midea or Gree platforms:
- Attractive pricing and decent specs
- Most equipment is sold online rather than through local distributors
- Warranty and support can be more complicated, depending on who installs and services the system
The platform itself can be solid-but long-term satisfaction depends heavily on who designs, installs, and services it.
MrCool
MrCool is widely known for its DIY heat pump kits:
- Many MrCool systems are also built on Midea platforms
- Pre-charged line sets and homeowner-friendly packaging make them appealing for DIY projects
- Controls, documentation, and connection methods are heavily customized for DIY installation
The hardware is similar to what you see in other side-discharge systems, but:
- The install is only as good as the DIYer’s understanding of airflow, drainage, and electrical
- Service and warranty support can be trickier when something goes wrong
Why the Capacity Numbers Don’t Always Match
Even when several brands use the same outdoor platform, you’ll notice differences in:
- Rated capacity at 47°F and 17°F
- “Maximum” capacity at very low temperatures
- Published efficiency numbers
Here’s why.
Different Coil & Air Handler Pairings
Carrier/Bryant may pair the outdoor unit with:
- Specific multi-position air handlers
- Carefully matched indoor coils and blower sizes
That changes how much heat the system can move at a given outdoor temperature. Another brand using the same outdoor chassis but a different indoor coil will see slightly different numbers.
Controls and Firmware
Manufacturers can adjust:
- Compressor ramp-up profile
- Fan speeds
- Expansion valve logic
- Defrost strategy
Those tweaks can improve low-ambient performance or prioritize efficiency and comfort, but they also change what shows up on the spec sheet.
Rated vs. Maximum Capacity
Some documents emphasize:
- Rated capacity – a more conservative number under standardized test conditions
- Others show maximum capacity – what the unit can do in boost mode for a period of time
If you’re comparing a rated number from one brand to a max number from another, it can look like one system is much stronger-even when they’re built on the same platform.
What Actually Matters for Bay Area Homes
The Bay Area is a sweet spot for these side-discharge inverter heat pumps:
- Winters are cool and damp, not Arctic cold
- You get both heating and cooling from one system
- Inverter technology lets the system modulate output for comfort and efficiency
When we design a system for a Bay Area Climate Control customer, the brand is just one part of the decision. We focus even more on:
Proper Load Calculation & Ductwork
- A heat pump that’s too big will short-cycle and feel drafty.
- A system that’s too small-or tied into undersized ductwork-won’t keep up on cold, wet nights.
- Side-discharge units like the 37MURA/38MURA are especially sensitive to airflow and static pressure.
We run Manual J-style load calculations and look at your ducts, returns, and registers so the equipment actually matches your home.
Outdoor Placement & Noise
Side-discharge units are fantastic for:
- Tight side yards
- Small patios
- Noise-sensitive neighborhoods
But they need:
- Adequate clearance for air flow
- A solid mounting surface
- Proper routing for refrigerant lines and condensate
This is where a professional install really pays off.
Warranty, Parts, and Long-Term Support
We generally recommend Carrier/Bryant-family side-discharge systems for most of our “crossover” projects because:
- Parts and support are strong in the Bay Area
- Documentation is clear, especially for expanded capacity and low-ambient operation
- We can register and handle warranty service directly for our customers
That said, we also service many Midea-platform systems under other labels and can help you evaluate what you already have.
So… Which Brand Should You Choose?
If you strip away the marketing and look at the engineering, here’s a practical way to think about it for Bay Area homeowners:
Carrier/Bryant Side-Discharge (37MURA/38MURA-Type Systems)
- Great choice when installed by a pro
- Strong low-ambient performance for our chilly, damp nights
- Excellent documentation and parts support
Midea/Panasonic on the Same Platform
- Solid technology, but local support varies
- A good option if your contractor is familiar with the brand and has a reliable parts channel
ACiQ and MrCool
- Often the same core hardware, but: -ACiQ relies heavily on online sales -MrCool focuses on DIY
- Your long-term experience will depend on who designs, installs, and services the system-not just what’s in the box.
At the end of the day, a well-designed and properly installed “Midea-platform” heat pump with good local support will serve you far better than a premium badge installed poorly.
Thinking About a Side-Discharge Heat Pump in the Bay Area?
At Bay Area Climate Control, we:
- Design systems around your home’s actual load and ductwork
- Help you compare models across brands like Carrier, Bryant, and other Midea-platform systems
- Look at noise, placement, and comfort, not just nameplate efficiency
- Navigate rebates and tax credits where available
If you’re considering a side-discharge heat pump-whether you’ve been looking at Carrier/Bryant 37MURA/38MURA style systems or an online ACiQ/MrCool package-we’re happy to walk you through the pros and cons for your specific home.
Ready to explore your options? Call us at (510) 391-5597 or visit bayareaclimatecontrol.com to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you choose a system that’s sized right, installed right, and supported locally for years to come.