HVACRated.com
    Menu

      12,600 BTU window air conditioner with heat

      Friedrich KHVS12B33A

      Below average efficiency for its size: a CEER of 14.4 ranks #32 of 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners.

      It cools a room of about 450-550 sq ft, draws about 875 watts and costs about $118 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices.

      CEER
      14.4 Combined efficiency, higher is better
      Below average · beats 9%
      Cooling
      12,600 BTU/hFor about 450-550 sq ft
      Energy use
      656 kWh/yr47% less than the federal minimum
      Unit size
      25.9" wide 15.9" high, 29" deep, 115 lb

      A good fit if…

      • You want heat in spring and fall - it runs as a heat pump in reverse.
      • You want the very top tier - it meets the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria.

      Think twice if…

      • Running cost matters most - its CEER is below average for 12,000 BTU window air conditioners.
      • You only have ordinary outlets - it needs a 230 V circuit and plug.
      • You plan to install it alone - at 115 lb it is a two-person job.

      Calculate my running costCheck the size for my room

      Details

      Specifications12,600 BTU, 230 V
      General
      BrandFriedrich
      Model numberKHVS12B33A
      TypeWindow
      DesignStandard box
      HeatingYes (heat pump, reverse cycle)
      CompressorVariable speed (inverter)
      Voltage230 V (needs a 230 V outlet)
      RefrigerantR-32 (GWP 675)
      Support bracket includedYes
      On the market sinceMarch 12, 2025
      Last certifiedMarch 13, 2025
      Performance
      Cooling capacity12,600 BTU/h
      CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power14.4
      Yearly energy useENERGY STAR test: 750 hours656 kWh
      Better than federal minimum47% less energy
      ENERGY STAR Most EfficientYes
      Size
      Width × height × depth25.9" W × 15.9" H × 29" D
      Weight115 lb
      How it compares with 33 other 12,000 BTU window units#32 of 34
      • CEER (class median 15.0)14.4, tied with 1 other
      • Yearly cost vs. class median ($108)$10 more
      • Width 25.9" (class median 20.3")narrower than 3%
      • Weight 115 lb (class median 59 lb)lighter than 0%
      • Rank among 3 similar designs that heat#2

      Compared with the other ENERGY STAR certified 12,000 BTU window units. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.

      Questions6
      How many square feet does the Friedrich KHVS12B33A cool?
      At 12,600 BTU/h it suits a room of about 450 to 550 sq ft with normal sun and two people, following the ENERGY STAR sizing guide. In a heavily shaded room that stretches to about 495-605 sq ft; in a very sunny one it shrinks to 405-495 sq ft. A kitchen needs 4,000 BTU more.
      How many watts and amps does the Friedrich KHVS12B33A use?
      About 875 watts at full power (12,600 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 14.4), which is 3.8 amps at 230 V. That is 75 W more than the typical unit in its class (800 W), or $10 a year dearer to run at 18.0¢/kWh. Its inverter compressor slows down instead of cycling, so real use is usually lower. Its CEER beats 6% of the 34 units in the class.
      What outlet does the Friedrich KHVS12B33A need?
      It is a 230 V unit that draws 3.8 A, so it needs its own 230 V circuit with a matching plug (typically NEMA 6-15 or 6-20). If the room has only ordinary 115 V outlets, an electrician has to add one. Only 12% of the 34 certified units in this class are 230 V.
      What are the dimensions of the Friedrich KHVS12B33A, and will it fit my window?
      25.9" W × 15.9" H × 29" D, 115 lb. It is narrower than 3% of its 33 competitors and lighter than 0% of them. The window must be wider than 25.9"; the side panels fill the remaining gap.
      How does the Friedrich KHVS12B33A heat?
      It reverses its refrigerant cycle to work as a heat pump, which makes it one of only 5 certified units in its class that heat. Heating output is not part of the ENERGY STAR data, so ask the maker for its heating capacity and lowest outdoor temperature before relying on it in winter.
      Is the Friedrich KHVS12B33A worth buying to replace an old air conditioner?
      An old unit of the same size at 9 CEER would cost about $189 a year to run at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh; this one costs about $118, so it saves roughly $71 a year.

      Running cost calculator

      Pre-filled with this model. Pick your state and how many hours you run it, or see the yearly cost in every state.

      1. The air conditioner Friedrich KHVS12B33A
      2. How you use it
      Per year
      $185
      Per month of use
      $34
      Per day
      $1.12
      Per hour
      14.0¢
      Power draw
      875 W

      Electricity used: 1,155 kWh a yearAn old 9 CEER unit of the same size would cost $296

      Power draw is capacity divided by CEER, which already includes standby power. Inverter units often run below full power, so real use can be lower. Electricity prices: U.S. EIA residential averages (12 months to July 2026). Days a year start from your state's cooling degree days (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

      Closest alternatives

      Units with a similar CEER in the same class, and what sets each one apart from the Friedrich KHVS12B33A.

      ModelCEERCompared with this one
      Midea MAW12HV1KWT-A14.4same CEER, 6.5" narrower, 56 lb lighter, 115 V
      GREE GJC12BU-A6DRNJ2A14.70.3 CEER higher, 4.9" narrower, 50 lb lighter, U-shaped, cooling only, 115 V
      Whirlpool WHAW-121IN15.00.6 CEER higher, 1.7" narrower, 50 lb lighter, U-shaped, cooling only, 115 V
      LG LW1222IVSM15.00.6 CEER higher, 2.3" narrower, 30 lb lighter, U-shaped, cooling only, 115 V
      GE Profile PHNT12CCH114.70.3 CEER higher, 6.2" narrower, 35 lb lighter, saddle design, cooling only, 115 V

      See all 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners (U.S. EPA), certification of March 13, 2025. How we use the data.