12,000 BTU U-shaped window air conditioner
TCL H12W4KWH
Average efficiency for its size: a CEER of 15.2 ranks #14 of 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners.
It cools a room of about 450-550 sq ft, draws about 789 watts and costs about $107 a year to run at typical U.S. use and prices.
- CEER
- 15.2 Combined efficiency, higher is betterAverage · beats 62%
- Cooling
- 12,000 BTU/hFor about 450-550 sq ft
- Energy use
- 592 kWh/yr39% less than the federal minimum
- Unit size
- 30" wide 20.1" high, 28.8" deep, 95 lb
A good fit if…
- You want a quieter room and a usable window - the window closes into the U, so the compressor sits outside the glass.
- You want to plug it into an ordinary outlet - it runs on 115 V.
Think twice if…
- You plan to install it alone - at 95 lb it is a two-person job.
- You also need heat - it cools only.
Calculate my running costCheck the size for my room
Details
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Brand | TCL |
| Model number | H12W4KWH |
| Type | Window |
| Design | U-shaped (window closes through it) |
| Heating | No, cooling only |
| Compressor | Variable speed (inverter) |
| Voltage | 115 V (standard outlet) |
| Refrigerant | R-32 (GWP 675) |
| Support bracket included | Yes |
| On the market since | February 8, 2025 |
| Last certified | December 26, 2024 |
| Performance | |
| Cooling capacity | 12,000 BTU/h |
| CEERCombined energy efficiency ratio, includes standby power | 15.2 |
| Yearly energy useENERGY STAR test: 750 hours | 592 kWh |
| Better than federal minimum | 39% less energy |
| ENERGY STAR Most Efficient | No |
| Size | |
| Width × height × depth | 30" W × 20.1" H × 28.8" D |
| Weight | 95 lb |
How it compares with 33 other 12,000 BTU window units
- CEER (class median 15.0)15.2, tied with 1 other
- Yearly cost vs. class median ($108)$1 less
- Width 30" (class median 20.3")narrower than 0%
- Weight 95 lb (class median 59 lb)lighter than 18%
- Rank among 12 similar designs (U-shaped)#6
Compared with the other ENERGY STAR certified 12,000 BTU window units. Yearly cost at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh.
Same unit, other model numbers
Questions
- How many square feet does the TCL H12W4KWH cool?
- At 12,000 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 TCL H12W4KWH use?
- About 789 watts at full power (12,000 BTU/h divided by its CEER of 15.2), which is 6.9 amps at 115 V. That is 11 W less than the typical unit in its class (800 W), or $1 a year cheaper to run at 18.0¢/kWh. Its inverter compressor slows down instead of cycling, so real use is usually lower. Its CEER beats 59% of the 34 units in the class.
- Can the TCL H12W4KWH run on a standard outlet?
- Yes. It runs on 115 V and draws about 6.9 A, well inside a standard 15 A outlet, but do not share the circuit with a space heater, microwave or other big load. 12% of certified units in this class need 230 V, so a 115 V model is the easy case.
- What are the dimensions of the TCL H12W4KWH, and will it fit my window?
- 30" W × 20.1" H × 28.8" D, 95 lb. It is narrower than 0% of its 33 competitors and lighter than 18% of them. The window closes into the U-shaped slot, so measure the opening height as well as the width: you need at least the unit's 30" width between the frame sides.
- Is the TCL H12W4KWH U-shaped design an advantage?
- Mostly yes. The sash closes into the unit, so the window stays sealed and daylight comes in, and the compressor is outside the glass, which cuts noise indoors. The trade-off is a window that must slide up and down, and a few extra steps to fit the foam seals.
- Can the TCL H12W4KWH also heat the room?
- No, it only cools. If you also need heat, 5 certified units in this class can do both; see the list of air conditioners with heat.
- Is the TCL H12W4KWH worth buying to replace an old air conditioner?
- An old unit of the same size at 9 CEER would cost about $180 a year to run at 750 hours and 18.0¢/kWh; this one costs about $107, so it saves roughly $74 a year.
- Is the TCL H12W4KWH the same as the TCL H12W4KWH-CA?
- As far as the certified data goes, yes. ENERGY STAR lists 3 model numbers with the same capacity, efficiency, energy use, dimensions and weight, which means the same unit sold under another brand or with a different colour or retailer code. The full list is on this page.
Running cost calculator
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Closest alternatives
Units with a similar CEER in the same class, and what sets each one apart from the TCL H12W4KWH.
| Model | CEER | Compared with this one |
|---|---|---|
| Friedrich KCVS12B10A | 15.0 | 0.2 CEER lower, 4.1" narrower, 15 lb heavier, standard box |
| LG LW1224IVSM | 15.0 | 0.2 CEER lower, 6.4" narrower, 10 lb lighter, standard box |
| Whirlpool WHAW-121IN | 15.0 | 0.2 CEER lower, 5.8" narrower, 30 lb lighter |
| LG LW1222IVSM | 15.0 | 0.2 CEER lower, 6.4" narrower, 10 lb lighter |
| Friedrich KCVS12B30A | 15.0 | 0.2 CEER lower, 4.1" narrower, 15 lb heavier, standard box, 230 V |
See all 34 12,000 BTU window air conditioners, ranked
Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners (U.S. EPA), certification of December 26, 2024. How we use the data.