HVAC Rated
    Menu

      12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · ACIQ

      DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B

      Very good cooling efficiency and average heating efficiency for a 12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump, and certified for cold climates.

      Ranks #59 of 394 12,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $278 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      25.5 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 88%
      HSPF2
      10.7 Heating efficiency over a season
      Average · beats 68%
      EER2
      14.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Very good · beats 82%
      Heat at 5°F
      12,100 BTU/h100% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 38%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 88% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 12,100 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.
      • You want a choice of indoor units - 35 certified pairings.

      Think twice if…

      • You want the newest refrigerant - it uses R-410A, which is being phased down.

      Calculate my running cost

      Details

      Specifications12,000 BTU, R-410A
      General
      BrandDIYCOOL
      Also sold asACIQ, 1HVAC, STEALTH, PolarWave
      Outdoor unit modelACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B
      SeriesACIQ
      TypeMini-split heat pump
      Nominal size12,000 BTU
      CompressorVariable-speed units run longer at low powerContinuously variable
      RefrigerantR-410A
      Connected (smart) capableNo
      On the market sinceOctober 1, 2022
      Last certifiedJune 13, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better25.5 (range 19.5-25.5)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors11.7-14.0
      Cooling capacity12,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better10.0-10.7
      Capacity at 47°F12,000-12,500 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F9,500-10,600 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F11,000-12,100 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.80-1.99
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder100% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with ACIQ-12W-HH-MC at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups35 indoor units

      The same outdoor unit scores differently with each indoor unit. Ask your installer for the AHRI reference number of the exact system you are quoted.

      Indoor unitSEER2EER2HSPF2Heat @5°FAHRI ref.
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MC · cold climate25.514.010.412,000210857336
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MC 1HVAC · cold climate25.514.010.412,000210857296
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MC ACIQ · cold climate25.514.010.412,000210857316
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MB · cold climate25.514.010.412,000207825551
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MB ACIQ · cold climate25.514.010.412,000207825532
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MB 1HVAC · cold climate25.514.010.412,000207825513
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MB STEALTH · cold climate25.514.010.412,000212316158
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MC PolarWave · cold climate25.514.010.412,000212316100
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MB PolarWave · cold climate25.514.010.412,000212316072
      ACIQ-12W-HH-MC STEALTH · cold climate25.514.010.412,000212316186
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MC · cold climate24.213.310.711,900210857351
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MC ACIQ · cold climate24.213.310.711,900210857331
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MC 1HVAC · cold climate24.213.310.711,900210857311
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MC PolarWave · cold climate24.213.310.711,900212316115
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MC STEALTH · cold climate24.213.310.711,900212316201
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MB · cold climate23.613.010.012,000207825561
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MB ACIQ · cold climate23.613.010.012,000207825542
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MB 1HVAC · cold climate23.613.010.012,000207825523
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MB STEALTH · cold climate23.613.010.012,000212316168
      ACIQ-12FM-HH-MB PolarWave · cold climate23.613.010.012,000212316082
      SCC-1218-HH-M ACIQ · cold climate23.013.010.011,000210857329
      SCC-1218-HH-M · cold climate23.013.010.011,000210857349
      SCC-1218-HH-M 1HVAC · cold climate23.013.010.011,000210857309
      SCC-1218-HH-M PolarWave · cold climate23.013.010.011,000212316113
      SCC-1218-HH-M STEALTH · cold climate23.013.010.011,000212316199
      ACIQ-12CC-HH-MB · cold climate22.312.710.211,300207825555
      ACIQ-12CC-HH-MB ACIQ · cold climate22.312.710.211,300207825536
      ACIQ-12CC-HH-MB 1HVAC · cold climate22.312.710.211,300207825517
      ACIQ-12CC-HH-MB STEALTH · cold climate22.312.710.211,300212316162
      ACIQ-12CC-HH-MB PolarWave · cold climate22.312.710.211,300212316076
      ACIQ-12CD-HH-MB ACIQ · cold climate19.511.710.012,100207825539
      ACIQ-12CD-HH-MB · cold climate19.511.710.012,100207825558
      ACIQ-12CD-HH-MB 1HVAC · cold climate19.511.710.012,100207825520
      ACIQ-12CD-HH-MB STEALTH · cold climate19.511.710.012,100212316165
      ACIQ-12CD-HH-MB PolarWave · cold climate19.511.710.012,100212316079
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$223-$686

      At each state's average electricity price and the city's typical heating and cooling hours.

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B?
      The DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B is rated at up to 25.5 SEER2 and 14.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 10.7 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 35 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 19.5-25.5.
      Is the DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 12,100 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.99, so it is still 2.0 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $223-$686 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $287 in Phoenix and $583 in Minneapolis. The calculator on this page works it out for your city and compares it with your current system.
      Which indoor units work with the DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B?
      ENERGY STAR lists 35 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use ACIQ-12W-HH-MC, 1HVAC ACIQ-12W-HH-MC, ACIQ ACIQ-12W-HH-MC.
      What refrigerant does the DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B use?
      It uses R-410A. R-410A is being phased down under the EPA AIM Act, and new systems are moving to R-454B and R-32.

      Running cost and savings

      Pre-filled with this model. Pick your city and what you heat with today; everything else is optional.

      Heat pump $291/yrYou save $327/yrSee details ↓
      1. Where you live
      Adjust heating and cooling hours

      Filled in from your city's climate. Change them if you run the system much more or less than usual.

      2. The heat pump DIYCOOL ACIQ-12ZPL-HP230B
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $291
      Current system, per year
      $619
      You save per year
      $327
      Payback
      13.7 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$1,225

      Cooling $166Heating $126Electricity used: 1,820 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $183

      Estimates use the unit's rated SEER2 and HSPF2, full-load hours derived from NOAA 1991-2020 degree days, average residential electricity prices from the U.S. EIA (12 months to July 2026) and fuel prices from EIA (2025 for natural gas, week of 2026-10-05 for propane and heating oil). Very cold days that need backup heat are not modelled. Federal minimum for comparison: 14.3 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2.

      Similar 12,000 BTU models

      See all 394 12,000 BTU mini-splits, ranked

      Source: ENERGY STAR Certified Heat Pumps (U.S. EPA), certification of June 13, 2026. How we use the data.