The Friedrich Kuhl KCVS12B10A smart air conditioner offers commercial-grade durability and speedier and quieter cooling performance than similarly powered models we have tested, but it is wildly expensive.
Friedrich air conditioners (ACs) are not only known for their durability and exceptional cooling performance, but they are typically more expensive than other brands. That’s certainly the case with the Kuhl Series 12,000 BTU Smart Energy Star Window/Wall Air Conditioner (KCVS12B10A). Priced at a staggering $1,499.97, it is more than twice the price of the $649 GE 11,000 BTU Smart Heat/Cool Air Conditioner (AWGP12), but it’s built like a tank, is very quiet, and offers faster cooling performance than the competition. Although the Kuhl AC performed wonderfully in our tests, you’ll get more features for a lot less money with the GE AWGP12, which remains our Editors’ Choice winner for smart air conditioners.Design: Commercial-Grade
Designed for both home and commercial use in rooms of up to 550 square feet, the Kuhl KVCS12B10A is a 12,000 BTU AC built with premium commercial-grade components such as sound-blocking insulation, 20-gauge steel inner walls, and oversized compressor mounts for vibration-free operation. At 15.9 by 25.9 by 29 inches (HWD) and weighing 110 pounds, it is bigger and much heavier than the GE AWGP12, which measures 14.9 by 18.9 by 20.4 inches and weighs 50 pounds.
As with the Midea Duo Smart Inverter ($599.99) and the Hisense 10000-BTU Inverter Wi-Fi (AW1023TW1W) ($449) units, the KVCS12B10A uses an inverter compressor, which is more energy efficient than a regular compressor because it will automatically change speeds based on need. It offers two fan modes (auto and continuous), four fan speeds (low, medium, high, and max), and two operating modes (cooling and fan-only), but it doesn’t have a heating mode like the GE AWGP12.
This air conditioner can be installed in a through-wall configuration or in a double-hung window. The window must offer at least 16 inches of height clearance and 26 to 42 inches of width clearance.
