How energy-efficient is the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner?

Its efficiency rating is CEER 13.9, and it is ENERGY STAR certified.

Do I need a professional to install the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner?

Not to replace a unit, but usually yes for a new opening. Sliding it into an existing wall sleeve it fits is a job you can do yourself (it is heavy, so plan on two people), with no refrigerant work. A new installation means cutting an opening through an exterior wall and fitting a sleeve, which is contractor work and usually needs a building permit.

Through-the-wall unitENERGY STAR

Friedrich · Model WCVT12B30A

Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner

Name: Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner
Brand: Friedrich
Price: 1349 USD
Availability: InStock

A through-the-wall air conditioner rated at 12,000 BTU for rooms up to 550 sq ft. It installs in a wall sleeve.

$1,349

Live price at Abt Electronics

Price checked Oct 8, 2026

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Will it cool your room?

Room size 250 sq ft ≈ 23.2 m²

More than you need for 23.2 m²

This has more cooling than your 250 sq ft room needs. It can short-cycle and leave the air cool but humid.

Running costest.

~$135/year

Estimated from ENERGY STAR's published annual energy use at about 750 hours of cooling a year (the DOE test standard) and the US average electricity price of 18.44¢/kWh (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (residential average, May 2026)). A standardized figure for comparison; your real cost depends on how much you run it, your local rate and your climate.

Local rates vary widely (about 15¢/kWh in Florida to 33¢ in California), and hotter regions run their AC more hours, so your real cost differs.

Compare wall units by the sleeve they fit

At a glance

Best for replacing a through-the-wall unit in an existing wall sleeve.

Cooling

3.5 kW

Size

Large

Noise

Install: Slides into a wall sleevePermission: A new wall opening usually needs a permit

Performance

Cooling capacity: 12,000 BTU · 3.5 kW
Heating capacity: Cooling only
Room coverage: up to 550 sq ft
Energy Star: Yes
CEER: 13.9
Annual energy (cooling): 734 kWh

Noise, size & features

Model number: WCVT12B30A
Indoor noise: Not published
Outdoor noise: Not published
Indoor unit: 26.5 x 17.25 x 23.24 in
Outdoor unit: None
Refrigerant: R-32
Wi-Fi / app: Not published
Outdoor unit needed: No
Wall sleeve: Fits 27 in. sleeves

Will it fit your wall sleeve?

Made for existing 27-inch sleeves, including Fedders A sleeves and, with Friedrich's baffle kit, the deeper Fedders B; it mounts flush with the outside wall. A new installation needs Friedrich's WSE or WSEZ sleeve (27 x 16¾ x 16¾ in.), sold separately. Source: Friedrich WallMaster product page

Every through-the-wall AC and PTAC by the sleeve it fits

What is good

ENERGY STAR certified, which 7 of the 50 through-the-wall units we list offer.
Uses R-32 (GWP 675), the low-GWP class new US residential equipment moved to.

What to watch

At $1,349 it costs more than 13 of the 13 other 12,000-14,000 BTU through-the-wall units we list with a live price.

Installation & the rules that apply

This is a through-the-wall air conditioner. It sits in a sleeve built into an exterior wall, so the window-unit mounting and bracket rules do not apply to it. Swapping it into an existing sleeve is a like-for-like replacement; cutting a new opening changes the building's exterior wall, which usually needs a building permit and, in a condo, co-op or historic building, approval first.

Installation

Slides into a wall sleeve

Refrigerant

R-32

GeneralRenters: get written landlord consent firstReviewed June 2026Often blocks install

GeneralCondo / HOA: exterior changes need approvalReviewed June 2026Permit required

GeneralHistoric / listed buildings: consent before any exterior unitReviewed June 2026Permit required

MassachusettsMassachusetts: local historic district approval (MGL c.40C)Reviewed June 2026Permit required

United StatesUS: local mechanical and electrical permits (vary by city)Reviewed June 2026Permit required

See full rules by region

Common questions about the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner

How much does the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner cost to run per year?: About $135 a year. Estimated from ENERGY STAR's published annual energy use at about 750 hours of cooling a year (the DOE test standard) and the US average electricity price of 18.44¢/kWh (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A (residential average, May 2026)). A standardized figure for comparison; your real cost depends on how much you run it, your local rate and your climate.
How energy-efficient is the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner?: Its efficiency rating is CEER 13.9, and it is ENERGY STAR certified.
What size room does the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner cool?: It is rated to cool a room up to 550 sq ft (12,000 BTU · 3.5 kW).
Do I need a professional to install the Friedrich Wallmaster 12,000 BTU Through-the-Wall Air Conditioner?: Not to replace a unit, but usually yes for a new opening. Sliding it into an existing wall sleeve it fits is a job you can do yourself (it is heavy, so plan on two people), with no refrigerant work. A new installation means cutting an opening through an exterior wall and fitting a sleeve, which is contractor work and usually needs a building permit.