Do I need a professional to install the Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat?

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. It runs on 230 volts, so it needs a matching 230-volt outlet on its own circuit, and adding one is a job for an electrician.

Through-the-wall unit Heats too

Whirlpool · Model WHAT122-HAW

12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat

Name: Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat
Brand: Whirlpool
Price: 599.99 USD
Availability: InStock

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

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Will it cool your room?

Room size 700 sq ft ≈ 65 m²

Undersized for 65 m²

This is undersized for your 700 sq ft room. It would run flat out and struggle to keep up.

At a glance

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

Cooling

3.5 kW

Size

Average

Noise

56 dB

Audible

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: 10,600 BTU
Heat source: Electric coil
Power at rated heat: 3,650 W, about $0.67 an hour
Room coverage: up to 550 sq ft
Energy Star: Not published
CEER: Not published
Annual energy (cooling): Not published

Noise, size & features

Model number: WHAT122-HAW
Indoor noise: 56 dB(A)about as loud as a dishwasher
Outdoor noise: Not published
Indoor unit: 24.2 x 14.5 x 20.2 in
Outdoor unit: None
Refrigerant: R-32
Wi-Fi / app: Not published
Outdoor unit needed: No
Power supply: 208/230 V, NEMA 6-15P plug
Wall sleeve: Fits a 26 in. standard sleeve
Warranty: 1-Year Replacement Warranty (Cool Models Only) 1-Year Limited Warranty (Heat Models Only)

Hourly heating cost: At the rated heating output 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 thermostat cycles the heat, so most hours cost less. A heat pump's output and advantage shrink as it gets colder outside, and one with an electric back-up heater draws far more while that runs.

Will it fit your wall sleeve?

Whirlpool's manual gives its standard sleeve as 26 inches wide, 15¾ high and 16¾ deep, and asks you to check that another maker's sleeve suits the unit before installing. A universal interior trim kit for an existing standard sleeve comes with it; new sleeves are sold separately. Source: Whirlpool installation manual

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

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

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

United StatesUS: HOA / condo CC&Rs and architectural reviewReviewed June 2026Permit required

United StatesUS: historic district Certificate of AppropriatenessReviewed June 2026Permit required

United StatesUS: NEC Article 440 dedicated circuit and disconnectReviewed June 2026Allowed with conditions

United StatesUS: AIM Act refrigerant transition off R-410A to A2L (700 GWP cap)Reviewed June 2026Good to know

See all United States rules

Common questions about the Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat

How loud is the Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat?: 56 dB(A) indoors, about as loud as a dishwasher.
What size room does the Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat 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 Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat?: 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. It runs on 230 volts, so it needs a matching 230-volt outlet on its own circuit, and adding one is a job for an electrician.
Does the Whirlpool 12,000 BTU Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner 230V - With Heat heat as well as cool?: Yes. It heats with an electric coil, rated 10,600 BTU of heating output on 3,650 watts. At its rated heat it costs about $0.67 an hour at the US average electricity price.