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      12,000 BTU mini-split heat pump · DLC-series

      Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK

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

      Ranks #99 of 394 12,000 BTU mini-splits for cooling efficiency, and costs about $263 a year to run in a mixed climate like Atlanta.

      SEER2
      25.3 Cooling efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 86%
      HSPF2
      11.7 Heating efficiency over a season
      Very good · beats 87%
      EER2
      14.0 Cooling efficiency on a 95°F day
      Very good · beats 82%
      Heat at 5°F
      13,700 BTU/h114% of its 47°F output
      Below average · beats 20%

      A good fit if…

      • You want low cooling bills - its SEER2 beats 86% of mini-splits.
      • Your winters get properly cold - it is ENERGY STAR cold-climate certified, with 13,700 BTU/h at 5°F.
      • It will heat most of the year - its HSPF2 beats 87% of mini-splits.
      • You want steady temperatures and quiet running - the compressor varies its speed.

      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
      BrandTempstar
      Also sold asKenmore, Keeprite, Heil, Day & Night, Comfortmaker, Airquest, Smart Comfort, Midea, Arcoaire, LPS Legacy, Viessmann
      Outdoor unit modelDLCPRBH12AAK
      SeriesDLC-series
      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 sinceJanuary 1, 2018
      Last certifiedMay 6, 2026
      Cooling
      SEER2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better25.3 (range 24.0-25.3)
      EER2Efficiency at 95°F outdoors12.5-14.0
      Cooling capacity12,000 BTU/h
      Heating
      HSPF2Seasonal efficiency, higher is better10.5-11.7
      Capacity at 47°F12,000 BTU/h
      Capacity at 17°F10,400 BTU/h
      Capacity at 5°F12,000-13,700 BTU/h
      COP at 5°F2.0 = twice as efficient as a space heater1.80-1.85
      ENERGY STAR cold climateYes
      Heating output as it gets colder114% kept at 5°F

      Every heat pump delivers less heat as the outdoor temperature drops. Certified output of its matchup with DLFPHBH12XAK at the standard test temperatures, in BTU/h:

      Certified matchups30 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.
      DLFPHBH12XAK AIRQUEST · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614978
      DLFPHBH12XAK SMART COMFORT · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614976
      DLFPHBH12XAK TEMPSTAR · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614974
      DLFPHBH12XAK MIDEA · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614972
      DLFPHBH12XAK KENMORE · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614970
      DLFPHBH12XAK KEEPRITE · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614968
      DLFPHBH12XAK HEIL · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614966
      DLFPHBH12XAK DAY & NIGHT · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614964
      DLFPHBH12XAK COMFORTMAKER · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614962
      DLFPHBH12XAK ARCOAIRE · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614960
      DLFPHBH12XAK LPS Legacy · cold climate25.314.011.713,700211756562
      DLFPHBH12XAK Viessmann · cold climate25.314.011.713,700215569810
      DLFPHBH12XAK TEMPSTAR · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614974
      DLFPHBH12XAK KENMORE · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614970
      DLFPHBH12XAK KEEPRITE · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614968
      DLFPHBH12XAK HEIL · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614966
      DLFPHBH12XAK DAY & NIGHT · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614964
      DLFPHBH12XAK COMFORTMAKER · cold climate25.314.011.713,700207614962
      DLFPHAH12XAK LPS Legacy · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214873
      DLFPHAH12XAK AIRQUEST · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214870
      DLFPHAH12XAK SMART COMFORT · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214867
      DLFPHAH12XAK TEMPSTAR · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214864
      DLFPHAH12XAK MIDEA · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214861
      DLFPHAH12XAK KENMORE · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214858
      DLFPHAH12XAK KEEPRITE · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214855
      DLFPHAH12XAK HEIL · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214852
      DLFPHAH12XAK DAY & NIGHT · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214849
      DLFPHAH12XAK COMFORTMAKER · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214846
      DLFPHAH12XAK ARCOAIRE · cold climate24.012.510.512,000213214843
      DLFPHAH12XAK Viessmann · cold climate24.012.510.512,000215569871
      Yearly running cost in 10 large cities$224-$638

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

      Questions5
      What is the SEER2 rating of the Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK?
      The Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK is rated at up to 25.3 SEER2 and 14.0 EER2 for cooling and up to 11.7 HSPF2 for heating. The exact figure depends on the indoor unit it is paired with; across its 30 certified matchups SEER2 ranges from 24.0-25.3.
      Is the Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK good for cold climates?
      Yes. At least one certified matchup meets the ENERGY STAR cold-climate criteria, delivering up to 13,700 BTU/h at 5°F with a COP of 1.85, so it is still 1.9 times as efficient as electric resistance heat at that temperature.
      How much does the Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK cost to run per year?
      At its rated efficiency it costs about $224-$638 a year in electricity in large U.S. cities, depending on climate and local rates - for example $281 in Phoenix and $537 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 Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK?
      ENERGY STAR lists 30 certified combinations for this outdoor unit. The highest-rated ones use AIRQUEST DLFPHBH12XAK, SMART COMFORT DLFPHBH12XAK, TEMPSTAR DLFPHBH12XAK.
      What refrigerant does the Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK 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 $282/yrYou save $337/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 Tempstar DLCPRBH12AAK
      3. What it replaces
      4. Price replace the example with your quote
      Heat pump, per year
      $282
      Current system, per year
      $619
      You save per year
      $337
      Payback
      13.4 years
      Net after 10 years
      -$1,131

      Cooling $167Heating $115Electricity used: 1,761 kWhSaved vs. a minimum-efficiency heat pump: $193

      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 May 6, 2026. How we use the data.