Side by side

LG LW1522IVSM vs TCL H12W4KWH: With a 17-inch opening, TCL is out before heat modes even come up

Quick verdict

When summer cooling load comes first, the LG LW1522IVSM is the one to get. If 12,000 BTU covers the room and you also need supplemental heat, get the TCL H12W4KWH. Before you compare any features, note that a 17-inch-high opening rules out the TCL, which needs 18 inches.

Before you buy

Why, and what it costs you

A sunny 500-square-foot room can suit the LG better

With ENERGY STAR’s simple screening adjustments, a very sunny 500 sq ft room with three regular occupants comes to 13,800 BTU. LG is then nearer the calculated requirement than TCL is.

Where this comes from

For an 8 ft ceiling, the guide starts at 12,000 BTU for 450 to 550 sq ft. 12,000 × 1.10 + 600 = 13,800 BTU. It is a stated scenario and not a complete heat-load calculation.

The catch

LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

No heat mode.

The catch

TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

2,000 BTU of cooling lost and 7.6 lb more weight to install.

LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

Why pick it
  • Cooling for the room has to exceed 12,000 BTU
  • On the same window-AC basis, LG delivers 14,000 BTU
The catch
No heat mode.
See price & reviews on Amazon
TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

Why pick it
  • A documented heating mode matters to you too
  • Heat-pump heating at 11,700 BTU comes with the TCL
The catch
2,000 BTU of cooling lost and 7.6 lb more weight to install.
See price & reviews on Amazon

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Comparison updated , Product data updated , Amazon.com / United States

What this page compares

Here is how LG LW1522IVSM and TCL H12W4KWH differ on 14,000 vs 12,000 BTU cooling, heat-pump use, installation weight and the exact window openings each needs.

Which one fits

Pick the situations that sound like you

  • Cooling for the room has to exceed 12,000 BTU

    The same floor area can need more cooling as a sunny living room full of people than as a shaded bedroom. LG’s extra 2,000 BTU helps when the load calculation points that way. Its Amazon 800-square-foot title is no guarantee, since LG’s own current guide says 700 square feet, so let measured room conditions lead. Check as well that the larger air volume can reach the area you want to cool.

    LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner
    Better fit
    TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump
    Depends
  • A documented heating mode matters to you too

    A home office that needs cooling in summer and supplemental heat in milder weather is where the TCL can make sense. That is an added use and a bigger difference than an app feature. It is also the heavier installation and needs a taller opening. Hold on to your primary heating plan until you have checked TCL’s operating-temperature guidance and the room’s winter heat loss. Both run on 115-volt power, yet circuit and installation requirements still apply.

    LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner
    Depends
    TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump
    Better fit
  • The opening measures 40 inches across

    LG’s stated maximum is 39 inches. TCL goes to 41 inches, as long as the opening is at least 18 inches high and the support arrangement is suitable.

    LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner
    Not suitable
    TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump
    Better fit
  • The opening height is 17 inches

    Opening height for LG has to be 16 inches. TCL needs 18, though its cabinet is shorter than 18 inches.

    LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner
    Good
    TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump
    Not suitable

In practice

Differences you will notice

A sunny 500-square-foot room can suit the LG better

With ENERGY STAR’s simple screening adjustments, a very sunny 500 sq ft room with three regular occupants comes to 13,800 BTU. LG is then nearer the calculated requirement than TCL is.

How we worked this out

For an 8 ft ceiling, the guide starts at 12,000 BTU for 450 to 550 sq ft. 12,000 × 1.10 + 600 = 13,800 BTU. It is a stated scenario and not a complete heat-load calculation.

Whether the window fits can flip the cooling preference

A 27.5 inch opening is inside LG's stated width range and outside TCL's. At 40 inches, it is the other way around. Heating and cooling advantages count only once the frame fits.

How we worked this out

27 ≤ 27.5 ≤ 39 and 27.5 < 28. At 40 inches, 40 > 39 and 28 ≤ 40 ≤ 41. The required height, sill geometry and support requirements still apply.

The seasonal flexibility of TCL means a harder lift

TCL brings heating and weighs 7.6 lb more. That counts when the unit comes out for storage every year. Plan the lift and support before you choose it for occasional heating.

How we worked this out

92.6 − 85 = 7.6 lb. Each is a substantial window installation. Weight alone does not tell you how many people can lift the unit safely in a given setting.

Plug in your numbers

Does either unit have the cooling and window fit you need?

This checks hard limits only. Personal preferences are left out of the math.

LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

Check this one yourself

14,000 BTU on 115V. Fits window openings 27 to 39 inches wide and at least 16 inches tall. Your room works out to 8,000 BTU. It beats the target, but check yourself that it is not oversized.

TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

Does not work with your numbers

12,000 BTU on 115V. Fits window openings 28 to 41 inches wide and at least 18 inches tall. Your room works out to 8,000 BTU.

The cooling target uses the standard room-size method, adjusted for sun, extra people and kitchen heat. The window check uses the maker’s published limits.

Option A
LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

LG, LW1522IVSM

14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

This 115-volt dual-inverter window AC is made for larger rooms and has ThinQ remote control and a slide-out chassis. Be ready for a substantial 85-pound installation weight.

Best for
Cooling for the room has to exceed 12,000 BTU

Facts we checked

  • Cooling output: 14,000 BTU
  • Heating: No heating mode
  • Width of the window: 27 to 39 inches
  • Opening height at minimum: 16 inches
Option B
TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

TCL, H12W4KWH

Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

This inverter window heat pump cools at 12,000 BTU, supports Matter, and uses a support frame that lets you still open the window.

Best for
A documented heating mode matters to you too

Facts we checked

  • Cooling output: 12,000 BTU
  • Heating: 11,700 BTU heat pump
  • Width of the window: 28 to 41 inches
  • Minimum opening height: 18 inches

Spec by spec

Where they really differ

Where LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner and TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump differ
SpecLG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air ConditionerTCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat PumpIn practice
Cooling output14,000 BTU12,000 BTUFor a heavier summer load, LG has 16.7% more rated cooling capacity.
HeatingNo heating mode11,700 BTU heat pumpTCL takes on a different seasonal job. Check its operating-temperature limits before you replace a primary heater.
Window width27 to 39 inches28 to 41 inchesLG is favored by a 27.5 inch opening, and TCL by a 40 inch opening, subject to all other installation requirements.
Minimum opening height16 inches18 inchesThe installation minimum is not set by body height alone.
Installation weight85 lb92.6 lbTCL is 7.6 lb heavier. For either unit, arrange supported installation and enough help.

Trade-offs

What each pick costs you

With LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner

  • The widest window it supports is narrower than TCL’s.

With TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump

  • Some windows that are wide enough get excluded by the 18-inch opening-height requirement.

Change of plan

When the answer changes

Cooling for the room has to exceed 12,000 BTU

Go with LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner. On the same window-AC basis, LG delivers 14,000 BTU

A documented heating mode matters to you too

Go with TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump. Heat-pump heating at 11,700 BTU comes with the TCL

Decision guide

How to decide

The LG LW1522IVSM is the pick if summer cooling load is your priority. The TCL H12W4KWH is the pick if 12,000 BTU covers the room and supplemental heat is also a need. Put features aside for a moment: a 17-inch-high opening rules out the TCL because it needs 18 inches.

01

When summer demand is high, capacity decides

The same floor area can need more cooling as a sunny living room full of people than as a shaded bedroom. LG’s extra 2,000 BTU helps when the load calculation points that way. Its Amazon 800-square-foot title is no guarantee, since LG’s own current guide says 700 square feet, so let measured room conditions lead. Check as well that the larger air volume can reach the area you want to cool.

02

Rooms with a second seasonal job suit the TCL

A home office that needs cooling in summer and supplemental heat in milder weather is where the TCL can make sense. That is an added use and a bigger difference than an app feature. It is also the heavier installation and needs a taller opening. Hold on to your primary heating plan until you have checked TCL’s operating-temperature guidance and the room’s winter heat loss. Both run on 115-volt power, yet circuit and installation requirements still apply.

Check these before you buy

  • With the sash raised, measure the clear opening and its usable height.
  • Install the unit with proper support that suits both it and the window.
  • Look at the seller and make sure it's new, because LG may be sold through Buying Options.
  • If winter use is part of why you're buying, verify the heating operating range.

What this page can’t tell you

  • The sound figures published for each unit come from different modes and test conditions, so they can't tell you which one will be quieter in your room.
  • Room-size labels are only guidance, because sun, occupants, ceiling height, insulation and the installed vent or window seal all change the outcome.

By the numbers

What the data shows

What we found across the window air conditioners we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.

Show the facts and the math
Models in the comparison
2 models
Sources
3 covering these models
Product data updated
The facts and sources behind each product in this recommendation
ProductNeeds it meetsFacts we checkedSources
LG 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Window Air Conditioner
  • Cooling for the room has to exceed 12,000 BTU
  • On the same window-AC basis, LG delivers 14,000 BTU
  • LG’s stated height requirement is satisfied by a 16-inch opening
  • Cooling output: 14,000 BTU
  • Heating: No heating mode
  • Width of the window: 27 to 39 inches
  • Opening height at minimum: 16 inches
  • Installation weight: 85 lb
TCL Q-Series 12,000 BTU Window AC with Heat Pump
  • A documented heating mode matters to you too
  • Heat-pump heating at 11,700 BTU comes with the TCL
  • The kit range is met by an opening 28 to 41 inch wide
  • Cooling output: 12,000 BTU
  • Heating: 11,700 BTU heat pump
  • Width of the window: 28 to 41 inches
  • Minimum opening height: 18 inches
  • Installation weight: 92.6 lb

Ready to buy

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