The Hands-Down Best Window Heat Pumps To Buy This Winter, According To Reviews

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When you don't have a central HVAC system, a window heat pump, paired with some of the best hacks for a warmer house this winter, can be a saving grace. While they don't have enough power to heat an entire house, a window heat pump can warm a single room or, in some instances, a larger open space like a living room and kitchen combination.  Plus, these handy machines double as air conditioners in the warm summer months. But like most home appliances, not all window heat pumps are created equal. We scoured reviews to find the best models, and three stood out: the Midea 12,000 British Thermal Unit (BTU) Smart Inverter, the LG 7,600 BTU Window Air Conditioner with Supplemental Heat, and the Keystone 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner with Supplemental Heat.

Window heat pumps resemble traditional air conditioners, sitting snugly in a window, so you can follow the do's and don'ts of installing a window AC unit to ensure the installation is right. Each model's BTU rating measures its output, and about 20 BTUs are enough to heat or cool one square foot of space. It's crucial to keep this number in mind when choosing a window heat pump so you can select one with enough power to heat your room effectively. It's also important to note that these machines typically aren't efficient in extremely cold climates, so if you live in a frigid region, a window heat pump might not be the most practical solution. Instead, you might want to look at a more budget-friendly space heater that can keep your electric costs down.

The Midea 12,000 BTU Smart Inverter is one of the highest-rated window heat pumps among the models reviewed, with a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from more than 17,000 users. It can heat or cool up to 550 square feet of space, and can be controlled via the integrated control panel, the included remote, voice control, or companion smartphone app. The biggest downside? It's not effective when temperatures fall below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Keystone 12,000 BTU Air Conditioner with Supplemental Heat is another solid option for medium-sized rooms, with a 4-star rating from more than 400 reviewers. It's not controllable via a voice assistant or phone app, but it does have a smart remote that measures the room's temperature and sends it to the heat pump. It can be used when outside temperatures are as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for cooler climates.

If you only need to supplementally heat a smaller-sized room, the LG 7,600 BTU Air Conditioner might be the better option. One reviewer said, "After three decades, this stopped my propane for heating," and went on to explain how efficient they find this model. Compared to the other two on our list, this one is a more basic model (no smart features) that can heat or cool a room up to 330 square feet and comes with a remote control, but can also be controlled via the front panel.