12,000 BTU Air Conditioners in South Africa: Prices & Specs
An air conditioner is a good investment for a South African home or office. They make our hot summers much easier to deal with and they can significantly increase the value of a property.
Below we offer a guide to some of the best and most affordable 12,000 BTU air conditioners in South Africa, complete with prices, specs and pros and cons.
Read on, or jump to a section of interest:
- What does 12,000 BTU mean?
- How big a room will a 12,000 BTU air conditioner cool?
- Best inverter 12,000 BTU air conditioners
- Best non-inverter 12,000 BTU air conditioners
- Best cassette 12,000 BTU air conditioners
- Choosing the best air conditioner type for your needs
What does 12,000 BTU mean?
BTU stands for British Thermal Units. The number is how many of these units the air conditioner can remove or add to the air per hour.
How big a room will a 12,000 BTU air conditioner cool?
A 12,000 BTU air conditioner will be able to cool a room of up to 25 square meters depending on the height of the ceiling.
12,000 BTU inverter air conditioners
A good 12,000 BTU inverter air conditioner is economical and offers consistent temperature control with minimal noise.
Best for convenience: Samsung AR 4500 Inverter Midwall Split
This Samsung inverter split unit air conditioner is one of the best for choices for optimal convenience.
It features a range of features to make life easier and more comfortable. Its “Fast Cooling” mode quickly and economically cools down a room. It also offers “Auto” and “Good Sleep” modes.
This air conditioner is also available in 9000, 18,000, and 24,000 BTU options. The cooling capacity ranges from 2.50 kW to 6.45 kW and the heating capacity ranges from 2.6 kW to 6.75 kW.
The Samsung AR 4500 Inverter Midwall Split ranges in price from R12,395 to R24,795 incl. VAT.
Best energy saving: Alliance Aqua Inverter Range
The Alliance Aqua Inverter range is one of the best for energy saving. Its inverter technology is capable of achieving energy savings up to 70%.
This is also a good choice for coastal locations. The heat exchangers have a unique golden coating that is anti-corrosive and can withstand salty air, rain, and other corrosive elements.
The highly efficient compressor can operate in extreme weather temperatures ranging from -32°C to 68°C. It can also handle voltage fluctuations (overloads) without requiring a separate voltage stabilizer.
You can also get this air conditioner in 9000, 18,000, and 24,000 BTU options.
The Alliance Aqua Inverter range starts from R9,695 and ranges up to R20,595 incl. VAT.
Best budget inverter: TCL XA51 Class A Inverter
The TCL XA51 Class A Inverter is the best budget option if you’re looking for an affordable yet highly effective air conditioner. Its quick cooling capabilities can bring the temperature down to 18℃ in 30 seconds.
This air conditioner has an iFeel mode so it can detect the environmental temperature through a remote sensor. It also features a few other modes including Eco, Sleep, Mute, Ideal Humidity and Smart Air Flow.
This air conditioner is also available in 9000, 18,000, and 24,000 BTU options.
The TCL XA51 Class A Inverter costs from just R8,595 up to R14,995 incl. VAT.
12,000 BTU non-inverter air conditioners
Non-inverter air conditioners are usually more affordable than inverter types and, although they might use a bit more energy, they can be just as effective.
Prices listed below are correct at time of publication but are subject to change. Please check our site for the latest prices.
Best non-inverter fast cooling: Samsung AR3000 Non-Inverter Midwall Split
The Samsung AR3000 Non-Inverter Midwall Split is the best non-inverter air conditioner for fast cooling. The unit also offers Auto and Good Sleep modes.
This non-inverter air conditioner is also available in 9000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTUs. This range has cooling capacities between 2.50 kW and 6.40 kW, and heating capacities from 2.6 kW up to 6.35 kW.
Samsung AR3000 Non-Inverter Midwall Split ranges in price from R7,026 to R14,054 incl. VAT.
Best smart air conditioner: J-Smart Fixed Speed (Wi-Fi)
The J-Smart Fixed Speed air conditioner is the best non-inverter smart option that can be controlled via a smart Wi-Fi enabled remote.
This J-Smart Fixed Speed also has low decibel operations and self-cleaning capabilities for added convenience.
This air conditioner also comes in 9000, 18,000, 22,000 and 30,000 BTU options.
The J-Smart Fixed Speed air conditioner starts at R7,895 and goes up to R17,495 incl. VAT depending on the capacity.
Best budget non-inverter: Unitherm Fixed Speed
Starting from only R6995, the Unitherm Fixed Speed is the best budget non-inverter air conditioner.
This unit offers low noise levels and up to 70% saving on heating. It also has a 3-year warranty on both the indoor and outdoor units.
With B class energy efficiency, it is sufficiently economical for a non-inverter air conditioner. Also available in 9,000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTUs.
The Unitherm Fixed Speed air conditioner range in price from R6,995 to R15,295 incl. VAT.
12,000 BTU cassette air conditioners
Cassette air conditioners are ideal for small to medium offices. Being ceiling mounted with four directional vents, they distribute cool air more evenly in open spaces.
Best for even, gentle airflow: Samsung 4-Way Mini Windfree Cassette
The Samsung 4-Way Mini Windfree Cassette offers a compact and efficient design, making it ideal for smaller spaces.
The 4-Way unit offers 9000 micro-holes to deliver a gentle and evenly dispersed airflow making it the best for fast and even cooling without annoying drafts.
This cassette air conditioner is also extremely energy efficient. It uses up to 50% less energy when compared to non-inverter units.
This unit is also available in 9000, 18,000 and 24,000 BTU sizes.
The Samsung 4-Way Mini Windfree Cassette ranges in price from R13,095 to R23,566 incl. VAT.
Best for larger spaces: Alliance Arctic Cassette
The Alliance Arctic Cassette is the best for larger homes and open plan offices as well as light commercial use such small warehouses and factories.
The indoor airflow capacity ranges from 416 to 1970 cubic meters. The distance between the indoor and outdoor units can be as much as 65 meters.
These highly efficient air conditioners prioritize energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
This cassette air conditioner is also available in 18,000, 24,000 and 48,000 BTUs.
The Alliance Arctic Cassette starts from R27,695 and goes up to R46,595 incl. VAT.
Choosing the best air conditioner type for your needs
Below we offer a simple overview to help you decide between an inverter or non-inverter model – and between a split unit, cassette or under-ceiling air conditioner, based on your needs.
Inverter vs. non-inverter
Inverter air conditioners can adjust their compressor speed to save energy while non-inverter air conditioners have a fixed compressor speed.
This means a non-inverter air conditioner will switch on and off at a fixed speed to maintain the temperature while an inverter type can adjust its compressor speed during operation to maintain the temperature.
Inverter types are more consistent and can better control the air temperature when there are a lot of people or greater fluctuations in outside temperature.
Non-inverter types are simpler but can still be efficient when there are fewer people in the room or the climate is more temperate.
Split units
A split unit air conditioner is simpler alternative to having a central air conditioning system installed. They have an inside unit and an outdoor unit.
The outdoor unit houses the compressor and condenser while indoors is the distribution unit with the controls and filters.
Split units are easy to install compared to a ducted system and are a popular choice for homes and small offices. They can be mounted on walls or in windows.
Cassette air conditioners
A cassette air conditioner also has an indoor and outdoor unit like a split unit but the indoor unit is set into the ceiling rather than being wall or window mounted.
They are ideal when the is limited space on the wall for the indoor unit or ceiling mounting would be cheaper than wall mounting.
The four directional output is better than a split unit for larger spaces because there is a more consistent spread of cooled air.
They also sit almost flush with the ceiling boards making them discreet.
Underceiling air conditioners
Underceiling air conditioners are a type of split unit. They are more powerful than the standard split units usually found in homes or small offices.
Underceiling air conditioners may be ceiling mounted but, unlike cassette units, are not recessed into the ceiling boards.
Alternatively, they may be wall-mounted. Often they’re mounted close to ground level, so they vent cooled air upwards – creating circular airflow. This is comfortable and effective for cooling a public space.
At Turbovent, we supply a range of 12,000 BTU air conditioners in South Africa. We also offer cost-effective installation and maintenance services. Contact us to discuss the best option for your needs or browse our air conditioners and purchase a unit online.
