Finding the perfect climate control solution for your home means looking beyond the summer heat. An air conditioner with a built-in heat pump offers a versatile, all-in-one answer to year-round comfort, eliminating the need for separate cooling and heating systems. These innovative units provide efficient cooling during sweltering months and reliable warmth when the temperature drops, making them a smart investment for any living space.
Whether you need a portable model you can move from room to room or a powerful window unit for a permanent installation, there is an option for every need. From smart-enabled devices you can control with your voice to energy-efficient inverter models, the following roundup features the best air conditioners with heat to keep your home comfortable 365 days a year.
The Best Air Conditioners With Heat for Your Home
- BLACK+DECKER Smart Portable Air Conditioner with Heat, 14,000 BTU
- ROVSUN 8000 BTU Window Air Conditioner with Heat & Smart Control
- SereneLife 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat, Compact 4-in-1
- Uhome 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heater up to 400 Sq. Ft
- SereneLife Small Air Conditioner Portable 10,000 BTU with Built-in Dehumidifier + Heat
- Westinghouse 14,000 BTU Air Conditioner with Heat Mode, Cools 700 sq. ft.
- EUHOMY Portable Air Conditioners 12,000 Btu, 4 in 1 Portable Cooling AC with Heat
- Whynter Portable Air Conditioner 14,000 BTU & Heater with Dual Hose
- Midea Duo 14,000 BTU High Efficiency Inverter Ultra Quiet Portable Air Conditioner
- Frigidaire FFRE4120SW1 12000 BTU Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner with Heater
BLACK+DECKER Smart Portable Air Conditioner with Heat, 14,000 BTU
This BLACK+DECKER unit is a powerful four-in-one machine that combines a 14,000 BTU air conditioner, a 10,000 BTU heater, a dehumidifier, and a fan. Its portable design on rolling casters allows you to easily move it to rooms up to 700 square feet, making it a flexible solution for cooling a living room during the day or a bedroom at night. The compact footprint ensures it fits comfortably in most spaces without being obtrusive.
Convenience is a key feature, as this is a smart air conditioner with Wi-Fi connectivity. You can control the unit from anywhere using the mobile app on your iOS or Android device, or use simple voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The included “Follow Me” remote control allows you to adjust settings from across the room, putting total climate control in the palm of your hand.
ROVSUN 8000 BTU Window Air Conditioner with Heat
Ideal for smaller rooms up to 350 square feet, the ROVSUN window AC and heater combo is a space-saving unit that delivers 8,000 BTU of cooling and 4,000 BTU of heating. It features five distinct modes: Heat, Auto, Cool, Dry, and Fan, giving you precise control over your room’s environment throughout the year. The included easy installation kit makes setting up this unit in a standard window a straightforward process.
This model is designed with user-friendly features, including a washable filter that is easily accessible from the front for regular maintenance. Beyond the physical remote and control panel, it offers smart app and voice control compatibility. You can connect it to your Wi-Fi and use the accompanying app or voice commands via Alexa or Google Assistant to adjust settings from anywhere, ensuring your room is comfortable upon your arrival.
SereneLife 8000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heat
The SereneLife portable AC is a compact and versatile 4-in-1 unit perfect for rooms up to 350 square feet. It provides 8,000 BTU of cooling power and also functions as a heater, dehumidifier, and fan. Its stand-up design and included window mount kit make it a practical choice for spaces where a window unit isn’t feasible, such as apartments or offices.
Built with a metal control box for enhanced safety, this unit is designed for reliable operation. It offers user-friendly features like an automatic mode, sleep mode, and a power failure memory function that restores your previous settings after an outage. With multiple fan speeds and a straightforward remote control, it provides simple and effective climate control for daily use.
Uhome 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner with Heater
Designed for medium-sized rooms up to 400 square feet, the Uhome portable AC delivers robust 12,000 BTU performance for both cooling and heating. Its efficient compressor operates at a quiet 52 dB, making it suitable for bedrooms and living areas where noise is a concern. The self-evaporating system significantly reduces the need to empty water trays, adding to its convenience.
This 4-in-1 unit is a complete climate control system, offering air conditioning, heating, dehumidification, and fan-only modes. The LED display and full-function remote control allow you to easily manage all settings, including a 24-hour timer and three fan speeds. With a high air flow rate and substantial daily dehumidification capacity, it effectively manages both temperature and humidity.
SereneLife Small Air Conditioner Portable 10,000 BTU
This SereneLife model is a handy and portable unit designed with a sleek body and rolling wheels for easy mobility around your home or office. With a 10,000 BTU capacity, it is capable of cooling and heating spaces up to 450 square feet. Its four operating modes—cooling, heating, dehumidifier, and fan—provide comprehensive year-round comfort in a single device.
The built-in dehumidifier function is a significant benefit, helping to reduce humidity levels for a more comfortable environment while saving you the cost and space of a separate appliance. It features an automatic swing mode with a moving wind vent to maximize air circulation throughout the room, ensuring consistent temperature and comfort.
Westinghouse 14,000 BTU Air Conditioner with Heat Mode
The Westinghouse portable air conditioner is a powerful unit designed to cool and heat areas up to 700 square feet. It delivers instant cold air with multiple fan speeds to circulate air efficiently and maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature. Its versatility is a major advantage, functioning as an air conditioner, fan, dehumidifier, and heater to meet your needs in any season.
This model is equipped with modern conveniences like Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control it from your smartphone. It also comes with a remote control and a programmable timer for automated operation. The all-in-one functionality makes it an excellent choice for cooling a family room in the summer and providing supplemental heat during colder months.
EUHOMY Portable Air Conditioners 12,000 Btu
EUHOMY’s 12,000 BTU portable AC is engineered for powerful performance in spaces up to 550 square feet. It features a 4-in-1 design with cooling, heating, dry, and fan modes, providing comprehensive climate control. The temperature can be adjusted within a wide range, from 61°F to 88°F, to meet your daily comfort needs.
This unit stands out for its quiet operation, especially in sleep mode where the noise level drops to a library-quiet 46 dB. The control panel can be dimmed for a completely dark sleeping environment. Additional considerate features include a 24-hour timer and an automatic swing function, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms.
Whynter Portable Air Conditioner 14,000 BTU & Heater
This award-winning Whynter model is a premium dual-hose portable air conditioner that provides powerful cooling for areas up to 500 square feet. The dual-hose design is more efficient than single-hose models, as it draws air from outside to cool the condenser and exhausts hot air out, preventing negative pressure and cooled air from being sucked out of the room.
Despite its power, it operates quietly at just 51 dBA on the low setting, making it suitable for bedrooms. It uses eco-friendly CFC-free refrigerant and includes a highly effective built-in dehumidifier with a patented auto-drain function that exhausts condensate in most environments, so you rarely have to empty a water tank.
Midea Duo 14,000 BTU High Efficiency Inverter Portable Air Conditioner
The Midea Duo represents a significant innovation in portable AC design with its unique dual hose-in-hose system. This design creates a balanced air circulation that prevents hot outside air from seeping in, resulting in more than 2x faster and stronger cooling compared to many traditional portable units. It is capable of effectively cooling and heating rooms up to 550 square feet.
At the heart of its efficiency is the inverter technology, which allows the compressor to adjust its speed rather than simply turning on and off. This leads to substantial energy savings—over 40% compared to the U.S. federal standard—and maintains a more consistent temperature. It’s a smart-compatible unit that works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Frigidaire FFRE4120SW1 12000 BTU Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner with Heater
For those seeking a reliable and permanent installation, the Frigidaire window-mounted air conditioner is a trusted choice. This 12,000 BTU unit is designed to cool and heat rooms up to 350 square feet. As a window unit, it installs securely in a standard window, saving valuable floor space while providing efficient, powerful climate control.
Frigidaire is known for producing durable and effective appliances, and this model is no exception. It offers the essential functions of cooling and heating in a straightforward, easy-to-use package. With its focused performance and space-saving design, it is an excellent solution for bedrooms, home offices, and other medium-sized rooms.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Air Conditioners With Heat for Year-Round Use
When I started looking for a unit that could handle both summer heat and winter chills, I realized it wasn’t as simple as just picking the first model I saw. You need to think about a few key things to make sure you get a system that works for your specific home and climate. Getting this right means you’ll be comfortable all year without wasting energy or money.
The first and most important decision is the type of heating the unit uses. You’ll mainly find two options: heat pumps and models with electric resistance heat strips. A heat pump is the most efficient choice for year-round use because it moves heat from the outside air into your home, rather than generating it from scratch. This process is incredibly efficient in moderate climates. However, once the temperature drops below freezing (around 32°F or 0°C), its ability to pull heat from the air diminishes. Many modern “cold climate” heat pumps work well in lower temperatures, but if you live somewhere with harsh, sub-zero winters, you’ll want a unit that includes a secondary electric resistance heater. This acts as a backup, providing consistent heat when it’s extremely cold outside, though it uses more electricity.
Next up is capacity, which is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) for cooling and, often, BTUs or watts for heating. A unit that’s too small will run constantly without ever making you comfortable, while one that’s too large will cool or heat the room too quickly without properly removing humidity, leaving a damp, clammy feeling. To find the right size, you need to consider your room’s square footage, ceiling height, the number of windows, and the level of insulation. There are online calculators that can help, but for a precise recommendation, consulting with an HVAC professional is your best bet.
You should also pay close attention to efficiency ratings. For cooling, look for the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating; the higher the number, the more efficient it is. For heat pumps, the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) is the key metric—again, a higher HSPF means better heating efficiency. An Energy Star certification is a good sign that the unit meets strict efficiency guidelines, which will save you money on your utility bills over time.
Finally, think about the features that matter for your daily use. A programmable thermostat allows you to set schedules for different times of the day, optimizing comfort and savings. If you hate a noisy machine, check the decibel (dB) ratings for both indoor and outdoor units. Smart features that let you control the unit from your phone are a fantastic convenience. And don’t forget about installation; a window unit is a DIY project for some, but a ductless mini-split or central system absolutely requires a professional installer to ensure it works correctly and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner with a heat strip?
This is a fundamental difference in how they create warmth. A heat pump is essentially an air conditioner that can run in reverse. In the summer, it moves heat from inside your house to the outside. In the winter, it reverses this process, extracting heat energy from the outside air (even when it’s cold) and moving it inside. It’s a highly efficient method of heating. An electric resistance heat strip, on the other hand, works like a giant toaster. It uses electricity to heat up a metal element, which then warms the air. It’s simple and provides powerful, consistent heat even in very low temperatures, but it is significantly less efficient than a heat pump and will lead to higher electric bills.
How low of a temperature can an air conditioner with heat actually handle?
It completely depends on the technology. Standard heat pumps start to lose their heating efficiency as the outdoor temperature drops into the 30s and 40s Fahrenheit (around 0-5°C). Many newer “cold climate” heat pumps are specifically designed to remain effective at much lower temperatures, some even down to -22°F (-30°C). However, their maximum heat output does decrease as it gets colder. If your unit has a supplemental electric resistance heater, that’s your guarantee of heat no matter how cold it gets outside, as it doesn’t rely on outdoor air temperature to function.
Are these units expensive to operate?
The operating cost is tied directly to the heating method and your local climate. Using the heat pump function for both cooling and heating in moderate temperatures is very cost-effective. It’s much more efficient than traditional electric furnaces or baseboard heaters. The expense can jump, however, when the backup electric heat strips kick in during very cold weather, as they consume a lot of power. To keep costs down, it’s crucial to choose one of the best air conditioners with heat for year-round use that is properly sized for your space and has a high SEER and HSPF rating.
Can I install a ductless mini-split system myself?
I strongly advise against a DIY installation for a ductless mini-split. While the indoor and outdoor units might seem straightforward to mount, the critical part is the refrigerant line set connection. This requires specialized tools, a vacuum pump to remove all moisture and air from the lines, and precise knowledge to charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. An improper installation can lead to poor performance, frequent breakdowns, and a much shorter lifespan for your expensive equipment. Always hire a certified and experienced HVAC professional for this job.
Do I still need a separate furnace if I have one of these units?
Not necessarily. In many climates, a properly sized heat pump system can completely replace a traditional furnace. This is especially true if you opt for a cold-climate model. However, in regions with extremely harsh and prolonged winters, some homeowners choose to keep their existing furnace as a backup system. The heat pump handles the heating for most of the year, and the furnace only turns on during the coldest days when the heat pump’s efficiency drops. This is known as a dual-fuel system and can be a great way to balance efficiency and powerful heating capability.