Systems · Seminole, FL
Variable-speed
A variable-speed system modulates continuously, often sitting at a third of its capacity for hours. It holds humidity down better than anything else and it is the most forgiving tier if the sizing is slightly off. It is also the most expensive to buy and to repair.
- Lasts
- 15 to 20 years
- Typical, at 3 tons
- $11,000 to $16,500
Three-ton variable-speed, single-storey, Seminole. Illustrative job on this demo.
What decides this number
- 01A return too small for the new system adds a day and a duct run
- 02An attic air handler is cheaper to fit and hotter to run
- 03Reusing the line set saves a few hundred and carries a risk we will explain
- 04New ductwork and a bigger return: adds $2,500 to $6,500
Asked about variable-speed
Is it worth twice the price of single-stage?
For the electricity alone, no: the payback is on the home page and it runs past ten summers. For humidity in a Florida house, it is the best tier there is, and that is the honest reason to buy it.
Is it more to repair?
Yes. The boards and the motors cost more than the single-stage equivalents. The longer warranty covers part of that and we will show you which part.
Does it work with old ductwork?
It will run, but it cannot do what it is for if the return is too small. On a variable-speed quote we measure static pressure first and tell you what the ducts need.
The size first. The price after it.
Forty minutes in the house, measured room by room, and the size on paper before anyone talks about equipment.