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3 Levels of Air Conditioning Equipment in Florida 
(1) Two-speed compressor outside and variable speed air handler on the inside:This system is the highest efficiency equipment available. When hot outside or when demand is greater the compressor outside goes into high speed, the fan on the inside unit also goes into high speed. This combination maximizes cooling when needed. When it is cooler outside and you don’t need the maximum cooling this unit automatically goes into low speed outside and inside. When the unit is in low speed your efficiency increases and the amount of humidity removed greatly increases. The out of pocket expense is more but the savings far outweigh the cost. There is an outdoor sensor on the condensing unit so the thermostat displays outdoor temperature as well as indoor temperature. The system is completely automatic and controls temperature and humidity levels in the house. This system pulls out 30 times the humidity as a standard system on a humid day. It sounds complicated but it’s not anyone can operate it. (2) Single-speed compressor outside with variable speed air handler on the inside: This system doesn’t remove as much humidity as with the two-speed compressor but it is a big step up from the standard. The compressor speed outside never changes but the fan on the inside does. In the morning or evening when demand is not as great the fan goes into low speed, this feature lets the system remove a lot more humidity. The truth is when your system is cycling on and off frequently such as in the morning or evening, the startup draws the most amount of energy, this is called short cycling. Short cycling with standard systems is almost a guarantee. The variable speed blower will slow down the airflow and let the system run longer and end short cycling. This feature is completely automatic and with a thermidistat (thermostat with humidity control and outdoor temperature sensor) you can set your desired temperatures and humidity levels. This system removes 128 percent more humidity than with a standard system. It is a must for humid climates. (3) Standard system- is a single-speed compressor outside and single speed air handler inside. This system is probably going to perform similar to the one you currently have when it was new. Only today’s models are a lot more efficient. It is only temperature controlled, so when the temperature inside the house is warmer than your set temperature the unit will cut on until the house is satisfied. It blows at the same speed on a 75 degree day as it would on a 95 degree day. Indoor Air Quality in Florida In our humid and tropical Florida environment mold growth is a very common problem. Merritt Island can be very damp for mold growth in areas with water on both sides. Ultra violet light systems can be used to help protect against mold growth. Therefore, I would highly recommend looking at this option when purchasing a new air conditioning system in Florida. Ultra Violet Light: 
An ultra violet light is the best defense against mold and germs. It mounts inside the air handler above the evaporator coil to prevent mold from growing on the coil. When an air handler is located in a garage or in an attic it is exposed to extreme conditions that are favorable to mold growth. The outside cabinet gets exposed to a lot of heat and humidity while the inside of the air handler is dark, cool and moist. This is the perfect breeding ground for mold spores to grow. The transformer is mounted on the outside of the cabinet, a hole is drilled through the air handler door and the bulb is inserted in the hole. The transformer wires into the air handler. Another advantage of the U.V. Light is it kills germs and viruses when air passes the bulb. These lights are designed for this application and are safe. The bulbs should be changed every year to remain effective. There is a light on the transformer to let you know the bulb is still working. Homeowners don’t change the bulbs these should be done by a trained HVAC technician. These U.V. Systems are being used in hospitals, daycares and offices all over the world. If your air handler or furnace is located inside the house it is in a humidity controlled environment so mold is not as common. If your air handler or furnace is in the garage this is a very good investment. It can be retrofitted later if it is not in your budget.
Media air filter: A media air filter is usually a 4” air filter that goes under the air handler, furnace or in the return air plenum. It is a thick filter usually changed once a year. The problem with this type of filter is that after about 6 months it starts to fill up and makes it hard for air to pass through the filter. This causes static pressure in the system which reduces efficiency. If you use this type of filter it is important to take the filter out every couple of months and vacuum it out. I would try to change every six months rather than every twelve. Electronic air filter: 
This 10” filter wires into the air handler or furnace and creates an electro static field. When air passes through the filter it electronically charges the air and has the ability to remove particles as fine as .01 microns such as smoke or dust. This filters much better than the above media filter. It usually has washable cells to cut down on replacement costs.
1” electronic air filter: This filter works similar to the electronic air cleaner above but is only 1” thick so it fit into air handlers with height problems such as in a closet or above a hot water heater. This filter also can be put into a filter back grill and it wires through the return to the air handler or furnace. This filter comes with three media pads that you change every four months. This is my favorite air cleaner because it doesn’t create much static pressure and the pads are cheap and easy to change. This filter works in almost any situation and is very reliable and effective. Change Your Air Filter Regularly Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months especially in Florida's summer months. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months (every one to two months in the summer can help). A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure. Install a Programmable Thermostat A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs. With the hot Florida summers this number could actually be higher. A thermostat is an instrument for maintaining the temperature of a system within a particular range by directly or indirectly controlling the flow of heat energy into or out of the system. All air conditioners have thermostats that can be manually operated or automatically preprogrammed to work at regulating the room temperature. There are many ways in which you can use an air conditioner thermostat effectively. One of the most successful yet economical ways to reduce your air conditioning costs is to adjust the thermostat setting on the air conditioner. The savings are more noteworthy when you set your thermostat at 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Florida Power and Light reported each degree you raise the thermostat settings, you reduce seasonal cooling costs by 7 percent to 10 percent. I had a customer in Titusville, Florida report savings of forty percent by adjusting the setting on his thermostat alone. In doing so, you can use ceiling fans in addition to the air conditioner and thus, save a lot of money. Another customer who lives in Rockledge, Florida stated he has a very predictable day meaning he leaves at the same time and returns at the same time Monday through Friday and he started using the programmable function on his thermostat and saved about a hundred dollars a month in the summer months. If you leave the system on a high/low setting during the day and set for maximum comfort 30 minutes before you arrive home. This feature will save you a lot of energy and maximizes comfort. Top of the line thermostats such as the Carrier Infinity Controller lets you set indoor temperature and humidity levels in the house. The outside condenser has a temperature sensor that communicates with the thermostat so it tells you outdoor temperature as well. This thermostat tells you when to change the filter, service reminders, static pressures on the duct system and the air conditioning system is self diagnostic through codes read by the thermostat. All these features are only available on the Carrier Infinity model with the Infinity Controller. If you have a variable speed furnace or air handler then you should have a THERMIDISTAT. This works similar to the Carrier Infinity Controller only you don’t have to have the Infinity two speed system. We mount an outdoor temperature sensor that reads through the thermostat wire and tells the thermostat when the indoor fan should be in low or high speeds. When it is not that hot outside the thermostat tells the fan to go into low speed and it gives the system more time to remove humidity. This thermostat also has a vacation mode so when you go out of town you hit this feature and it asks how many days, you punch it in and the air conditioner will only turn on when humidity levels are high. This feature saves you a lot of money on your power bill and is easy to operate. Free Quotes on Air Conditioning We offer both commecial and residential air conditioning in Central Florida in the following and surrounding areas.
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