Quote:
Originally Posted by biker1
My previous home had a Carrier with a two speed compressor. It ran at half speed most of the time and only kicked into full speed in the late afternoon. The advantage is the system ran continuously from the mid morning to late evening so there was no cycling, which is hard on the system. It also had excellent humidity control. I agree that systems with multi-speed (or two-stage) compressors is the way to go. Our Mitsubishi mini-split for the lanai has a continuously variable speed compressor that runs between 25-100% or nominal capacity.
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Multi-stage and variable speed compressors have been available for many years, but they have never been very popular. Almost all of the HVAC systems in The Villages use an inexpensive, single speed compressor. I have never seen a study that proves that a variable speed compressor is more efficient than a single speed compressor or that it saves money, especially on a life cycle basis. Just because the compressor runs longer at a lower capacity doesn't mean that it is more efficient. I think it depends on the compressor design, the cost for electricity, and the accuracy and timing of the thermostat as to when to switch from a low to a high speed. I agree that, if the compressor runs longer, it will reduce the humidity, but I have not seen issues with high humidity in The Villages. So, personally, I would not pay the extra cost for a multi-speed or variable speed compressor.