You already said that in a previous post. My previous system featured 4 zones (controlled by dampers) and without a variable speed air handler and two-speed compressor it would have been a more difficult ductwork design problem. It was a large house and I wanted uniform temperature and humidity control as well as low operating costs. I think you will find that most mini-splits installed today have variable speed compressors so it really isn’t a decision point for most people installing mini splits. The incremental cost for a split system for a ducted system is small and has many advantages. There will be a cost savings since it takes a system some time to reach steady state when cycling and variable speed compressor systems cycle less. There is a good possibility that my existing ducted system will be replaced by a Mitsubishi, or similar system, featuring the same sort of continuously variable compressor as in my mini-split for the lanai, when replacement time comes. I would like to zone the house also but that would probably require redoing the ductwork. As Dalton said, opinions vary.
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Originally Posted by retiredguy123
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.
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