Single-Stage Vs. Multi-Stage Air Handlers
For enhanced home comfort, multi-stage air handlers are the most attractive features to look for in A/C and heat pump systems, especially for South Florida homeowners who must endure high humidity most of the year.
Single-stage vs. multi-stage air handlers
When it comes to performance, energy efficiency and enhancing the performance of home comfort systems and components, there’s no contest between a multi-stage air handler and a single-stage model.
A multi-stage air handler is designed to adjust airflow in increments of 1 percent to conform to changes in actual cooling and heating needs at any given moment. In contrast, a single-stage air handler works at full capacity all of the time, wastes electricity and falls well short of the benefits multi-stage air handlers deliver. For instance, a multi-stage system boosts the performance of the following systems and components:
- Dehumidification: By design, heat pumps and A/C systems dehumidify your home during the cooling months. As warm moist air flows across the evaporator coil (in cooling mode), the moisture in the airflow condenses on the coil and drains away. Multi-stage air handlers cycle for much longer periods at slower speeds than single-stage models, which means more moisture is removed from your home.
- Indoor-air quality: Longer cycles also mean that your indoor air will pass through the air filter and air-purification systems you may have installed (e.g., UV lights) many more times for cleaner and healthier indoor air quality. Longer and slower cycles result in more even cooling and heating, too.
- Zoning systems: Zoning systems use a series of duct doors (or dampers) and thermostats to control airflow and temperatures in each zone. A multi-stage air handler assists the performance and function of zoning systems by adjusting air velocity to match real-time needs.
- Heat pump or A/C heat exchange: Longer cycles enhance the heat-exchange process of heat pumps and A/C systems, which means lower utility bills, less wear and tear and enhanced performance of all system components.
If you would like more information about the benefits of multi-stage air handlers, contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve served South Florida homeowners for 40 years.
