4 Types of HVAC Systems for Florida Homes

Your home HVAC system is the key to year-round comfort. The best type of climate control equipment for you depends on several factors, such as the climate where you live, what fuel source you prefer, and whether your home has ductwork.

Choosing the right heating and cooling system for your home is one of the most important decisions you can make. With Florida’s hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters, the type of HVAC system you select can affect everything from your energy bills to your indoor comfort and even your home’s resale value.

Not every system works well in every climate, and what may be cost-effective in the northern U.S. might not be the best option for Central Florida  homeowners. Below, we’ll take a detailed look at the main 4 types of HVAC systems—along with their pros, cons, and best uses—so you can make an informed choice.

1. Furnace (Air handler)/Air Conditioner Combo

This traditional combination is the most common type of home HVAC system in the US. It works by drawing in air from around the house via return ducts, heating or cooling it, and redistributing the conditioned air to each room via supply ducts. This operating style is known as forced-air heating and cooling. Furnaces can run on natural gas, electricity, oil, or propane, while air conditioners run on electricity.

Also known as a split HVAC system, this setup combines either a natural gas furnace or an electric air handler with a central air conditioner. These systems are widely available, making them one of the most common HVAC options in the country.

The furnace provides heating when needed, while the air conditioner handles cooling during Orlando's long summers. Both rely on ductwork to distribute air evenly throughout the home. This makes them ideal for houses that already have ductwork in place and for families who want a reliable, traditional option.

In terms of efficiency, natural gas furnaces can operate at very high efficiency ratings, but natural gas isn’t always available in Central Florida. Electric air handlers, while technically efficient at converting energy into heat, cost much more to run due to high electricity rates. Meanwhile, modern central air conditioners come in a range of SEER2 ratings that directly impact your cooling bills.

Pros of Split HVAC System Combos

• Affordable purchase and installation costs ensure a reasonable upfront investment.
• High-efficiency ratings keep operating costs low over time.
• Choose from plenty of brands and features.

Cons of Split HVAC System for Florida Homes

• Natural gas furnaces pose a risk of carbon monoxide and gas leaks.
• Natural gas furnaces require access to a gas line.
• Electric furnaces (Air Handlers) have notoriously high operating costs.
• Ductwork is required.

2. Air-Source Heat Pump

Heat pumps comprise the fastest-growing segment of the residential HVAC market. If electricity is the best or only fuel source available to you, a heat pump is a far more efficient way to heat your home than a Straight cool system only using heating elements to heat the home.

Air-source heat pumps are one of the most popular HVAC systems in Florida because they provide both heating and cooling in a single unit. Instead of burning fuel to generate heat, they work by transferring heat. The equipment functions on the same principles as an air conditioner, moving heat with electricity and refrigerant rather than generating it from a fuel source. This allows for incredibly efficient performance, especially in places like Florida, where the winters are mild.

Heat pumps have a special part in them called a reversing valve. This valve allows the outdoor unit to heat and cool the home by reversing the flow of refrigerant. As a result, heat pumps double as efficient air conditioners in the summer. In cooling mode, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, pulling heat from inside the home and releasing it outside. In heating mode, a reversing valve allows the system to absorb heat from the outside air and move it indoors.

This design makes heat pumps highly efficient, especially in Florida where outdoor temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Because they don’t rely on burning gas or using electric heating elements, heat pumps are usually much less expensive to run than traditional electric air handlers. They are best suited for homeowners who want a single HVAC system that can handle year-round comfort without the need for a separate furnace.

Pros of Air-Source Heat Pump

• High-efficiency ratings and mild winters in Central Florida locations like Orlando and Daytona Beach keep operating costs lower than electric (Air handlers)
• A single system provides both heating and cooling for year-round comfort.

Air-Source Heat Pump Cons

• In heating mode, the air delivery temperature is lower than that of a furnace.
• Ductwork is required.
• In lower temperatures under 30 degrees, the units will require a backup heat strip to maintain temperatures.

3. Ductless Mini-Split

The popularity of ductless mini-splits has grown substantially in recent years. These systems are a type of air-source heat pump and can therefore provide year-round heating and cooling. The difference is found in the air delivery system.

Like air-source heat pumps, mini-splits can both heat and cool, but instead of relying on ducts, they use indoor wall-mounted units connected to an outdoor compressor. Ductless mini-splits feature an indoor, wall-mounted unit with a built-in air handler, eliminating the need for ductwork.This design makes them perfect for older homes, additions, garages, or areas of the house that are difficult to keep comfortable. Many systems also allow multiple indoor units to connect to one outdoor unit, providing zoned HVAC control. This means homeowners can set different temperatures in different rooms, which helps reduce wasted energy and keeps everyone more comfortable.

Mini-splits can heat and cool a single room, such as an add-on or west-facing home office that’s difficult to keep comfortable. It’s also possible for a single outdoor unit to connect to multiple indoor air handlers for whole-house comfort.

Mini-splits are also highly efficient because they avoid the energy loss that happens in traditional ductwork. While they typically cost more to install upfront if ductwork is already in place, their long-term savings often make up for the higher initial investment.

Ductless Mini-Split HVAC System Pros

• Amazing efficiency ratings allow for lower operating costs than furnaces and even many standard air-source heat pumps.
• Zoned heating and cooling capabilities are built into the system, letting you optimize the temperature in individual rooms.
• No ductwork is required, making mini-splits ideal for home additions and older houses without air ducts or attic space.
• There’s no risk of heating and cooling loss from leaky air ducts.

Cons of Ductless Mini-Split Systems

• Purchase and installation costs are often higher than central HVAC systems, assuming your home already has ductwork.
• Replacement parts may be harder to find, and repairs/diagnostics are more difficult, often pushing repair costs higher than standard systems.
• Mini-split brand selection is more limited.

4. Ground-Source Heat Pump (Geo Thermal Heat Pumps)

Also known as geothermal heat pumps, these systems provide the most energy-efficient, environmentally friendly way to heat and cool a building. Like air-source heat pumps, geothermal models move heat with electricity and refrigerant. But, instead of transferring heat to and from the air, these systems exchange heat with the ground, which stays at a relatively stable temperature year-round. In Florida, ground temperatures remain around 74°F, making geothermal systems remarkably efficient. Whereas Florida air temps can swing 40-50 degrees in less than 24hrs. The outdoor air affects the efficiency of a system, so the 74-degree ground temperatures make for quicker, more efficient heat transfer than an 80-plus-degree day.

The system works through a network of underground pipes filled with water or refrigerant. In cooling mode, heat is pulled from the home and transferred into the ground. In heating mode, the process reverses, drawing warmth from the ground into the home.

Although installation costs are higher than any other HVAC system and may require additional permits or land availability, the long-term savings are significant. The underground piping can last for decades, and operating costs are typically much lower than both central air systems and air-source heat pumps. For eco-conscious homeowners, this is the ultimate choice for reducing carbon footprint and maximizing efficiency.

Installation can be complex and sometimes involves burying a matrix of water-filled pipes, called a closed loop, near the house. Local zoning ordinances and state and federal laws dictate whether this heating and cooling system can be installed in certain places. They also can use a well to source the water that is then pumped into a lake or feeds the sprinklers for the yard after it's used to cool or heat the home. This is known as an open loop system and is the most common in Florida.

Pros of Geothermal Heat Pumps

• Ground-source heat pumps are a favorite among homeowners committed to renewable energy.
• Operating costs normally are lower than any other home HVAC system.
• The underground portion has an impressive lifespan of 25 to 50 years.

Geothermal Heat Pumps Cons

• Expect higher purchase and installation costs than any other HVAC system.
• Repair costs can get high if the underground loop requires service.
• Ductwork is required.
• A well and or water pump is required to operate

Schedule HVAC System Installation in Orlando or Nearby Central Florida

When you’re ready to enhance home comfort, turn to Certified Climate Control for top-notch HVAC installation services in Central Florida. We treat our customers the way we’d like to be treated, delivering award-winning service backed by an A+ rating with the BBB and a long list of satisfied customers.

Whether you need your existing home HVAC system serviced or want to upgrade to something new, we can help! Our team installs, repairs, and maintains today’s most popular HVAC products, including air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits. To schedule services, please contact us at  if you live in Orange or Seminole County, or reach out at  if you’re a Volusia County resident.