Residential Air Conditioning: Central AC, Heat Pumps & Mini-Splits

Air conditioners are sized in tons, where one ton equals 12,000 BTU per hour of cooling, and residential systems commonly range from 1.5 to 5 tons. The correct size comes from a load calculation that accounts for your home's square footage, insulation, windows, ceiling height, and climate, not from square footage alone. An oversized unit cools the house too quickly and short-cycles, which leaves humidity behind and wears out the compressor, while an undersized unit runs constantly and still struggles on the hottest days. Browse central AC systems by tonnage, or ask a Voomi Supply specialist to help you confirm the size before you order.

A central AC system cools the whole home through ductwork, using an outdoor condenser matched to an indoor evaporator coil and air handler or furnace. Ductless mini-splits skip the ducts and connect one or more wall-mounted indoor units to an outdoor unit, which makes them a good fit for room additions, garages, renovations, and homes without existing ductwork. Window and portable units cool a single room and are the simplest to install, while PTAC units are self-contained through-the-wall systems common in apartments and hotel-style rooms. The right choice depends mainly on whether you have usable ducts and how many rooms you need to cool.

Heat pump systems both cool and heat by moving heat in and out of the home, so one system covers the whole year and often lowers heating costs in mild and moderate climates. AC and furnace systems pair an air conditioner with a gas furnace, which can be the better choice where winters are long and cold and you want strong, steady heat output. Heat pumps are also available in cold-climate versions, so the decision usually comes down to your local winter temperatures, your energy prices, and whether you already have a gas supply. If you are replacing both pieces at once, a matched system keeps the components designed to work together.

SEER2 is the current efficiency rating for central air conditioners and heat pumps, measuring how much cooling the system delivers for each unit of electricity used over a typical season. A higher SEER2 number means lower operating cost, and it is tested under conditions that reflect real ductwork better than the older SEER rating. Minimum ratings vary by region, so check what applies where you live, then weigh the extra upfront cost of a higher rating against how many hours a year you run the system. For a sense of the range, the Goodman GLZS4BA2410 2 ton heat pump and air handler is listed at 15.2 SEER2, and ductless systems with inverter-driven compressors tend to reach higher.

It is possible in some cases, but it is rarely the best idea. Cooling and heat pump performance, efficiency ratings, and warranty coverage are normally established for specific matched pairings of outdoor condenser and indoor evaporator coil, which is why manufacturers and the AHRI certification program publish approved combinations. A mismatched coil and condenser can run below its rated efficiency, struggle to hold the correct refrigerant charge, or void the warranty. If you are replacing only one half of a system, send us the model and serial numbers of the existing unit through a quote request and we will help confirm compatible condensers or evaporator coils.

Under EPA rules that took effect in 2025, new residential air conditioners and heat pumps must use refrigerants with a global warming potential below 700, so manufacturers are moving from R-410A to options such as R-32 and R-454B, and equipment using each is currently on the market. Existing R-410A systems can still be serviced and repaired with replacement components. For example, the Goodman GLXS4BA4210 3.5 ton split system is built for R-32, while the Payne PA7TAN46000W condenser runs on R-410A. These refrigerants are not interchangeable, and a system designed for one should never be charged with another. When you replace a condenser or coil on an existing system, always match the refrigerant printed on the nameplate.

Condensers, air handlers, furnaces, and complete systems are heavy, so they ship by freight rather than as small parcels. In-stock listings on this page show freight delivery in 1-3 business days, and some larger items ship LTL, so plan for a delivery appointment and inspect the packaging before you sign. Transit time depends on your location and the shipping method shown at checkout, and each product page lists the details for that item. If your install date is fixed, confirm timing before you order.

Yes, when the rest of the system is in good condition. Voomi Supply carries evaporator coils in cased, uncased, and A-coil styles, as well as central air conditioner condensers and air handlers and indoor units. The key is matching capacity, refrigerant, and the pairing between coil and condenser so the system keeps its rated efficiency. For help with typical pricing, see our guide on evaporator coil replacement cost in 2026 under Read more below, and if the system is more than 10 to 15 years old, a full replacement is often worth comparing.