buying a ac unit, a variable speed motor is about about $700.00 more than a single speed motor is it really worth it for the better seer rating. An is a heat pump need in orlando fl . When a heat strip could be used since we don't get to cold

The variable speed by Trane/AmericanStandard is well worth your money... yes heat pumps are necessary down here... the heat strips are just high wattage toasters... the HSPF is much higher for heat pumps... there are heat strips in your air handler even with a heat pump... sometimes (even in the Mouse's back yard) the temperature is cold enough that the heat pump cannot keep up and the strip heaters are needed... the big savings using the var a speed is that it will adjust itself to make the most of both heat removal and dehumidification... you will get your money invested back within five years in electrical savings... even with the minimal 13 SEER... I would go for the unit that is charged with the 410a refrigerant... they are stoping production of units that use R-22 next year...

After the warranty if anything happens to that special DC motor and its end bell electronics it will cost upwards of 1000.00 to get fixed. The actual energy savings are minimum. I advise against the variable speed motor that comes on some units from the factory.
There are aftermarket units that cost 100.00 to 300.00 that do the same job and will last the life of the furnace. If not the device will cost only 100.00 to 300.00 to replace. Much cheaper than factory.

Electric savings are minimal for both types. A five year pay back I doubt as I would like to see exactly where that figure comes from like a independent testing company not the manufacturer that posts bogus figures.

Just my opinion.

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I agree with Hvac1000, by the time you have achieved any savings something would malfunction in the unit, and if it is the motor LOOK OUT.

I know, I specialize in replacing electric motors.

I am in South Florida and just got rid of my Carrier Heat Pump. If you go with a HP be prepared to pay big $$ when they need to fix those reversing valves which always fail when the season changes from hot to cold and vice versa.
I just went with 10 KW heat strip as we only get about 3 days a year here to run heat. Staraight AC is much less headache.