How do I choose an air conditioner in Florida?

UF/IFAS Extension says the standard for sizing a home system is ACCA Manual J, that you should not use a contractor who sizes a system only by square footage, and that an oversized system is not recommended. A new central air conditioner installed in Florida since January 1, 2023, must meet the federal minimum for the Southeast: 14.3 SEER2 for a split system under 45,000 Btu per hour, or 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 and up. ENERGY STAR's level for a split system is 15.2 SEER2.

Replacing a system needs a permit from the county or city building department; Brevard County, for one, issues permits for new and replacement units. Check the contractor's license on myfloridalicense.com: a Class A air-conditioning contractor has no limit on job size, a Class B is limited to 25 tons of cooling and 500,000 Btu of heating in one system, a certified contractor may work anywhere in the state, and a registered one only in the county or city that licenses them.

Since January 1, 2025, new home air-conditioning systems must use a refrigerant with a global warming potential of 700 or less; an EPA rule of May 2026 lets systems made before 2025 still be installed until the supply runs out, and an existing system may be serviced and repaired for its whole life.

Check the filter monthly in the cooling season and have a professional do routine maintenance. No state or federal office publishes how long a system lasts; ENERGY STAR suggests considering a replacement when one is more than 10 years old. UF/IFAS adds that each degree the thermostat is set below 78 can add up to 8 percent to the cooling bill.

Where to go from here.