Should I replace my AC or go solar first in Florida?

A lot. In EIA's 2020 survey, air conditioning made up 28% of total home energy use in Florida, compared with 9% nationally, and 96% of Florida households used AC. Tampa Electric says AC can be more than half of a summer bill. See the average electric bill in Florida.

If the unit is old, inefficient or near failure, usually yes. Solar is sized to your yearly use, so if you go solar first and later install a more efficient AC, you may end up with more panels than you need, and Florida pays only a low avoided-cost rate for extra credit at year end. Studies and state energy offices note that efficiency upgrades done first can shrink the solar system you need.

If your AC is fairly new and working well, there's no reason to wait: get solar quotes sized to your current use. See how many solar panels you need.

Since January 1, 2023, new split central air conditioners in the Southeast must meet at least 14.3 SEER2 under federal rules, and split heat pumps 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. SEER2 uses a tougher test, so the same unit rates a few percent lower than under the old SEER scale. All three utility rebates below start at 15.2 SEER2, the ENERGY STAR level.

Yes, for now. An EPA rule effective July 27, 2026 lets installers keep putting in R-410A systems made or imported before January 1, 2025, but no new complete R-410A systems are being made, so supply will run out. New systems use A2L refrigerants such as R-454B, and those parts aren't interchangeable with R-410A equipment.

If a contractor quotes a leftover R-410A unit, ask about the future cost of refrigerant for repairs. If you go with a new A2L system, plan to replace the indoor and outdoor units together.

Often. Florida's energy code has required a recognized sizing calculation at permit for full replacement of the outdoor and indoor units since 2012, but counties apply it differently: Collier County asks for a Manual J with every change-out, while Jupiter asks only when the system is being resized.

Ask for the calculation either way. A unit sized to the house as it is now, after any duct or insulation fixes, runs more efficiently and dehumidifies better than an oversized one, and it lowers the kWh your solar has to cover.

ENERGY STAR suggests considering a replacement once a heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, and says a properly installed ENERGY STAR unit can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. In Florida's heat, contractors commonly cite a shorter life than the national average, especially near the coast.

If your system is past 10 years and you're planning solar, replace the AC first so the solar system is sized to the new, lower load.

Duke's program also offers up to $800 for attic insulation and up to $450 for duct testing and repair. The federal energy efficient home improvement credit (25C), which covered heat pumps, ended for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025.

• Seal the ducts. ENERGY STAR says a typical home loses 20 to 30% of the air moving through its ducts to leaks. In an older Florida Solar Energy Center study of central Florida homes, duct repair cut cooling energy 18%.
• Raise the thermostat. FPL suggests 75 to 78°F when you're home and up to 82°F when you're away, and says each degree between 75 and 78 saves 3 to 5% of monthly cooling costs.
• Add attic insulation. Duke rebates insulation for homes with R-19 or less in the attic.

Once usage is down, solar covers what's left. Pairing it with a battery keeps the AC's fan and some cooling running in an outage. See whole-home battery backup.