Complete Carrier Infinity Guide 2024
Carrier Infinity Guide
The Carrier Infinity is Carrier’s most advanced system line. With both a 5-stage and variable speed option this line has some of the most advanced systems on the market that were built to focus on comfort and efficiency.
Carrier Infinity Air Conditioner
When you think of your traditional HVAC systems they function similar to a light switch, either on or off. The Carrier Infinity air con is a learning system that is equipped with either a 5-stage or variable speed compressor that functions like a dimmer. This allows the Infinity system to increase and decrease it’s performance incrementally in order to get you comfortable the most efficient way possible.
Learning
The Carrier Infinity air conditioning system is a learning system. When first installed, these systems have a blank slate and operate at default settings. However, as you continue to use and make adjustments to the Carrier Infinity thermostat, it begins to learn your cooling patterns and preferences, also pulling in weather data and forecasts to adjust temperature and humidity levels accordingly in real time. From the moment you start using the system, the Carrier Infinity ac unit becomes your home’s personal systems, no two systems will operate the exact same way.
Non-learning
The Carrier Infinity air conditioner system is the only true learning systems, all others are considered non-learning HVAC systems. This means that every other system will only operate based off presets and inputs, not real time data. For example, a single stage system would only turn the system on and then off once the set temperature is met. While the Carrier Infinity ac unit would meet the set temperature and then decrease energy usage while it continues to gather data on humidity and ductwork readings so the next time it cools your home it does it even more efficiently.
Greenspeed vs 5-Stage
There are two product options for Carrier’s Infinity air conditioning line. The 5-stage Infinity and the variable speed compressor, known as the Greenspeed option. These two products are both learning systems that function very similarly, the 5 stage is a great option for indoor climate control. However, if you are looking for perfect climate control, the Greenspeed may be a better option for you.
Greenspeed
The Greenspeed is the variable speed compressor option of the Carrier Infinity ac system. This system focuses on perfect in home comfort. It’s variable speed significantly increases your comfort in the home while reducing energy costs. The way it does this is by increasing and decreasing system output by increments of 1% as needed. The Greenspeed system consistently runs to make sure you have an optimal indoor environment.
5 Stage
The 5 stage option of the Carrier Infinity air conditioning line is the more budget friendly option. This system comes with a 5 stage compressor that has the same objective as the Greenspeed in mind, your comfort. This is also a learning system that increases or decreases output based on real time data, the only difference is that this system operates in 5 preset stages instead of the 1% increments.
Internal Sensors
The foundation of the Carrier Infinity air conditioner system are it’s internal sensors, these are sensors located throughout the whole system, however most are in the air handler. These sensors are what make the Infinity a learning system. They track your habits in changing the Wall Control, or thermostat temperature. They also log the temperature and humidity both inside and out, they track the time it takes to increase or decrease 1 degree and much more. All of this information is transitioned into an algorithm that is stored within the wall control so that the next time there needs to be a increase or an increase in temperature, the Carrier Infinity ac system can produce that comfort in the shortest amount of time using the least amount of energy.
Carrier Infinity Air Cycle
Traditional systems typically cycle on and off. Once a certain temperature is met, the system will turn off and wait for that temperature to deviate from the desired temperature before turning off again. This deviation is typically 3-4 degrees which can be pretty noticeable at times. The Carrier Infinity air conditioner system works very different, they incrementally increase and decrease the output throughout their cycle, meaning the system will always stay on, but reduce power to meet that desired temperature. This translates to about half a degree in deviation from your desired temperature and a significant reduction in energy usage.
Long Air Cycle Benefits
The Carrier Infinity air con is designed to maintain optimal indoor comfort, so by design they stay on to make sure the temperature is at what you want it to be. Their variable speed compressor reduces operating speed to maintain the temperature once conditions are met to and this reduced speed has several benefits. The biggest benefit is reduced energy usage, since the HVAC system is operating at a lower speed, less energy is needed. This also prevents the system from shutting down and turning back on consistently, leading to a significant reduction in wear and tear on the systems components that makes your Carrier Infinity last much longer. The perpetual run time of the Infinity also allows the air to be cleaned and filtered consistently, as well as a much more equal temperature throughout your home.
Carrier Infinity Wall Control
The Carrier Infinity wall control is the “thermostat” of the system. While the wall control functions as a typical thermostat, it serves many other purposes. The wall control is the brain of the Carrier Infinity ac system. This stores all of the data that is read from the sensors throughout the system; data such as indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity levels, static pressures and even homeowner habits, such as changes in desired temperatures or humidity levels are all compiled together in the wall control. The wall control uses this data in order to learn the best way to get the comfort levels you desire as quickly as possible while using the least amount of energy.
Ductwork
Ductwork is the median of transmission for comfort. It often gets overlooked but the ductwork is the heart of the system. If the ductwork isn’t right, then it doesn’t matter what system you have installed, it will never perform as it was intended to. Each Carrier Infinity air conditioning system is installed to create the perfect home environment for you, and in order to do that it has to be able to operate efficiently and effectively. With undersized or oversized ducts, static pressure readings are off and the system is very smart so it will throttle itself in order to preserve its components. Properly sized ductwork allows the system to work the way it was intended. It’s important to recognize that a full HVAC system includes the equipment and the home, which consists of the ductwork and insulation amongst other factors. There is no cookie cutter solution when it comes to ductwork, every installation is a custom job.
Calibrating Ductwork
When first installed the Carrier Infinity air con pressurizes the ducts to get a feel for how well it’s able to move air at different levels of blower speed throughout the ductwork. This process is essential because it sets the tone for the future of the system. The Carrier Infinity ac system establishes this baseline in order to detect any restrictions, such as a dirty filter or a blockage that prevents it from moving air as it first did.
Zoning
Traditionally, when you zone your HVAC system, you separate the home into multiple zones, each with their own thermostat. This allows for the direction of air flow into the zones that need it to meet the temperature set by the zones thermostat. This process is different for the Carrier Infinity air conditioning system because of its wall control thermostat and the sensors required for effective and efficient system performance.
Zoning Carrier Infinity
Zoning Carrier Infinity air conditioner system requires using Infinity equipment only. This is because the wall control relies on specific data to continually learn how to be more efficient at cooling the space. Having Infinity equipment across the board facilitates this learning, which only makes your system more and more efficient. Unlike traditional zones and dampers which are typically set in stone, Carrier Infinity ac unit zones are fluid and change based on the data in the wall control. For example, Infinity dampers can adjust their positions depending on the needs of the space, whereas traditional zones open and close to a certain fixed position.
Humidity Control
The Carrier Infinity air conditioner system creates an environment with ideal humidity. As the system runs it not only cools or heats the air but actively dehumidifies based on the wall control data. The Carrier Infinity ac unit looks to keep humidity levels at what you want them to be 24/7.
Carrier Infinity vs Single Stage
While all HVAC systems have some form of dehumidification, not all are as efficient as the Carrier Infinity. As of today the Infinity series is 400% more efficient at removing humidity from the air than their single stage non communicating counterparts. As variable speed technology continues to advance, the Carrier Infinity air conditioning system will continue to be one of the leaders in air dehumidification.