The emerging market for capacity control
Residential & Multifamily
Apartments, condos, and multifamily units run small, single-stage equipment that is oversized 90%+ of the time. It cools fast, shuts off, and never runs long enough to pull moisture out, so humidity climbs and mold risk grows. The APR Control, on systems as small as 1.5 tons, lowers capacity to extend run-time and active dehumidification, at a fraction of the cost of premium modulating systems.
APR Control (UL Listed) · Systems as small as 1.5 tons
Why APR Control fits residential & multifamily
Cool but clammy is a runtime problem, not a resident complaint.
- Small units are oversized by rule of thumb, so they short cycle and leave apartments cool but humid, with relative humidity well above the 50 to 55% comfort range (industry data)
- Adds modulation to systems as small as 1.5 tons, where variable-speed capacity control is too costly to justify
- Lowering the system's capacity extends run-time and promotes longer periods of active dehumidification, part of the solution for holding down indoor humidity
- A mechanical valve: no power, no wiring, and nothing to program or service across hundreds of units
- No impact on the unit's rated capacity during design day conditions
The owner's risk
Comfort keeps residents happy.
Stable humidity control helps prevent the conditions that allow mold to thrive.
The chain is predictable: oversized units short cycle, so they never run long enough to dehumidify. Humidity climbs. Sustained high humidity is where mold risk follows. And when it does, the property owner carries the liability, not the resident and not the equipment manufacturer.
The APR Control is part of the solution: by lowering capacity to extend run-time and active dehumidification, it helps hold indoor humidity down through the long part-load hours when short-cycling equipment would not. It is not a guarantee against mold, and it works alongside good design, ventilation, and maintenance, but it directly addresses the runtime problem that lets humidity climb in the first place.
Built for value-engineered projects
Modulation the budget can actually keep
Multifamily projects get value-engineered, and premium modulating equipment is usually the first line item cut. The APR Control keeps the performance in: standard small-tonnage equipment delivers the humidity control and reliability of a modulating system, without the variable-speed price or a dehumidifier in every closet. It is a maintenance-free mechanical valve, so nothing to wire, program, or service across the property.
Where it matters most
Inside the Property
Apartments & Condos
Steady comfort and dry air, unit by unit
Common Areas & Amenities
Lobbies, gyms, and corridors held at setpoint
New Construction & Value Engineering
Modulation designed in without premium equipment
Retrofits & Turnovers
A three-connection upgrade on equipment already installed
Field-verified performance
The Proof, with Qualifiers
- 77% fewer compressor starts (951 vs 218), 3-month independent field study
- ~53% space RH held all summer: comfort residents can feel (Independent Field Study)
- 16% lower compressor power draw at part load (manufacturer lab testing)
- No impact on the unit's rated capacity during design day conditions
Bringing capacity control to a multifamily project?
Tell a Rawal Devices Engineer about the equipment and the units. Complimentary application sizing, with a one-business-day response.
Get Expert Help[email protected] · 800‑727‑6447 · rawal.com