How Packaged Systems Work

Learn About Your System From the Inside Out

Understanding Packaged Heating and Cooling Units

Packaged units are unique systems designed for heating and cooling homes, and while their operations can vary based on design, they function in a way that’s similar to standard systems used individually.

Packaged Air Conditioners: These units combine the compressor, coils, and air handler into a single unit. They not only cool your living space but can also provide a small amount of heat using electric strip heating elements.

Packaged Heat Pumps: This type employs heat pump technology to both cool and heat your home efficiently.

Packaged Gas-Electric Units: This version blends an air conditioning system with a gas furnace, all housed in one compact design.

Packaged Dual-Fuel Systems: This setup features a heat pump that can heat and cool alongside a gas furnace. It smartly chooses the best heating method based on the current weather, ensuring efficiency.

The ducting for a packaged unit has some differences compared to traditional systems; it connects directly to the unit rather than being distributed among various components throughout the home.

Cooling Process of a Packaged Unit

Using electricity, the internal mechanisms of the unit circulate a refrigerant.

A fan pulls in warm air and passes it over the cool evaporator coil, which chills the air effectively.

The cooled and dehumidified air is then sent through ducts to circulate in various areas of your house.

Heating Process of a Packaged Unit

Packaged Air Conditioners: In addition to cooling, these units can produce a limited amount of warmth via heating strip elements. Once powered, these electric strips heat up, warming the air as it passes over them. The warm air is then pushed through the duct system, raising the temperature inside your home, making them suitable mainly for milder climates where heating isn’t often needed.

Packaged Heat Pumps: These work by reversing the refrigeration cycle used in regular air conditioners, allowing them to move heat into your home rather than just cooling it. This versatility makes them a smart choice for year-round comfort. needed. Through the processes of evaporation and condensation, the indoor coils heat up, and air blown over them becomes warm. This heated air is then circulated via ducts to increase the temperature in the various rooms of your home.

Packaged Gas-Electric: In this arrangement, the heating functionality is managed by a gas furnace. It combusts natural gas or propane in the heat exchanger to produce warmth. As cooler air from inside is drawn through the return ducts, it is circulated by the blower motor over the hot heat exchanger, resulting in warmed air that is later distributed throughout your home.

Packaged Dual-Fuel: This dual-fuel system offers two methods for heating: a heat pump and a gas furnace. With proper installation and settings, the dual-fuel unit intelligently selects the most cost-effective heating approach, whether electric or gas. When moderate warmth is required, the heat pump seamlessly transitions from cooling to heating mode. In colder conditions, the gas furnace activates to provide steady and reliable warmth.

Advantages

Space efficiency – Unlike split-system units, all elements of a complete heating and cooling apparatus are located in one place, making packaged units perfect for areas with limited indoor space.

Energy-efficient heating and cooling capabilities – Most packaged units deliver at least 13 SEER for cooling efficiency, while our packaged gas/electric systems achieve 80% AFUE heating performance, ensuring effective energy use.

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