A package unit is a cooling and heating system in one package. It is best for homes and buildings that do not have enough room for a furnace or air handler. The package unit is posted outdoors – either on the side or on the roof. Then, the conditioned air is circulated indoors through a series of ducts that run through the building or house.
Types of packaged HVAC units and how they work
Packaged HVAC units come in different types, each one having a different set of features and configurations.
Air conditioners
The packaged HVAC unit houses the coils, air handler, and compressor in a box cabinet. Electricity is the power source for cycling the refrigerant.
The warm air will be pulled in by a fan and passed on to the cold evaporator coil. Once the air is cooled, it will be pushed back through the ducts and into the structure’s different parts.
Packaged air conditioner units also can warm up a house or building by using heat strip elements. Here, the air is heated as it goes over the heat strip and the warm air travels back through the ducts into your home.
Heat pumps
This type of packaged HVAC unit makes use of heat pump technology. It has the potential to both heat and cool your home.
The heat pump reverses the refrigeration cycle of a typical air conditioner to transfer heat. The indoor coils will be heated through a cycle of condensation and evaporation. Then, the warm air travels back to your home through the ducts.
Gas-electric
This packaged gas-electric unit combines the performance of gas-powered finance with an electric air conditioner.
The system’s heating portion makes use of propane or natural gas to combust the heat exchanger inside. The blower motor blows the cold air through the heat exchanger, and the hot air will then be circulated back through the ducts.
Dual-fuel
This packaged HVAC unit has a heat pump that can cool and heat and comes with a gas furnace. With a packaged dual-fuel system, the heating source for all conditions is optimized since you can choose between gas and electricity for its power source.
Are packaged units different from central systems?
Yes, central forced-air systems are very different from the HVAC packaged forced-air units.
For central systems, the parts are separated since there is equipment located inside and outside the home or building. An example of this is that the cabinet, blower, and indoor coil stays inside the structure while the condenser stays outside.
For HVAC packaged units, all of the components are packed into one unit and stays outside.
You can tell if your home uses an HVAC packaged unit when the split air conditioner condenser is larger than the usual, if the unit is just outside the house, and if the connection to the unit is through a vast circle or rectangle ductwork.
What type of HVAC packaged unit should you get?
This will depend on your heating and cooling needs. But in the United States, almost every area needs a reliable source of heat.
If you live in areas that do not really go through extremely cold temperatures and get constant access to natural gas, you can use a packaged heat pump. This is the most energy-efficient option for such a situation.
If you live inland, you will benefit from a dual-fuel packaged unit. It will be able to quickly cool down your home during the warm months and heat up your home during the cold months. It also has the full advantage of having a heat pump.
Last thoughts
If you live in a house with limited space, an HVAC packaged unit is what you need. The unit stays outdoors and will not occupy any of your living space. It is a space-efficient way to make sure that your home is cold or warm!
