When Does A Packaged Air Conditioning System Work Well?
When most people hear the words "central air conditioning," they picture a split system. This system consists of an indoor air handler and an outdoor compressor. Split AC systems are very common, but there is another type of air conditioner to consider: a packaged system. Packaged systems house all of the air conditioner components inside one, single box. Here are some situations in which you may want to opt for a packaged air conditioner.
You don't want an indoor AC unit.
Packaged units are usually housed outdoors. Sometimes they are housed in a garage or crawlspace, or perhaps in an indoor-outdoor room or mud room. In any case, there is no indoor component to worry about. This makes packaged systems a common choice in homes without basements, smaller homes, and townhouse-style setups where indoor space is limited. If you have limited outdoor space, too, the unit may even be able to be placed on the roof.
You want a quick installation.
Installing a packaged AC unit is a lot easier and less time-consuming than installing a split system. This is especially true if you don't currently have air conditioning and are having it installed for the first time. An HVAC contractor will not have to run as many wires or lines, and they only need to find one spot for one unit. If you want the installation to be easy or you want to keep installation costs down, a packaged AC system is a wise choice.
You don't need heat.
Split systems are generally easier to integrate with a furnace since the two appliances can use the same blower motor. But if you don't have or need a central heating system, this advantage is moot. Since a packaged system is easier to install and takes less space, these systems are popular in homes in hot climates where heat isn't needed. They tend to be more reasonably priced than split systems, too. If you had heat, you may be willing to pay more for a split system because it would integrate easily with the heater, but there's no need to pay extra when heat is not a factor.
If you want a quick installation, you don't need heat, or you have limited space, then you may want a packaged AC system over a split one. Talk to a service such as Keefe HVAC to learn more about the pros and cons of this option.
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