Which Packaged System Is Best for My Palm Desert Home?
In Palm Desert, California, you rely on your HVAC system for relief during the summer and for efficient heating for those cold winter nights. A packaged system combines air conditioning and heating power in one unit, using the most efficient energy source for the weather conditions. Read on to learn about different types of packaged systems.
Gas/Electric Unit
A packaged unit that contains a gas furnace and an electric air conditioner is also sometimes called a gas pack. In one unit, you can cool and heat your home or commercial space. The heating part of the unit uses natural gas or propane to cause a combustion reaction inside the heat exchanger to produce heat. Cool air from the interior is pulled back out to the unit, passing through the heat exchanger to send warm air back through the ducts into the living spaces.
The air conditioner portion of the unit uses electricity to cycle the refrigerant through the evaporator coil. Warm, humid air is pulled from the home across the coil, it’s cooled and dehumidified, and blown back into the interior space.
This combination unit is both efficient and powerful since a gas furnace is capable of producing heat effectively even in extremely cold conditions. This can help you manage your electricity costs during the winter and budget for gas accordingly.
Heat Pump
A heat pump is a combination heating and cooling unit that works via the properties of heat transfer. In the summer, it transfers heat out of the house to enable cool air to come back in, and in the winter it takes heat energy from outside to produce heated air for your home. It can switch function according to the set point on your thermostat and uses electricity for its power source.
Heat pumps are designed with an indoor and outdoor unit that both contain a coil and a fan. In the winter, the outdoor condenser coil absorbs heat from the outside air, even in cold temperatures, and transfers it inside through the evaporator coil. Heated air moves through the ductwork powered by the fan and warms your home.
The process is reversed for cooling. The fan pulls warm indoor air across the condenser coil in the indoor unit and sends that air back outside. Refrigerant moves through the system, powered by the compressor, and absorbs the heat. The fan once again moves air back inside the house, this time cooled and dehumidified.
Heat pumps are a great choice for homeowners in Raleigh. With a good thermostat, a heat pump can run efficiently to handle a cold morning and a warm afternoon.
Hybrid Dual
A hybrid HVAC system, also sometimes called dual-fuel, combines a heat pump with a gas furnace. The heat pump functions normally to cool the house in the hot summer months while utilizing the powerful fan capabilities of the furnace to help move the air. The heat pump is also the primary source of heat until outdoor temperatures drop to a point when the heat pump isn’t the most efficient source of whole-home heating. At that set temperature, the furnace takes over to supplement the greater heating needs.
The hybrid system takes advantage of each unit’s most effective function to keep your home warm in times of deep cold without excessive electricity use. This helps save you money in the long run. Installation may qualify you for tax credits in the short term too.
If you’re considering an upgrade to an older, less-efficient system in your home or business, a packaged HVAC system may be the right choice to help you save money and run the most efficient component for the weather conditions.
Our team of professionals at Palm Desert Air Conditioning and Heating Co. are well-trained and can recommend a system for your home that meets your heating and cooling needs. We can help you choose an efficient unit that saves you money and lasts a long time. We’re also readily available for any service calls when the need arises. Call us today to learn more.