Researching Packaged Units

What Is a Packaged Unit and How Does It Work?

A packaged unit is an all-in-one system. Instead of an outdoor air conditioner paired with a separate furnace or air handler inside your home, everything is built into one weatherproof cabinet that sits outside, on a concrete pad or a flat roof. It connects to your home through a single duct that runs in through an exterior wall or the roof. Here's what happens when your thermostat calls for heating or cooling:

Types of Packaged Units

Our packaged systems include Packaged Air Conditioners, Packaged Heat Pumps, Packaged Gas Furnaces and Air Conditioners, and Packaged Hybrid Heat. Depending on the type you choose, packaged systems can both heat and cool your home or only cool it. Which you choose will depend on your climate and the fuel available at your home.

Key Benefits of Packaged Units

Putting the whole system outdoors gives a packaged unit a few clear advantages:

• Frees up indoor space. With everything in one outdoor cabinet, you reclaim the closet, basement, or utility room a furnace and air handler would otherwise take up.
• Quieter indoors. The blower and compressor (the noisiest parts) sit outside, so the hum and vibration stay out of your living space.
• Fewer refrigerant leaks. The unit is sealed and charged at the factory rather than having refrigerant lines run and joined inside your home, so there's less chance of a leak down the road.
• Easier to service. Every component is in one outdoor spot, so technicians aren't crawling through attics or basements to reach them.

Is A Packaged Unit Right For My Home?

Because a packaged unit puts your whole system outside, it suits some homes better than others.

How To Properly Size A Packaged System For My Home

You can't size a packaged unit by square footage alone. An oversized unit cycles on and off too fast and leaves your home humid, while an undersized one runs constantly and never quite hits the thermostat setting.

To size it right, a licensed professional runs a Manual J load calculation, the industry-standard method for matching capacity to your home. Capacity is measured two ways:

• Cooling tonnage. Usually 2 to 5 tons for a home. One ton equals 12,000 BTUs of cooling per hour.
• Heating BTUs. The furnace or heat-pump side is sized to cover your area's coldest days.

The calculation weighs your insulation, roof, window placement, and duct condition, not just floor area.

Understanding Packaged Unit Efficiency Ratings

Think of efficiency ratings like miles-per-gallon for your HVAC system: the higher the number, the less energy the unit uses. Just be sure you're comparing the same scale, since an older SEER number always looks a bit higher than its SEER2 equivalent. You'll find these on the yellow EnergyGuide label:

• SEER2: cooling efficiency across a whole season, with outdoor temperatures ranging from about 65°F to 104°F.
• EER2: cooling efficiency on the hottest days, measured at a peak of 95°F.
• HSPF2: heating efficiency on a packaged heat pump.
• AFUE: gas-heating efficiency on a gas/electric unit (the share of fuel it turns into heat).

The newer SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 ratings are updated standards the DOE introduced in 2023 to replace the older SEER, EER, and HSPF. Because each unit is now tested under tougher, more real-world conditions, the very same equipment earns a slightly lower number on the new scale — a unit that was rated 15 SEER, for example, comes out to about 14.3 SEER2. Both describe identical efficiency; only the yardstick changed. That's why you should compare a SEER2 rating only against another SEER2 rating, and never against an older SEER figure.

The DOE also sets the minimum efficiency a new system can have, splitting the country into three regions, with warmer areas held to higher cooling standards. Find your region on the map, then check its current minimums:

• North
  • 14.0 SEER/ 13.4 SEER2
  • 8.0 HSPF/6.7 HSPF2
  • 80% AFUE
• Southeast
  • 15.0 SEER/ 14.3 SEER2
  • 8.0 HSPF/6.7 HSPF2
  • 90% AFUE
• Southwest
  • 15.0 SEER/ 14.3 SEER2
  • 8.0 HSPF/6.7 HSPF2
  • 90% AFUE

Maintaining Your Existing Packaged System

Because a packaged unit lives outdoors and handles both heating and cooling, a yearly tune-up keeps it efficient and helps your system last longer. A standard annual service from Hulse Heating & Air usually includes:

• Replacing or cleaning the air filter
• Clearing leaves and debris from around the cabinet and coils
• Cleaning the condenser and evaporator coils
• Checking the refrigerant charge and clearing the condensate drain
• Testing the electrical connections, contactor, and capacitors
• Inspecting the gas burner and heat exchanger (on gas/electric units)
• Checking the cabinet seals and roof-curb or wall flashing for weather damage

Has it been a while since your unit has been serviced? Our experienced technicians can restore maximum efficiency and performance to your existing HVAC equipment and ensure your home is cozy and comfortable all year long. Schedule a system tune-up now!

Need Service For Your Existing Unit?

What To Expect When Replacing Your Existing Unit With A New Packaged Unit - The Installation Process Explained

Because a packaged unit puts your whole system into one outdoor cabinet, installing or replacing one is a bigger job than a typical indoor swap, and it takes specialized equipment. Here's how the process usually unfolds:

Packaged Unit FAQs