Electric heat pumps, and duel fuel systems are just two of the popular options for HVAC systems in in Eastern North Carolina. However, we sell and service other systems as well, one being gas packs. If you’re interested in the packaged system alternative to the traditional HVAC systems, here’s what you should know.
What Are Gas Packs?
A gas pack is a gas-electric packaged system. It combines a gas furnace with an electric A/C in a single unit. It’s a bit like a heat pump, but there are a few key differences. While both have a standard A/C function in warmer weather, in the winter, the heat pump reverses the function of that A/C’s condenser to pull heat from the outdoor air and bring it inside. The gas pack, on the other hand, simply functions as a regular furnace, running on natural gas or propane to produce heat.
Benefits of a Gas Pack
Combining both heating and cooling functions into a single package has a number of benefits. First, it saves space. Since there’s only one unit, and it’s installed outdoors, it frees up the space in your house that would have been occupied by the gas furnace. The placement outside also reduces noise while the unit runs and eliminates the worry of a possible carbon monoxide leak.
A potential drawback is that gas packs are not necessarily as energy efficient as separate furnace and A/C units. Their top efficiency levels are around 90 percent AFUE for the furnace and 20 SEER for the air conditioner. Comparatively, the most efficient individual units can get up to 98 percent AFUE and 26 SEER.
However, gas pack efficiency is still fairly high. Particularly if you’re replacing an older system, you can still save money and energy.
For more information on gas packs, or to have one installed in your home, contact us at Jackson & Sons. We’re committed to providing top quality service to Eastern North Carolina.
