Packaged Heating / Cooling Units

Packaged Units

Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners or Packaged Heating and Cooling Units are two other options for heating and cooling outside of Gas/Electric Furnace and standard Air Conditioner. Usually a standard Furnace or Air Conditioner is the best option for your home. However, one of the options below may work better for your situation.

Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC)

Hotel rooms are the most common place to find a Packaged Terminal Air Condition. They are quite heavy, so they are installed through a wall with a specialized sleeve and grille. The intention is for them to cool a single space so there is no duct work. They resemble a Window Air Conditioner. Many PTAC Units also have a heating option, which can be either Electric Heat or a Heat Pump, which reverses the cooling cycle on the AC. If you are intend on using your PTAC Unit for heat as well as cooling, it is best to go with an Electric Heat unit in Manitoba due to the extreme cold that is common. A Heat Pump on its own isn’t always able to keep up with our lower temperatures in winter.

Packaged Heating and Cooling Units

A Packaged Heating and Cooling Unit is an alternative to a standard Gas Furnace and Central Air Conditioning Unit. The most common installation locations for these units are the roof or at the side of the home. However, they can be installed in a closet instead if needed. They connect to a standard Duct System to send warm or cool air throughout the home. There are 4 options for packaged units including:

• Air Conditioners: The compressor, coils, and air handler are all housed in a single-box cabinet. The packaged air conditioner can also provide some warmth by using an electrical heating strip.
• Heat Pumps: A heat pump uses heat pump technology to cool and heat your home. This is only ideal for areas that do not go below +4 Celsius.
• Gas-Electric: The gas-electric unit combines an (electric) air conditioner with gas-powered furnace performance.
• Dual-Fuel: The dual fuel system contains a heat pump, capable of heating and cooling, with a gas furnace. This type of packaged system optimizes the heating source for all conditions.

The most common type for use in Winnipeg is the Gas-Electric.