An AC and heater combo refers to a central system that produces both air conditioning and heating for your home. Commonly, homes use central split systems. This system consists of two main parts that collaborate: the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Outdoor units are typically straight cool AC condensers to cool your home during hot weather. It needs another heating source to produce heat, creating the term “heat combo.”
Heat Combo
An example of a heat combo is a straight cool AC condenser paired with a gas furnace. This means the outdoor unit will cool your home in the summer and the gas furnace will provide heat in the winter. Homes that have a natural gas utility line will often result in this heat combo because of the efficiency of gas heat. These homeowners often opt for less expensive operations of warm air, as opposed to those who use electric systems to produce warm air.
Electric Air Handlers
Moreover, there is a heat combo that pairs a straight cool AC condenser with a central electric air handler. Electric air handlers are common in areas where gas is not an option. Inside this component, the evaporator coil and a heat kit work together to warm the air that passes through the system. This heat combo works well, but it is typically more expensive than gas systems.
Heat Pumps
There is also a heat pump. The uniqueness of a heat pump is that it is a single integrated system, producing both warm and cool air. Heat pumps have special valves that reverse the flow of refrigerant. The reverse process allows the indoor coil to become warm instead of cold, providing heat to flow through your vents. These systems typically cost less than electric systems as well.
Other Heating and Air Conditioning Combos
Lastly, since these are only a few of the heat combos that exist, that means there are many that may be ideal for your home. And understanding those matchups will help you determine which systems are best for you. This is where AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) comes in. You may learn more about this topic in our blog post “AHRI Matchup & Why It Is Important for Your System.”
~Nevaonna Alfred