Packaged HVAC Systems for Chicago-Area Homes
Pure Comfort installs packaged heating and cooling systems, with both in one outdoor cabinet, for homes where indoor space or layout makes a split system impractical. Every system is sized with a load calculation.
Pure Comfort Heating and Cooling is a Lennox Premier Dealer serving Streamwood and the Northwest Suburbs.
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Quick Summary
Pure Comfort installs packaged heating and cooling systems, with both in one outdoor cabinet, for homes where indoor space or layout makes a split system impractical. Every system is sized with a load calculation. We are a Lennox Premier Dealer serving Streamwood and the Northwest Suburbs.
Reviewed by Gene Baldassano, owner and NATE- and EPA 608-certified HVAC technician since 2008 · Updated
What Is a Packaged HVAC System?
A packaged system houses the primary heating and cooling components together instead of separating indoor and outdoor equipment. Depending on the configuration, the cabinet may provide cooling with electric heat, a heat pump or a combination of air conditioning and gas heating.
These systems are commonly installed outdoors at ground level or on a roof and connect to the home’s ductwork. They can be a practical replacement when the property was designed around packaged equipment or has limited indoor mechanical space.
Common Packaged System Configurations
- Packaged Air Conditioning with Electric HeatThis setup combines central cooling with electric heating components in one cabinet.
- Packaged Heat PumpA heat pump configuration provides both heating and cooling through the refrigeration cycle, with supplemental heat available when required by the application.
- Gas-Electric Packaged SystemThis option pairs electric air conditioning with gas heating in the same outdoor unit.
The appropriate configuration depends on the home’s existing utilities, climate needs, duct design and current installation.
When a Packaged System May Make Sense
Packaged equipment is usually most relevant for homes that already use this design, properties with limited indoor equipment space or buildings where rooftop or exterior placement is practical.
Changing from a split system to packaged equipment is a larger design decision. The available location, duct routing, structural support, drainage, utilities and service access must all work together.
Features to Compare
The Cabinet Is Only Half the Decision
Choosing the Right Configuration
The existing unit is a useful reference, but it should not be copied automatically. Home improvements, previous sizing errors, duct changes and comfort complaints can all affect the new recommendation.
Pure Comfort evaluates the home’s load, duct capacity, utility setup and installation conditions before comparing equipment. The goal is to select a system the home can support, not simply the largest or highest-rated option available.
Packaged System Installation Details
Installation may involve the equipment base or roof curb, supply and return transitions, condensate drainage, electrical service, gas piping and venting where applicable. The cabinet must remain level, weather-secure and accessible for future maintenance.
After installation, airflow, controls, heating and cooling operation, drainage and safety functions should be tested. Proper commissioning is especially important because every major function is concentrated in one cabinet.
Why Choose Pure Comfort
Reviews load, ductwork and airflow before recommending capacity
Checks electrical, drainage, gas and venting requirements
Uses in-house HVAC installation crews
Tests operating modes and records commissioning measurements
Provides options-first guidance without high-pressure selling
Related Services
Packaged Units in the Chicago Suburbs: What to Know
Most homes in the Northwest and West Suburbs have split systems, with a furnace in the basement and an AC outside. Packaged units show up mainly in slab-on-grade ranches and townhomes without a basement, homes with crawlspace ductwork, some 1970s and 1980s developments, and on the roofs of small commercial buildings. When we replace one, the first question is whether to stay packaged or convert to a split system.
| Option | When it makes sense | Things to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| Replace with a new packaged gas-electric unit | Ductwork already connects to an outdoor cabinet and there is no indoor room for a furnace | Curb or pad condition, gas line, electrical disconnect, crane on roof installs |
| Replace with a packaged heat pump | All-electric homes or homes that want to qualify for ComEd heat pump discounts | Backup electric heat sizing and panel capacity for Chicago winters |
| Convert to a split system | A utility room, attic or crawlspace can hold a furnace or air handler | New refrigerant line set, venting and condensate drain; often more efficient choices |
What affects the price
- Tonnage and heating capacity, set by a Manual J load calculation
- Gas-electric versus heat pump configuration and efficiency
- Ground pad versus roof curb; roof installs may need a crane and a new curb adapter
- Duct transitions where the new cabinet's openings do not line up
- Electrical service and gas piping changes
Service and maintenance prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic | $75 ($99 evenings, weekends and holidays) |
| Residential packaged unit tune-up | $99 per season |
| Commercial rooftop unit tune-up | $149 |
| Rooftop unit belt replacement | $340 |
| Capacitor / contactor | $275 to $348 / $330 to $398 |
| Condenser fan motor | $735 |
More Questions We Get
How long do packaged units last in Illinois?
Typically 12 to 18 years. Because the whole system sits outdoors, the cabinet, heat exchanger and electrical parts take more weather than a split system.
Can a packaged unit be a heat pump?
Yes. Packaged heat pumps qualify for the same ComEd incentive tiers as split heat pumps when they meet the efficiency requirements.
Do you service commercial rooftop units?
Yes. See our commercial HVAC page. Commercial tune-ups are $149.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a packaged system and a split system?
A packaged system places the main heating and cooling components in one outdoor cabinet. A split system separates the outdoor equipment from an indoor furnace or air handler.
Can a packaged HVAC system provide both heating and cooling?
Yes, depending on the configuration. Packaged systems may combine air conditioning with electric heat, use a heat pump or pair cooling with gas heating.
Should a replacement packaged unit match the size of the old one?
Not automatically. The home’s current load, ductwork, airflow and previous comfort issues should be evaluated before capacity is selected.
Can packaged equipment connect to existing ductwork?
Often, but the duct size, transitions, leakage and airflow capacity should be checked. Modifications may be needed when the existing duct system cannot support the replacement equipment.
Licensed, certified and accredited
- Lennox Premier Dealer
- NATE-certified technicians
- EPA Section 608 certified
- BBB Accredited Business
- Licensed business in the Village of Streamwood
- Registered Illinois LLC
- Fully insured