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What is a PTAC Unit?

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PTAC Unit in Hotel Room

In the world of HVAC, PTAC units stand apart from the rest for many different reasons. They’re often seen in hospitality and healthcare, but can have many different commercial applications. If you’re interested in learning more about PTAC units, types of models and how to choose the right one, take a look below to learn more.

What is a PTAC Unit and What Does it Mean?

PTAC, or “packaged terminal air conditioner,” are ductless commercial cooling and heating units. They are essentially like large wall HVAC units that plug right into an electrical supply. PTACs have the ability to both cool and heat a space, giving the user complete climate control.

Types of PTAC Units

PTACs are available in two main types: heat pumps and electrical heaters. While they can both provide heat when necessary, there are some key differences between the two.

  • Heat pumps—Utilizing a heat pump, these units reverse the cooling cycle to distribute warm air around the space. These types of PTAC units don’t get nearly as warm as electric heater ones, which makes them ideal for warmer climates.
  • Electrical heaters—Electric heat units utilize a heating element and a fan to circulate the warm air around the room. These units are great for areas that see both warm and cold temperatures. These units can provide significant heat compared to the heat pump options. 

Choosing the Right PTAC Unit

Just like any HVAC system, there are certain considerations to take when choosing the right PTAC unit. The most important qualities to consider are room size, unit size, climate, unit type (electrical heater or heat pump) and BTU output.

Room Size

First, let’s look at room size; this is going to be a big determining factor for choosing the right PTAC. Measure the square footage and dimensions of the room or space to have on hand.  Not only will the room size help you determine which unit will provide the proper BTU output, but it also helps determine the actual size of the unit. You want to make sure it can easily fit in a room.

BTU

BTUs, or “British thermal units,” are a unit of measurement used to determine the amount of heat that’s required to raise or lower the temperature of one pound of water by 1° F. BTU is an important metric when deciding the right PTAC unit as this measures the amount of heat it’ll either be removing or adding to the space.

In general, an air conditioning unit needs 20 BTUs per square foot to efficiently cool the space. If you want an exact number of BTUs that’ll be appropriate for the space the PTAC unit will be in, simply multiply the square footage previously taken by 20. For example: a 350 sq. ft. room will require around 8,000 BTU. You can then use this number to find the right PTAC unit you need for the room.

Climate

Depending on the climate you’re in and how hot or cold it could get will also be a big determining factor for which PTAC unit to choose. As established earlier, electrical heaters and heat pump units have varying heat output; where electrical heaters are perfect for regions that can get quite frigid, heat pumps are ideal for locales that don’t experience such temperatures. Choosing accordingly can help with your overhead costs and money management, so taking the climate into consideration is a must.

Benefits of PTAC Units

There are a few key benefits to choosing a PTAC unit for your business, including: 

  • Easy to operate—Both guests and staff can work these units with ease and adjust the temperature, turn it on and off and switch from heating to cooling.
  • Can be energy-efficient—PTAC units are available in energy-efficient models to help drive down costs.
  • Ideal for hospitality and healthcare—Since PTAC units can fit in pretty much any size room, they’re great for hotels and healthcare facilities. Additionally, since they can be easily adjusted, they can create a comfortable environment that won’t affect anyone else. 
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