A packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) is an energy-efficient air conditioning system that’s ductless and easy to install, allowing cooling or heating of a space. With a PTAC, you can set your desired temperature for a specific room in your home or building. You can include buying a PTAC if you plan to improve your homes, remodel rooms, or create a livable home. PTAC can address your temperature woes for a more comfortable home.
This air conditioning system is used in the hospitality industry like hotels or hospitals, which don’t have a central air conditioning system. A PTAC is good if you have small spaces or rooms since you won’t need two different appliances to change your room temperature.
Types Of PTACs
You can choose the type of PTAC depending on your needs. You can choose either a heat pump or electrical pump to cool and heat your spaces. Choosing the right pump will allow you to get the most out of your PTAC purchase. Here are its features:
1. Heat Pump
This feature in a PTAC will cost you more upfront but can save you on your electricity expenses in the long run. Although energy-efficient, this option is not as powerful as the PTAC using electric heat. Thus, this is a good choice if you want your room to be cooler during the summer. This won’t do much if you’re buying a PTAC to heat the room in colder months.
2. Electric Heat
This type costs less when purchasing, but it’s not energy-efficient. These are also more silent than the PTACs with heat pumps. However, that’ll work better if you want to heat your space during winter.
To elaborate on the differences between a PTAC heat pump vs electric heat, you can research online retailers or manufacturers before buying one.
Parts Of A PTAC
These self-contained unitary air conditioning systems are mostly used in motels, inns, or apartments in North America. The air conditioning units are controlled separately per room, and you can mount them on the wall or a window where fresh air can go inside. For other parts of the world, the PTAC is similar to a window air conditioner.
Here are some parts of a PTAC unit:
- The standard dimension for non-commercial use of PTACs is 42″ in width, 16″ in height, and 13 3/4″ in volume.
- The cooling capacity ranges from 7,000 to 15,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) per hour.
- The internal parts include an evaporator and condensing coil, with a fan used to get rid of the cold air in a room.
Some units have a heat pump or a Packaged Terminal Heat Pump (PTHP), where you can use to get a heat source from the outside, allowing you to cool a room during summer and heat rooms during winter.
Some types have an auxiliary heater in case the unit can’t generate heat in frigid temperatures during winter. You can choose if the unit comes with a hydronic or electric heater.
Why Is PTAC Popular?
This air conditioning system is widely used in the hospitality industry and for other commercial purposes. Buying a large PTAC for your business or home can be costly if you don’t purchase based on your needs. Listed are some reasons why buying a PTAC is popular:
- Quick Temperature Change
The minutes you need to wait for a room to cool down or heat up will only take seconds when you use a PTAC.
- Easy To Use
The units have user-friendly digital controls easy to operate. Even though it seems the units are complex, it’s also an added comfort if you can easily set your desired temperature with just a few clicks.
- More Silent Than Other Choices
PTACs are designed to be quiet to make you feel comfortable. People don’t want to sleep if there are loud noises from the gears of appliances, so this makes a good choice, especially for places requiring focus.
- Cost-efficient
Utilities and electric bills are one expense most businesses and homeowners want to minimize, and users of PTACs have seen their bills become lower than using the usual AC.
There are new and improved versions developed by PTAC manufacturers which are more cost-saving and energy-efficient. New models have more durable exteriors, better insulators for a more silent operation, and improved heat pumps.
There’s a good trend in buying these temperature control systems to make your life more comfortable for those reasons.
Conclusion
A PTAC can make your living space feel more comfortable due to the ease of changing temperatures. You don’t need to have other appliances to heat your room during the cold season or make your room cooler in hot seasons. Also, PTAC is cost-effective and energy-efficient.
Purchasing one could be expensive at first, but you’ll see savings in your electric bills in the long run. You need to choose the right type to get the benefits of a PTAC unit. If you plan to buy for your home, consider the ideas mentioned here to know what your home and family need.