Choose the best heating-and-cooling strategy

PTACs are usually the best option in the guestroom, but certain projects may benefit from a different strategy.

The main complaint with the PTAC is its obtrusiveness in design and its noise. In room applications where those problems are detrimental, the next best solution may be the vertical PTAC.

“The vertical is still a PTAC and provides the benefits of the low-cost install and zonal heating and cooling and gives the added benefit of hiding it in a closet and not under a window,” said Jim Benz, marketing manager for air-conditioning products at General Electric.

Bill Huber, national sales manager for Friedrich Air Conditioning, said vertical units have the added capability to heat and cool several rooms at once. This is especially beneficial in the extended-stay segment.

“A long room or a two-bedroom suite had to use multiple PTACs before. Now they can use a vertical to air condition multiple rooms. This cuts down costs,” Huber said.
 

• 80 percent of the industry, at the very least, has PTACs in its guestrooms

• 25 degrees is about the lowest temperature ductless mini-split systems can heat.

• The ‘60s is when PTACs became popular

• 20 years ductless mini-split technology has been around

Source: Jim Benz, GE