PTACs are all about efficiency for hoteliers

The latest PTACs are all about efficiency, thanks to this year’s R-22 phase out and next year’s planned energy-management guidelines. The goal for 2010 was to make PTACs work with new refrigerants, namely R-410A, said Ben Broido, national sales manager — PTAC for LG Electronics. “Many manufacturers were having the same problems with new refrigerants,” he said.

Along with the refrigerant change, manufacturers have stepped up energy-efficiency efforts, both to appeal to guests and to comply with 2012’s energy-management guidelines.

“There are several things the customer is looking for: Ease of service, ease of maintenance, controlling capital expenditures and lowering operating costs,” said Jim Benz, marketing manager, air conditioning products for GE.

Silence is key. Many systems use cross-flow blowers, which cause the air to move and respond with equal power, but with less noise than traditional fans.

Some money-saving options save both cash and power, Benz and Broido agreed.

Options include turning the heating and cooling system off in vacant rooms, allowing front-desk staff to control temperatures, or tying the PTAC into a motion detector.

PTHPs offer an alternate choice
While the industry generically refers to PTACs as packaged terminal air conditioners and as package terminal heat pumps, there are differences between the two, Benz said. The heat pumps use the air conditioning system to heat the room but is “basically air conditioning in reverse,” he says. They are much more efficient, especially in cooler climates where utility rates have gotten expensive. The heat pumps can offer a return on investment of one to two years, depending on use, Benz said.

“About half of our sales are in PTACs and half are in heat pumps,” Benz said. “If hoteliers made wiser decisions, we should be selling 85 to 90 percent in heat pumps. The efficiency is that good.”