How To Choose The Best PTAC Unit For Your Condo

PTAC Units are manufactured in different designs to provide optimal heating or cooling output based on your building requirement: Here are the Four (4) most commonly used PTAC units in low-rise & high-rise condominiums: 

• PTAC With Electric Resistance Heaters: Electric resistance heat PTACs use electric resistance heaters mounted in the air distribution section of the unit. Usually, these units require 240-volt wiring to efficiently operate the electric resistance heaters.
• PTAC With Heat Pump: A packaged terminal heat pump (PTHP) can reverse its refrigeration cycle to produce heat. Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps are generally suitable for geographical regions where temperatures do not typically drop below freezing. The control can be set for the desired temperature, and the unit automatically selects heat or cooling mode based on measured air temperature. 
• PTAC Units With Both Heat Pumps With an Electric Resistance Heater Back Up: Heat Pumps produce heat up to three times more efficiently than electric resistance heating. In all but the coldest regions, a packaged terminal heat pump will significantly reduce energy consumption compared to a packaged terminal air conditioner equipped with electric resistance.  
• PTAC Units With Gas-Fired Heating & Electricity for Air Conditioning: Another type of PTAC is equipped with a gas-fired heater that uses electronic ignition and either LP or natural gas supplied to the system. The heater section of the PTAC is completely sealed off from the inside living space. It draws in outside air for combustion and exhausts the products of combustion to the outside as well. The heat of combustion is transferred indoors through a heat exchanger, which keeps the indoor air completely separate from the combustion air. One drawback of a gas-fired heater is that it requires a gas line to be run to the unit. For the cooling compartments, these types of PTAC Units use refrigeration to provide air conditioning in your space. 

Notes: In Canada, All PTAC units work with R-22 or R-410A Refrigerant. R22 refrigerators are obsolete. Learn more about What It Means To Have an Air Conditioner With R-22 Refrigerants

PTAC Sizes & Custom Dimensions

PTAC Units are designed in different standard dimensions including 42×16, 36×15, 40×15 and 26×16 inches. Some older PTACs may have custom dimensions. We have seen many times when the dimensions are not standard. In that case, we can help you with ordering new custom-made PTAC units. 

PTAC Manufacturer Warranty:

At Home Trade Standards, we provide at least 1 year part labour warranty on all PTAC installations. In addition, Most PTAC Units come with a 6-year compressor warranty and 1 year limited part.