PTAC Units for Sale in Philadelphia, PA

How To Choose The Right PTAC Unit

The right PTAC comes down to three decisions: the size of the unit, the type of heat, and the demands of your building. Here is how to think through each one.

9000 vs 12000 BTU PTAC Units

Start with the square footage of the room. A 9000 BTU PTAC fits rooms around 350 to 450 square feet, which covers most hotel rooms and studios. A 12000 BTU PTAC fits rooms around 450 to 550 square feet, which covers most one bedroom apartments.

Then adjust for conditions. Rooms with strong afternoon sun, high ceilings, or heavy occupancy may need the larger size. Shaded rooms may do fine with the smaller one.

Resist the urge to oversize. A PTAC that is too large for the room short cycles, which leaves the space humid and wears out components faster. A unit that is too small runs nonstop and drives up electric bills. The Department of Energy recommends matching capacity to room size rather than buying the biggest unit available.

Heat Pump vs Electric Heat PTACs

PTAC units heat a room in one of two ways.

Heat pump PTACs move heat from outside air into the room. They use significantly less electricity than resistance heating, which lowers operating costs over the heating season. Most heat pump PTACs include electric backup heat that takes over when outdoor temperatures drop too low for the heat pump to keep up.

Electric heat PTACs use a resistance heating element, like a space heater built into the unit. They cost less upfront and heat reliably in any temperature, but they use more electricity per hour of heating.

In Philadelphia, winters are cold enough that heating costs add up across a full building. For properties where the owner pays the electric bill, heat pump models usually pay back the price difference. For properties where tenants pay their own utilities, the lower upfront cost of electric heat models may make more sense. The U.S. Department of Energy has more on how heat pumps reduce electricity use compared to resistance heating.

Choosing PTAC Units For Hotels

Hotel PTAC units live a hard life. They run nearly every day, get adjusted by a different guest every night, and need to stay quiet enough that no one complains to the front desk.

For replacements, confirm sleeve compatibility first. Most PTACs are built to the standard 42 inch by 16 inch wall sleeve, so a new unit slides into the existing opening without wall work. Look for models with quiet operation ratings and simple guest controls.

The biggest money saver for hotels is standardization. Choosing one brand and model across all rooms means one set of spare parts, one thermostat layout for housekeeping to manage, and faster swaps when a unit fails.

Choosing PTAC Units For Apartment Buildings

Apartment PTAC units need to survive tenants. Look for durable controls, washable filters, and models with limited setpoint ranges if you want to prevent extreme settings.

PTACs also pair well with individually metered electric service. Each tenant pays for their own heating and cooling, which removes utility disputes and gives renters a reason to use energy wisely.

One note on compliance. Replacing a PTAC in an existing sleeve on an existing circuit is typically a straightforward swap.

But cutting a new wall opening or running a new dedicated circuit is construction work. In Philadelphia, that work may require permits through the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, and construction work across Pennsylvania falls under the Uniform Construction Code. Use a licensed electrician or installer for new openings and circuits.

Commercial PTAC Solutions

PTACs are not just for hotels and apartments. Offices, senior living facilities, schools, and mixed-use buildings use them to control each room’s temperature.  This gives independent control without the cost of a central system.

For commercial properties, we can set up an ongoing replacement program. Keep a standing order or a small reserve of units on hand, and swap failed units the same day instead of leaving a room out of service. Bulk pricing applies to commercial accounts the same way it does for hotels.