PTAC

Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) units are ductless, self-contained heating and cooling units that are mounted through a wall. These commercial-grade air conditioners are found in hotels and motels, multi-family communities and senior or assisted living facilities. In these locations, quiet and comfortable rooms are key to guest satisfaction and the PTAC’s customizable settings and easy operation can meet even the pickiest guests’ climate control demands.

The majority of PTACs come in the same standard size – 42″ wide, 16″ high and 13-3/4″ deep – which will fit into most wall sleeves and grilles (which are required for installation). There are two types of PTACs: electric heat and heat pump. Electric heat (also referred to as resistance heat) PTACs generate heat by passing electricity through wires that directly heat up (similar to how a toaster works). Heat pumps typically consume less energy operate by removing heat from the outside air – even when the outside temperature is below freezing – and releasing the heat indoors.

TTW

Through-the-Wall (TTW) air conditioners will quickly cool rooms and other spaces using outdoor air to create airflow while still being environmentally friendly. Unlike window units, which sit on a sill, wall-mounted air conditioners are installed right into an exterior wall, using a wall sleeve for support. This leaves you with more window space and an unobstructed view. While installation on this kind of unit is more permanent, TTW air conditioners are much more secure and don’t allow for the kind of air seepage you typically get with window units. They can also be installed higher up or lower down on the wall to fit into your room or suite, depending on space.

TTWs come in electric heat/cool and cool only models. If you plan on using the unit year-round, consider a model with both cooling and heating abilities. These commercial-grade air conditioners are found in hotels and motels, multi-family communities and senior or assisted living facilities.

VTAC

Vertical Terminal Air Conditioners (VTAC) provide a home-like appearance to your room, quieter operation and a wall thermostat that helps guests feel right at home. Rather than a traditional PTAC or TTW unit, VTACs do not need to be mounted under or near a window. It is still a through-the-wall, packaged terminal unit, but instead of being 42″ wide and installed under the window in the middle of the room, it has a vertical configuration and is installed in a closet-like corner enclosure. This makes more room design options available and curtains can hang all the way to floor.

They are designed as an alternative to large, expensive central systems with none of the location restrictions of a traditional window unit. Because the unit is ducted, it can serve a single room or multiple rooms – thus giving you the cost benefit of package terminal units with the aesthetics, quieter operation and flexibility of a central system. You can find these units hotels and motels, extended stays, multi-family communities and senior or assisted living facilities.

WINDOW

Window air conditioners are the simplest type of A/C unit that are installed or mounted into an open window and plugged into an electrical outlet. Because of its simple installation, it can be moved from window to window as needed, and a large house or building may have several such units, allowing each room to be cooled separately.

The interior air is cooled as a fan blows it over the evaporator. On the exterior, the heat drawn from the interior is dissipated into the environment as a second fan blows outside air over the condenser.

MINI-SPLIT

Mini-split air conditioners are ductless heating and cooling systems that allow you to control the temperature in specific areas or rooms. They’re known for being both flexible and highly efficient, and their ability to target specific zones is what makes them unique.

Mini-split systems employ two main components:

1. An outdoor compressor/condenser
2. An indoor air-handling unit(s) (evaporator)

They are easy to install but do usually require a certified HVAC technician. Installation requires a three-inch hole through a wall for the conduit; which houses the power and communication cables, copper tubing and a condensation drain line, linking the outdoor and indoor units.