PTAC Maintenance Monthly and Seasonal

Regular maintenance of your PTAC air conditioners is critical to getting the maximum performance and extending the service time for your units. A PTAC running in peak condition will also be more efficient resulting in lower energy consumption and costs. Your maintenance schedule can be broken down into two areas: Regular Maintenance and Seasonal Maintenance. If you do both you should fewer issues and greater performance. Before you do any maintenance, it is recommended to turn off and unplug the PTAC to avoid electrical shock and injury.

Monthly PTAC Cleaning

1. Check your Air Filter. Remove the air filter from the unit. Make sure that you do not knock dirt off the filter back into the unit. Clean the filter with a vacuum or by running water through it. If you used water, dry it off before placing back into the unit. If the filter is damaged, replace with a new one. If you have need help locating the filter on your unit, please see your Use and Care Guide or review one of the videos on this site.
2. Check your Vent Screen. If you run the PTAC with the vent door closed, you can skip this step. If you run the unit with the vent door open, do the following:
   1. Remove the front grille of the unit
   2. Remove the screws that hold the chassis to the wall sleeve
   3. Clean or replace the vent screen. On completion, slide the chassis back into the wall sleeve, screw it back into place, and reinstall the front cabinet
3. Check your Front Grille. First, remove the front grille and clean it with a damp cloth. Reinstall the front grille. Check the control panel door and plug. If needed, replace those items.

 

Seasonal PTAC Cleaning

1. Check the Wall Sleeve. First, check the caulking around the wall sleeve to make sure that it is in good shape. If the caulking has cracked or separated, re-caulk your unit to avoid water and air coming in. Next check the level of the sleeve. It should be tilted to the outside (1/4 bubble tilt is optimal). Try not to over or under-tilt as it can cause issues. If the unit has an internal drain, the sleeve needs to be leveled – left to right and front to back. This will make sure that condensate water drains into the connected drain line/kit location. Water should not overflow the sleeve for the room side nor outside. It should drain into the internal drain hole. You can test the level by pouring a cup of water into the wall sleeve to ensure that it is draining properly.
2. Check the Base Pan and Condenser Coil. To begin, cover the touchpad controls on the PTAC before cleaning to make sure liquid does not get onto the circuit board. Spray and rinse the condenser coil and base pan with an approved cleaner. When cleaning the condenser coil check the outdoor coil which is found under the fan shroud on the fan motor side of the outdoor coil. This will take a bit of effort as the it is not as easily viewed or accessible as the exterior side of the outdoor coil. Outdoor air “lint” can clog the outdoor coil. Place a drain pan cleaner or drain strip in the base pan. This will inhibit bacteria growth. Reinstall the unit back into the wall sleeve. Let your PTAC dry for 24 hours before plugging back in. Once the unit is running, test it for proper operation.
3. Conduct a Clearance Check. The last tip is to check the clearance around your PTAC. Make sure that the intake air paths are not blocked or compromised. You should have at least 8” between the intake vent and furniture for proper operation. Make sure nothing obstructs the discharge vent such as curtains or furniture.

If you do these monthly and seasonal checks, your PTAC units should give you years of service at peak performance.