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Introduction
There are many factors to consider when selecting a Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) for your hotel, motel, or managed property. You'll want a quality product that will provide years of comfort for your guests, but you also need to ensure that you choose the PTAC unit that best suits your particular needs, including budget, climate, and room size.
Immediate or Long-term Savings?
Many PTAC manufacturers offer multiple product lines - from a standard, economical model to their top-of-the-line unit. In general, more energy-efficient PTACs will have a higher initial cost... though the price difference will eventually be recovered through years of energy savings.
For example, Carrier offers a Comfort Series that provides dependable, economical, trouble-free air conditioning and a Premier Series for super-quiet operation, greater energy-efficiency, and cost savings over time. There are benefits with either series, according to your budget.
Heat Pump Option
Another way to realize energy savings is by choosing a PTAC unit equipped with a heat pump. This technology utilizes outside air temperature to transfer heat rather than create it. Only when the outdoor coil temperature falls below a certain point will the built-in electric heater switch on.
Carrier offers a heat pump option on all of their PTACs. Depending upon your climate zone and electricity rates, payback should be realized between three and 21 months. On average, most heat pumps pay for themselves in less than one year.
Determining the Proper Size
Selecting a PTAC of the correct size is very important. If you buy a unit that exceeds your needs, your space will be cooled too quickly and the PTAC will not have the opportunity to "condition" or dehumidify the air. Conversely, too small a PTAC will not provide adequate cooling on very hot days, resulting in warm and humid or warm and dry conditions.
With a cooling range from 7,100 to 15,100 BTUs, Carrier's PTACs are designed to excel in a variety of spaces. For optimum results, consult your architect or engineer, or a Carrier Product Specialist, to determine what size PTAC best fits your climate and room size.
Wall-Mounted Thermostat Option
Adding wall-mounted thermostats to your PTACs will result in more efficient temperature and humidity control. Plus, guests are less likely to over-use energy when using thermostats similar to those in their homes. Carrier makes this popular upgrade easy with a retrofit kit and your choice of programmable or non-programmable digital thermostats.
Ease of Maintenance
You'll want to choose a PTAC that is easy to service, as proper maintenance will help your units last longer and operate more efficiently. Carrier PTACs feature an easy-access chassis and condenser shroud, lifetime filter design, and a maintenance-free fan motor.
Warranty
Carrier's five-year warranty is the most comprehensive in the industry. It provides: full coverage for parts and labor the first year; four additional years of full coverage on sealed refrigeration systems; limited second through fifth year coverage on non-refrigeration system parts. Carrier also offers full five-year or seven-year "bumper to bumper" warranty upgrades on their PTACs and a five-year upgrade on their coastal protected PTACs.
Summary
As the worldwide leader in air conditioning, Carrier is prepared to meet all your HVAC needs. Contact a Product Specialist today to discuss Carrier's selection of PTACs for the hospitality, lodging, and property management industries.
Expert advice, cost-saving accessories, and ordering information are just a call away... phone 1-800-827-7435.
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