First, find out your the area of you room. Then divide it by 600 to get the basic capacity. So, if you room is 100 sq. feet, the basic AC capacity required will be 0.167 tons (100 / 600).

Simply running a window A/C unit indoors will heat the room and reduce the humidity. An air-conditioner only pumps heat. It takes the heat from the room and pumps it outside, into the atmosphere. … So, no, an air-to-air A/C can’t be entirely inside the room.

PTAC air conditioners are commercial grade units that feature both heating and cooling.

PTACs are a type of self-contained heating and air-conditioning system. They use electricity to push a refrigerant through the unit and take heat and humidity out through a vent. Typically, they’re set inside a window or close to a concrete wall.

Assuming the dimensions are standard, probably not. If the existing wall sleeve and exterior grille are in good condition, there’s no need to replace them. Sometimes the exterior grille is weathered. Newer grilles look nicer and there are a lot of colors to choose from. A new grille is an inexpensive upgrade that can give your exterior a fresh new look. See the next question below for dimensional considerations.

Most likely! Measure your existing wall sleeve. If it measures 42” Wide x 16” High x 16” deep, then a new unit should slide right in. The PTAC industry has been using these standard dimensions for 30-40 years.

This is a question that should be easier to answer then it is. All manufacturers publish extremely confusing sound data, but they use different testing standards. With no industry standard testing procedure, each manufacturer has the flexability to test in the environment that suits their units best. It’s easy to get into a technical debate with no clear resolution, so here’s the best recommendation: Whichever brand you choose, make sure they use a 2 fan system. 2 fan systems are quieter than older 1 fan systems. The PTAC unit should have 1 fan that handles the condenser side and 1 fan that handles the evaporator side. The bottom line is if you placed 4 different brands side-by-side in the same exact room, it would be difficult to determine which unit was the quietest.

No. PTAC units have built in thermostats with digital keypads that allow you to select your temperature setting. Wall mounted thermostats are available if you would like something higher up, closer to the entrance to the room. Be sure to plan for this additional wiring before your walls are enclosed. If you are installing a PTAC into an existing room, many manufacturers offer a wireless wall mounted thermostat that doesn’t require interconnecting wiring.

Both are energy efficiency ratings that quickly allow you to compare different models. EER is an acronym for Energy Efficiency Ratio, SEER is an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. EER’s are used to rate efficiency levels of packaged air conditioners, SEER’s are used to rate efficiency levels of split systems (indoor unit piped to outdoor unit). The higher the value, the higher the efficiency. Do NOT compare an EER value against a SEER value. These 2 ratings use different testing procedures.

Matching the electrical outlet is equally as important as making sure the new unit will slide into an existing wall sleeve. There are 3 power cords available, 15 Amp, 20 Amp, 30 Amp. Each cord has a different plug that will only fit into a matching wall outlet. Your existing PTAC unit chassis should have a data plate with electrical information. It will give the actual Amp draw, and the recommended electrical circuit size. Don’t stop there. If your existing unit says it recommends a 20 amp circuit, look in your circuit breaker box to see what size breaker actually serves the unit. Don’t stop there either. Triple check the circuit size by using the chart below to find your existing electrical outlet size.

Drainage of water from the sill of the sleeve is either internal or through weep slots as noted above. If internally drained, the sleeves are generally installed level.

The PTAC pulls air directly from outside through the unit via a vent in the back. Some models also have a dehumidifier built in that removes moisture from the outside air.

In general, it is cheaper to leave the AC on all day during very hot temperatures. However, it’s not efficient to keep it on full blast all the time. … For many systems, this can mean less efficient cooling, more frequent repairs, and higher energy bills.