PTAC air conditioners are extremely versatile, perfect for a huge range of different projects. The unit’s affordability, ease of installation, and efficiency make it great for everything from care facilities to tiny houses. Here are just a few of the uses for a PTAC air conditioner that you may not have considered:
Tiny House
Wall air conditioners are a great fit for tiny homes. Because they don’t require ductwork, they’re simpler to install than many other options. You only need one unit to provide both heating and cooling, which can be a huge advantage in the limited space of a tiny home.
A PTAC unit can last a long time, as much as a decade if maintained properly, so this is an investment that you can feel good about making in your tiny house.
Sunroom
Many people assume that they have to integrate a sunroom with the home’s primary temperature control or not have temperature control in the sunroom at all. However, this isn’t the case.
You can use a PTAC unit to provide temperature control just for your sunroom. This is a great solution in circumstances in which you only occasionally need temperature control for the sunroom. Perhaps you keep the windows open most of the time but want to cool the space down or warm it up on some occasions. A PTAC unit is the ideal solution.
Care Facilities
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehab centers, daycares, and more all can benefit from PTAC air conditioner units. These units only exchange air between the room they’re in and the outdoors, which can prevent cross-contamination between rooms.
A PTAC unit can be set to the temperature preferences of the individuals using the room, which is perfect in care scenarios where people may want different rooms to be at very different temperatures.
When a room isn’t being used, the PTAC unit can be turned off, which is cost-effective for care facilities.
Animal Housing
PTAC units are a great option for kennels, barns, chicken coops, and other animal housing. These units are affordable and easy to install. They can be used as needed to provide cool air in the hottest weather or warmth in chilly conditions.
Using a PTAC unit in combination with fans to provide air circulation can make animal housing much more pleasant. If you find yourself avoiding spending time in your dog kennel or horse barn because of the smell and temperature, a PTAC unit can be a superb solution to make the space more comfortable for both you and the animals.
Garage Apartment
Converting a garage into an apartment can be an excellent investment, enabling you to get a lot more living space out of your property. Whether the garage apartment is for somebody in your family or if it’s being rented out, a PTAC unit is the best climate control option for a converted garage apartment.
A single unit to control both heating and cooling won’t take up any extra space. Refurbished PTAC units are highly affordable, so providing climate control won’t be a big addition to the conversion budget.
Since PTAC units can easily be turned off when not in use and turned on when you want to use the space, they are an energy-conscious option for apartment dwellers on a budget.
Why are PTAC units so Good for so Many Different Uses?
It is remarkable just how many uses there are for PTAC units. Whether you want to keep your dog’s kennel cool in the summer and toasty in the winter, you’re converting your garage, or you run a care facility, the uses for PTAC units go on and on. There are a few very good reasons that PTAC units are so versatile:
- Designed to control the temperature in a relatively small area
- One unit can handle both heating and cooling, reducing the amount of equipment you need to install
- Affordable, especially if you go with a refurbished option
- Convenient to install since they don’t require ductwork
- Provide control of a room’s temperature easily without affecting other rooms in a building.
- Can be turned off when not in use and power up quickly when needed
What to Look for in the Perfect PTAC Unit for Your Project
PTAC units work well for a wide variety of projects, but every unit isn’t perfect for every project. Here are some things to look for to help you choose the right PTAC unit for your needs:
Heating and Cooling or Just Cooling?
You can save money by getting a PTAC that only provides cooling, but if you need heat as well, choosing a PTAC unit with a heat pump is a much more convenient and affordable option. Using a PTAC unit for cooling and another heat source takes up unnecessary space and adds another machine to maintain.
Size and Temperature Fluctuations of the Space
How powerful of a PTAC you need depends on how big the space is and how much temperatures fluctuate. As a rule, PTAC units are used for relatively small spaces, but the amount of square footage that they can heat or cool varies depending on the unit’s BTU.
Spaces that experience relatively mild temperatures most of the time can be controlled with a much smaller unit than spaces of the same size that need to be heated or cooled to a greater degree.
Noise
Some PTAC units are louder or quieter than others. In some cases, like in a shop or dog kennel, you probably won’t care if the unit generates some noise.
On the other hand, if the unit is being used for a care facility or tiny house, you probably want a quieter option. Look into the reviews of the PTAC you’re considering to decide whether it will be of an acceptable noise level for your needs.
Cost and Warranty
In general, PTAC units are pretty affordable. However, you can save even more by choosing a refurbished unit. As an added benefit, refurbished units are backed by very good warranties, which pretty much negate the risk you take by choosing a refurbished option. If you want a great PTAC unit for your project at a significantly reduced price, check out refurbished options.
Make Any Space More Comfortable With a PTAC Unit
Think about how much temperature control can transform a space and increase its functionality. If climate control has been a barrier to creating something new, don’t let it stand in your way anymore. The right PTAC unit can make your garage conversion, sunroom, or barn a wonderfully comfortable place to be.
