What a PTAC Is — And Where You'll See One
A PTAC — Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner — is a self-contained heating and cooling unit that slides into a metal sleeve cut through an exterior wall. The compressor, both coils, the blower, and (usually) electric heat all live inside one chassis. From inside the room you see a long, low cabinet under the window; from outside, a louvered grille. There is no outdoor condenser, no refrigerant lineset, no ductwork.
The format exists for one reason: each room is its own zone, with its own controls and its own equipment. That's why you find PTACs in hotel rooms, motel rooms, condos, multifamily apartments, garden-level units, assisted living, dorms, sunrooms, and converted additions — anywhere you need independent room-by-room climate control without running ductwork or installing a separate outdoor condenser per unit.
Most modern units are PTHPs — Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps — which add a reversing valve so the same refrigerant circuit can heat in winter as well as cool in summer. Below roughly 35°F, a PTHP falls back to its built-in electric resistance heat strips. Pure cooling-only PTACs with electric heat are still common, especially in retrofits.
Three Services, One Crew
We handle the full PTAC lifecycle — new installs and chassis swaps, mid-season repairs, and the spring and fall maintenance visits that keep a fleet of units running.
Installation
New chassis into an existing wall sleeve, or a full new install with sleeve cut, electrical, and exterior grille. Sizing to the room load, correct cord set for the chassis (15A / 20A / 30A), drain kit, and slope toward the outside so condensate runs out, not down your wall.
Installation Details →Repair
Diagnostic and repair for the failures that actually take PTACs down: capacitors, fan motors, control boards, contactors, heat strips, reversing valves, drain-pan leaks, and refrigerant issues. Same-day for residential and hotel calls when parts are on the truck.
Repair Details →Maintenance
Seasonal cleaning and check-up: filters, both coils, drain pan and port, capacitor test, refrigerant pressures, heat strip current draw, sleeve gasket. Designed to be done across a building of units in a single mobilization.
Maintenance Details →PTAC Installation
Most PTAC installs we do fall into one of two jobs:
Chassis Replacement
The existing wall sleeve stays. We pull the old chassis, inspect and clean the sleeve, replace the inside and outside foam seals, and slide in a new chassis sized to match the original sleeve dimensions. The fastest job, and the one hotels and multifamily owners need most often.
New Sleeve & First Install
Sleeve cut through the exterior wall, interior framing reinforced, sleeve set with proper outward tilt for condensate drainage, electrical run, exterior architectural grille mounted, and chassis installed. Coordinated with building management for any required permits or building approvals.
What a Proper PTAC Install Includes
Right-Sized BTU
PTACs run from roughly 7,000 to 15,000 BTU. We size to the room load, not the box size — oversized units short-cycle and don't dehumidify; undersized units run flat out and never catch up.
Correct Cord Set
Chassis-specific cord set (15A, 20A, or 30A at 208/230V) matched to the dedicated receptacle. The plug type, amperage, and breaker have to agree — a wrong cord set is a fire hazard and a code violation.
Drain Kit & Slope
Drain kit installed where the chassis calls for one. Sleeve set with a slight outward tilt so condensate runs to the outside drain port instead of pooling at the back of the cabinet (a common cause of water stains under the unit).
Seal & Trim
Foam gaskets between chassis and sleeve replaced fresh. Interior trim kit closed cleanly to the wall. Exterior louvered grille fastened and weather-sealed at the perimeter so the wall opening doesn't leak air or water.
Heat Option Wired Right
Electric resistance, heat pump (PTHP) with backup strips, or hydronic — each wires differently. We confirm the heat option matches what the room needs and what the building's electrical can support before the chassis goes in.
Startup & Verification
Run cooling and heating modes, measure supply-vs-return temperature splits, check amp draw, verify condensate drains where it should. You see the numbers on the invoice, not just "installed and working."
PTAC Repair
PTACs fail in fairly predictable ways. The short list below is the bulk of what we see on service calls — for hotel and multifamily owners, it's also the list to brief your front desk or super on, so they can describe the symptom accurately when they call.
No Cooling
Most common causes: dirty coil starving airflow, failed run capacitor, low refrigerant from a slow leak, or a compressor that won't start. We diagnose with gauges and a meter, not by guessing.
No Heat
On electric-heat units: failed heat strip, contactor, high-limit switch, or control board. On heat-pump (PTHP) units: stuck reversing valve, low refrigerant, or defrost board issues. Different fault, different fix.
Water on the Floor
Clogged drain port, corroded drain pan, or a chassis tilted the wrong way in the sleeve. We clear the port, flush the pan, and re-set the chassis pitch — not just mop and leave.
Loud or Rattling
Worn fan-motor bearings, debris caught in the blower wheel, a loose chassis in the sleeve, or a failing compressor. Each sounds different to a trained ear and points to a different repair.
Won't Turn On
Tripped breaker (and why it tripped), failed thermostat or control board, dead capacitor, or burnt cord-set / receptacle. Plugging it into a different outlet is not a diagnosis — we find the actual fault.
Tripping the Breaker
Compressor locked rotor, motor windings shorting, damaged wiring at the cord set, or a breaker matched to the wrong amperage. Don't keep resetting it — that's how a small problem becomes a chassis replacement.
Coil Frosting Up
Restricted airflow (dirty filter, fouled coil), low refrigerant, or a fan motor that can't keep up. Defrost the coil, fix the cause, don't just turn it off and on.
Musty or Sour Smell
Biofilm and mold on the coil and in the drain pan — same biology as a moldy mini split. Coil chemical wash and drain-pan flush, plus a check on whether the unit is actually due for replacement.
Repair or Replace?
A PTAC chassis is, in many cases, cheaper to replace than to deep-repair — especially when the unit is past 7–10 years, the compressor is the failure, or the existing sleeve is in good shape. We'll tell you straight when a swap makes more financial sense than a repair, and quote both so you can decide. Hotel and multifamily owners managing a fleet usually want both numbers in writing.
PTAC Maintenance
A PTAC works hard for what it is — both coils, the compressor, and the blower are crammed into one small chassis pulling outdoor air across the back face. Without maintenance, the back coil fouls with dust and lint, the front coil grows biofilm, the drain port clogs, and run-time hours climb. Maintenance done on schedule pays for itself in fewer service calls and longer chassis life.
What a Visit Covers
Filters
Front filter cleaned or replaced. We carry common sizes on the truck for the brands we see most often.
Both Coils Cleaned
Indoor (evaporator) coil chemical-washed for biofilm. Outdoor (condenser) coil rinsed of lint, dust, and pollution — this side is what kills hotel units in NYC. Both coils get their full heat-transfer surface back.
Drain Pan & Port
Pan scrubbed and flushed; condensate port cleared. The single most common cause of "water on the floor" calls.
Refrigerant & Electrical
Refrigerant pressures checked, capacitor microfarad value tested, contactor inspected, terminal tightness confirmed. Catches the failures that would otherwise become a no-cool call in July.
Heat Strip / Reversing Valve
Electric heat: amp draw on each strip, high-limit switch test. PTHP: reversing valve cycle, defrost operation. We verify heat in the fall, not when the first cold night arrives.
Sleeve & Seals
Foam gasket between chassis and sleeve, exterior weather seal, and chassis pitch. Air infiltration around a bad seal costs more on the utility bill than the maintenance visit.
Hotels & Multifamily — Fleet Maintenance
If you manage a hotel, an apartment building, an assisted living facility, or any multifamily with a fleet of PTACs, we plan maintenance visits room-by-room across a single mobilization — less downtime per room, predictable scheduling around guest occupancy, and one invoice covering the whole building. After-hours and weekend work is available for rooms that cannot have a technician in them during peak hours.
For ongoing coverage, our commercial maintenance contracts cover spring and fall PTAC visits as part of a building-wide plan.
Brands We Service
We service all the major PTAC and PTHP brands. The chassis dimensions are largely standardized (~42″ W × 16″ H × 13.5″ D for the modern wall sleeve), so we don't restrict customers to one manufacturer:
Amana
Distinctions and PTAC lines. The most common chassis we see in NYC hotel and multifamily work.
GE Zoneline
Long-standing hotel and condo workhorse. Spare parts and replacement chassis widely available.
LG
Newer-style chassis, inverter-driven options. We service both cooling-only and heat-pump (PTHP) models.
Friedrich
WallMaster and PTAC lines. Common in older NYC apartment installations.
Gree
ETAC and PTAC series. Service, parts, and chassis replacement.
Carrier & Trane
Less common in hotel work but found in higher-end residential and commercial installs. Full service.
Listing a brand here means we repair, maintain, and replace it — not that we are an authorized dealer for that manufacturer.
Where a PTAC Is the Right Answer
PTACs aren't the right choice for every situation — but where they fit, nothing else really competes on cost or simplicity:
Hotels & Motels
One unit per room, guest-controllable, no shared ductwork, no condenser fleet on the roof. The format the hospitality industry was built around.
Multifamily & Condos
Each unit pays its own electric bill, controls its own setpoint, and a failure in one apartment doesn't take down the building. Replacement is a chassis swap, not a system overhaul.
Sunrooms & Additions
Adding a room to an existing house? A PTAC gives that room independent climate control without tying into the main HVAC system, sizing up the condenser, or running new ductwork.
Assisted Living & Dorms
Same logic as hotels: per-room control, per-room maintenance, per-room replacement. When one fails, you fix one room, not the floor.
If you're weighing PTAC against a ductless mini split or a central system, we'll walk through the tradeoffs with you. Mini splits are quieter and more efficient at part load; PTACs are cheaper per room and far simpler to replace. The right answer depends on the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a PTAC and a PTHP?
A PTAC (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner) cools and uses electric resistance strips for heat. A PTHP (Packaged Terminal Heat Pump) adds a reversing valve so the same refrigerant circuit can run in reverse and heat the room directly — far more efficient than electric strips, down to roughly 35°F. Below that, even a PTHP falls back to its built-in electric strips. Most modern installs in heated climates are PTHPs.
How long does a PTAC last?
Seven to ten years is typical for a hotel or multifamily PTAC running hard year-round. Residential units in lighter use can last fifteen with regular maintenance. The most common reason a unit comes out earlier is compressor failure or a corroded drain pan — both accelerated by skipped maintenance.
Can I just replace the chassis and keep my sleeve?
In most cases, yes. The wall sleeve is standardized (~42″ W × 16″ H × 13.5″ D for the modern standard), so a new chassis from any major brand slides into the existing sleeve. We inspect the sleeve before quoting — if it's rusted, deformed, or doesn't drain properly, replacing it is part of the job.
Why is water leaking out of my PTAC into the room?
Almost always one of three causes: a clogged condensate drain port at the back of the chassis, a chassis tilted the wrong way in the sleeve (it should slope slightly toward the outside), or a corroded drain pan inside the unit. We clear or repair the actual cause — a wet/dry vac at the front of the unit is a temporary fix at best.
How often does a PTAC need maintenance?
Twice a year for high-use units — once before cooling season and once before heating season. Annual is enough for lower-use residential. Hotel and multifamily fleets should plan on spring + fall building-wide visits, which is the rhythm our commercial maintenance contracts are built around.
Can you install a PTAC where there isn't one already?
Yes, in most cases. The work involves cutting a sleeve through the exterior wall, framing the opening, running dedicated 208/230V electrical, setting the sleeve with the correct outward tilt, mounting the exterior grille, and installing the chassis. We'll need to assess the wall (brick, frame, etc.) and confirm building/co-op approval before quoting.
Do you handle hotels and apartment buildings?
Yes. Multi-room PTAC fleets in hotels, motels, condos, and multifamily buildings are a regular part of our work. We coordinate room-by-room scheduling around occupancy, work after-hours when needed, and invoice the building as a single job rather than per room.
What does PTAC repair or replacement cost?
Repair cost depends on the failure — a capacitor swap is a small job, a compressor or refrigerant leak is not. Chassis replacement is often within range of a major repair, so for older units we usually quote both and let you choose. Written quote up front, before any work begins.
One PTAC or a Whole Building — We Cover It
Service calls, new installs, chassis swaps, and building-wide maintenance across NYC and Brooklyn.
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