Heat Strip or Heat Pump for Your PTAC, What Is Your Best Option?

Knowing the difference between the two types of heating elements available for PTACs can help you decide what will work best for your situation. You want to make sure that you have a unit that, in addition to being priced competitively in the original purchase, also is cost-effective to run over an extended period while providing your guests the best experience while for their stay. 

PTACs with a Heat Strip

The majority of PTACs are manufactured with an electric heating element called a heat strip. The heat strip is a wire heating element inside the PTAC that warms the air as it passes over the coils. This is very similar to what you would find in space heater.

While a PTAC with a heat strip unit is usually cheaper than a model with a heat pump, there is more to the cost/benefit ratio than the original purchase cost. Running a heat strip is more expensive to operate than a heat pump model, so you need to factor in the climate that you are in and how often this would be used by your guest.

PTACs with a Heat Pump

So how does a heat pump work? A heat pump reverses the cooling cycle of the PTAC air conditioner. Refrigerant is used to heat the coils and the heated air is then pushed back into the room. A heat pump will run alone until the temperature reaches a certain point – usually below 35 degrees. Once it hits that threshold, the heat strip will take over and provide constant electric heat. This combination of heat pump/heat strip has proven be 60% more efficient than a stand alone heat strip model. If you have a large number of PTACs that are needed for heating as well as cooling, you may be able to save a substantial amount of money over the life of the unit.

If you have additional questions on heat strips versus heat pumps, contact me directly at 800-991-8480 ext. 1118 or email me at [email protected]