PTAC Cleaning: The Problem

PTAC units provide a cost effective way to condition or heat air in a building. By installing PTAC units, building owners avoid spending money upfitting an extensive central HVAC system and spending money on complex maintenance and repair issues. They are also a more reliable form of heating and cooling. Unlike a chilled water system that can shut down if one component fails, PTAC units operate as self-contained units. So, if one fails, only the room it is servicing will be affected.

However, because PTAC units are not tied into a larger centralized system, each unit operates independently and is largely controlled by the guest or occupant in the room. The thermostats are rarely placed on any sort of schedule, so the units operate for much longer than conventional HVAC systems, which are typically centrally controlled by an HVAC or maintenance staff to be on when people are in the building, and off when people aren't in the building. Obviously, by optimizing the schedule of an HVAC system, one can reduce unnecessary spends on energy, etc. Consequently, PTAC units operate for much longer than they actually need to.

The longer a PTAC unit runs, the more air moves over the evaporator and condenser coils, the more contaminants such as dirt, dust, mold spores, moisture and pollen collect inside the unit. As these contaminants build up inside a PTAC unit, they create odors and indoor air quality issues and inhibit the heat exchange process. Drain pans are ideal places for bacteria and mold to grow. Since PTAC units operate off 100% outside air, they introduce a number of contaminants and indoor air pollutants into the environment. Ultimately, the effects can be very costly, such as:

  • Increased energy usage
  • Increased maintenance and repair costs
  • Guest/occupant dissatisfaction and loss of business

In order to prevent these costly effects, PTAC cleaning is imperative. PTAC units need to be cleaned, disinfected and deodorized on a regular basis. While the solution sounds simple, it's very hard for maintenance staff to perform PTAC cleaning cost effectively. Following conventional cleaning methods that involves PTAC cleaning to be conducted outside, it can take the average two-person maintenance team upwards of two hours to perform PTAC cleaning on one unit. That's four man hours to clean one PTAC unit. Very few facilities can afford to invest that amount of time on PTAC cleaning. This is why we see the issues that we do.

PTAC Cleaning: Verified Savings

Each AdvantaClean PTAC cleaning project is accompanied by an Energy Study that documents and verifies the amount of energy saved from PTAC cleaning. Following the AdvantaClean PTAC cleaning process, you can expect to see $50 - $100 in energy savings per PTAC unit. Below is sample data from a recent PTAC cleaning project AdvantaClean completed at a hotel that is part of widely recognized, worldwide brand.

Hotel
Room
Annual Energy Savings ($) Return on Investment Capacity Increase (BTU/hr) Annual Amount of Energy Saved (kW/hr) Delta T Increase
(F)
Unit 1 $93.24 166% 229% 1,554 kW/hr 40%
Unit 2 $57.09 63% 62% 951 kW/hr 14%

Check out our website for additional information on PTAC cleaning and the benefits your facility can expect to see.

Call 877-800-2382 for a free PTAC cleaning consultation.

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