That unit you've seen in every hotel room for the past 50 years actually has a name. Air conditioning industry professionals typically identify it as a "PTAC". The acronym PTAC represents Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner. have been working with PTAC units for decades. is an incredible guide that helps you select the right PTAC unit for your application. Reasons To Install A PTAC Unit: Every year more and more landlords, facility engineers, property managers and homeowners are realizing the advantages PTAC units offer over centralized HVAC systems. There are 6 basic reasons why you see PTAC units in most hotel rooms; they are simple to use, simple to install, inexpensive, reliable, efficient, and they operate independently from a centralized HVAC system. Most hotels carry an inventory of spare PTAC units. If a unit fails, it can be quickly replaced without calling an HVAC expert. Centralized HVAC systems can't offer this piece of mind. PTAC Units Are Simple To Install:

PTAC units don't get the recognition they deserve. There's no clear building trade that can take ownership of the product. A PTAC is a self- contained air conditioning system, but it really doesn't require an air conditioning contractor to install it. A typical installation requires a carpenter to cut a hole in the wall and an electrician to wire an electrical receptacle close by. The service requirements are minimal, and when a PTAC unit reaches the end of its useful life, you simply buy a replacement chassis and slide it into the existing wall sleeve. Even though a PTAC may be perfect for your application, why would your HVAC contractor recommend a system that doesn't really require an HVAC contractor? Distribution is also difficult. Does it belong with appliance distributors that sell microwave ovens and clothes dryers, big box stores that sell cheap imported window air conditioners, or HVAC distributors that specialize in air conditioning products? We decided it was time for a website that was dedicated to this under-promoted product!

Use our PTAC Cooling Calculator to calculate your maximum cooling BTU/HR. Use our PTAC Selection Wizard to refine your search. Answers to commonly asked PTAC questions. We hope you find these PTAC resources helpful. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please use our Contact Us page to send us a note.Hotel room thermometers normally don't let you adjust the temperature above or below a certain point, which can lead to some pretty warm rooms in the summer time or chilly ones in the winter. If you want more control, here's how to override your hotel thermometer, put it in "VIP" mode, and tweak it where you like it. Gary Leff, writing for View from the Wing, shared the video above, which shows you how it's done. Most hotel wall units (Gary noted that Hilton and Hyatt specifically tend to use this type of thermostat) that you'll have access to will work this way. The window units on the air conditioner/heaters themselves may be a bit more flexible, but give this a try on your next wall thermometer:Hold down the “display” buttonWhile holding that button, press “off”Release off, continue to hold down display, and Press the “up” arrow buttonRelease all buttonsThis trick also disables the motion sensors that many hotels use to only keep the heating and cooling system active at all when a guest is in the room—that means

that you won't have to wait for a sweltering room to gradually cool off when you get back from a long day, or wait for an ice cold room to warm up in the winter. Gary explains that you don't have to just be quirky about the temperature to use this trick—sometimes hotels try and save money by keeping the room thermostats in a certain range, leading to uncomfortable guests, and in his case, he had a room that got a ton of sunlight that warmed it up in the daytime, making it really hothvac blower motor price, even with the thermostat turned down as far as it can go. outside air conditioning unit not turning offEither way, the power is yours—to be more comfortable when you travel. portable solar powered ac unitsHit the link below to read more—his commenters, both at the link below and his much older post have some similar tricks for other hotel chains that may not use these units, too.

How to Override Your Hotel’s Thermostat Controls and Make it as Cool or Hot As You’d Like | View from the Wing You just never know what you'll find in a hotel room. I'm a curious guy so I have to check things out, and this week I found some interesting stuff in the air conditioner of the room they gave me here in Hattiesburg. As I was sitting at the desk, I noticed that the fan looked white as the squirrel cage blades spun around. So I popped the cover off and here's what I saw. The blades are coated with what is either some kind of corrosion or a white microbial infestation (a.k.a. mold). It looks nasty and seemed to be a little bit wet. When I looked at the inside of the cover, I saw the stuff below. This type of unit is called a package terminal air conditioner (PTAC, or PTHP if it's a heat pump). It's a through-the-wall unit, and hotels often don't maintain them well, as you can see in the photos above. I'll be in a different room soon. Even though it doesn't smell much, I get a little whiff of something when I first walk in the room and also each time the unit kicks on when I'm sitting at the nearby desk.

I'm lazy and would prefer not to have to move, but after having suffered through a month-long sinus infection recently, I'd rather not take chances. I talked to the front desk person this morning to ask for a new room, but the hotel is sold out. Instead, they sent a maintenance person to my room today and did a good job of cleaning it up. I can't see any of the gunk that was there before, and the smell is gone. Thank you, Hilton Garden Inn! Photo Friday - HVAC Filter HorrorsBachelorette parties down the hall. The sleep gods have their work cut out for them if you're expecting to snooze well while staying at a hotel. We've compiled one of the most comprehensive guides available to sleeping in a hotel, covering everything from what you should ask when you're booking the room to how you can swiftly take care of noisemakers so you can get back to sleep.Ensure that you get a quiet room. Two requests are absolutely vital and pretty widely known when selecting your hotel room: a room on an upper floor and away from the elevators.

But some other tried-and-true tips from frequent hotel guests could doubly ensure a peaceful experience. - Booking a room midway down a hallway. This is generally the quietest part of the floor, as it's away from the ice and vending machines, guest laundry facilities, exits, housekeeping closets, and other places where noise can be made. - Asking for a room on the concierge or suite level, if the hotel has one. Sometimes those rooms have taller ceilings, giving you a little more air space from the people above you. - Avoiding rooms facing a pool. While the view might be pretty, pools can be late-night gathering places -- despite posted closing times -- and noise echoes off water. - Asking what time the trash is collected if there are dumpsters or recycling bins outside your windows. If the time is too early for your liking, get a different room. - Requesting a room at the back of a low-rise hotel. They are generally quieter (especially if they're away from the parking lot).

Even if the view is poor, the peace is worth it. - Getting a room at least two or three levels above banquet rooms, bars or other public spaces if the hotel has them. You'd be surprised how many floors a pulsating and thumping bass beat can penetrate. How to Get the Best Hotel Room 8. Ask if the hotel is undergoing or has recently completed renovations. Usually these are done in segments -- a floor or section at a time. You want to avoid floors that are adjacent to those currently being updated. But you do want to be on a renovated floor -- which will usually be cleaner, smell better, and have newer beds and linens. 9. Inquire whether guestrooms have blackout shades. These are the heavy, thick curtains that keep the light out, and you want to have them. 10. Make sure yours is a non-smoking room. If you're not a smoker, the scent of old cigarette smoke will keep you from feeling at ease (awake or asleep). 11. Ask about pillow options. If you're vulnerable to neck or back pain from using the wrong pillow, find out if pillows with different levels of firmness are available.

Some hotels stock firmer ones in guestroom closets, or have a secret stash at the front desk. If the hotel doesn't offer what you need, consider bringing yours from home. 12. Request two beds if you're traveling with a friend. You'll get a more peaceful night's sleep if you snooze alone than you will if you bunk with someone you're not accustomed to being next to. Five Things You Should Never Do at a HotelUncomfortable as they can be, wadding little bits of foam in your ears is far less annoying than being kept up all night by noise.They are for your eyes what earplugs are for your ears -- and they're especially important if your room doesn't have blackout curtains. 15. Bring your own sheets. If you have space to pack them, your own set of sheets could help you sleep better, as you're already used to their feel and scent. They also are helpful for folks with skin sensitivities who are worried about the detergents or bleach used to clean hotel linens. 16. Or at least bring your own pillowcase.

If packing a whole extra set of sheets isn't an option, bring the pillowcase from your bed back home, to enjoy its worn-in feeling and familiar smell. 17. Spray your room. The chemicals used to clean hotel rooms or launder sheets can be a little overpowering. Add your own scent with a spritz or two of a gentle linen spray you bring from home. (Consider one with a lavender scent, which is known to be soothing; here's one travel-size option from Amazon.) 10 Travel Essentials You Can Find in the Trash 18. Don't read, eat or work in bed. Admittedly, this is not always possible, as seating can be limited in a hotel room. But try not to use your bed to do anything but sleep. 19. Don't eat a humongous dinner late at night. A belly that's churning away digesting a big meal interferes with your ability to sleep soundly. 20. Ready a small nightcap. poll say a glass of wine before bed helps ensure a good night's sleep at a hotel. Too much alcohol can inhibit sleep, though, so keep it moderate.

A small cup of chamomile tea or other warm, non-caffeinated beverage can induce sleep. Don't drink too big a mug, though, else you'll get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. 22. Silence your cell phone notifications. Especially if you're in a different time zone than your friends and family, people could be trying to contact you when you're trying to sleep. Turn off notification sounds for texts, emails and calls before you go to bed so you're not disturbed. 23. Decide how you'll mask outside sounds. Commonly referred to as white noise, sound masking involves adding a non-intrusive artificial sound to your sleep environment in order to drown out other noise. Running the fan in the room's air-conditioning unit is one option. Don't Miss Top Travel Tips -- Sign Up for Our Newsletters 24. Hang the "do not disturb" sign on the outside doorknob. This is especially important if you're planning to sleep in. Some housekeepers start their service at 8 a.m. or earlier.

If your room doesn't have a "do not disturb" sign, request one from the front desk. 25. Set backup wakeup calls. How many times have you set an unfamiliar alarm clock, only to wake up the next morning in a rush because it never went off (or awakened in the middle of the night worrying it wouldn't work)? For greater peace of mind, use two alarms -- such as the hotel's wakeup call service, or your cell phone, wristwatch or travel alarm clock. 26. Take a warm bath. In addition to providing relaxation, a bath lowers your body temperature slightly (once you get out and come back to a cool hotel room), which can help you sleep better. 27. Adjust the room temperature. Generally speaking, most people sleep better in a cooler room. Set the thermostat to just slightly cool -- you don't want to shiver. If you prefer an open window (not always an option), just open it a crack -- too much could allow cold air and noise to waft in. 28. Turn the bathroom light on. If you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom at home, you know you can make it there, do your thing and get back to bed half asleep.

That's harder to accomplish in an unfamiliar hotel room. Keep the bathroom light on and shut the door, just to help you see your way with minimally intrusive light. Alternately, you could bring a small nightlight with you. 29. Choose a non-controversial show or soothing music if you must keep the television or radio on before bed. That means no horror flicks, war documentaries or Rage Against the Machine on your iPod. And keep the volume down so you don't disturb your neighbors. 15 Things Your Hotel Won't Tell YouBeing out of your element can be stressful. Take some deep, slow breaths before bed to help you relax and unwind tense muscles. 31. Don't wait to report noise. Hotel rooms have notoriously thin walls,you’re your neighbors may not realize their conversations are crystal clear to you. Sometimes a quick pound on the wall will do the trick to quiet down a noisy neighbor. (See When the Hotel Guest Next Door Won't Shut Up.) If you're not comfortable doing so, just ring the hotel front desk.

They'll phone the guest or send security personnel to the room with a warning. Excessive noise or repeated warnings could result in the guest being asked to leave. 32. Ask to move rooms. All hotels should give a guest the option of relocating to a quieter room if uncontrollable noise -- such as traffic, a humming ice machine or the elevator -- is persistent. Of course, it's not exactly peaceful to have to pack up your belongings and relocate in the middle of the night, and the hotel might be sold out. But this is an ideal solution for the next morning if you're staying in a hotel for multiple nights. 33. Get out of bed if you can't sleep. This is a good all-around rule, for traveling or at home. Rather than tossing and turning, get out of bed, turn on a low light and read a mindless magazine until you're ready to try again. 12 Hotel Hacks That Will Save You Money How to Find a Clean Hotel Room Ditch the Hotel: 10 Cheaper Ways to Stay 6 Lies Your Hotel Might Tell You