NEW YORK—GE Appliances celebrated a milestone this year. Its Zoneline packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) system is 50 years old. Reflecting on that, marketing manager for air conditioning Jim Benz noted the traits to which he attributed the lengthy track record: “innovation, reliability and performance.”
Indeed, since 1961, the year the Zoneline product model was introduced, PTAC technology has advanced dramatically. The latest generation of units features electronic controls, quieter operation and improved efficiency. And even more to the point, PTAC manufacturers continue to upgrade their product lines. Hotel owners and managers can look forward to more energy-efficient, easy-to-maintain units going forward, while guests can expect increased quiet and comfort, as well as a greater sense of control in determining the temperature in their room.
GE Appliances was present at this year’s International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) here in New York last month, as was Amana Heating & Air Conditioning, another manufacturer. Present as well were Cintas and PTAC, Inc. Cintas has begun offering coil, filter and drain line cleaning services. PTAC, Inc., installs new and reconditioned units, as well as recycled units at the end of their life. The presence of companies like Cintas and PTAC, Inc., demonstrates just how deep the PTAC marketplace has become.
Keeping the units clean is critical not only to their operating more efficiently, but to extending their life span, noted Chuck Cistoldi, commercial sales manager for Amana’s PTAC division. Air passes through the filter most efficiently when it’s not restricted because of dirt and dust. Units then require less running time and, consequently, consume less energy at the same time they’re heating and cooling the room more quickly.
“When the air is restricted, units work harder, which cuts down on the life of the equipment,” Cistoldi explained. “The most important thing you can do to extend the life of the unit is to keep the filters clean. Filters can be removed by the housekeepers, so they can vacuum, wash and put them back in while they’re making up the rooms.”
Cintas entered the PTAC cleaning business because it saw an unmet need. The company was aware that many hotels had cut back on maintenance staffing levels during the downturn and were struggling to care for their PTAC systems. Already a player in the tile- and carpet-cleaning segment, Cintas acquired ChemTron, which had a presence in the PTAC cleaning area, and has been able to bundle those related services together.
Proper maintenance of PTAC units represents a tremendous savings in terms of energy, time and money, confirmed Daniel Ambrosio, VP of sales for the lodging and cruise industries.
With ChemTron’s cleaning products and some proprietary cleaning equipment, Cintas crews are able to clean a unit in only 15 minutes, which means rooms don’t have to be taken out of circulation for cleaning.
“Housekeepers may have been cleaning the filters, but not the coils, which can be critical. With staff cuts, the housekeepers remaining have more to do. If something is going to get overlooked, it’s probably the coil cleaning. We can clean the coils in the room or we can take the units out,” he said, adding that cleaning the coils helps to both eliminate odor and minimize noise, which also improves the guest experience.
PTAC, Inc. does installations nationwide on behalf of the brands and management companies, making recommendations on sizing of the units, possible upgrades, etc.
The typical life of a PTAC unit is 10-15 years, depending on the level of maintenance it has received and the location of the property. PTACs in beachfront properties, for example, generally last five-to-seven years because of corrosion from the salt air, noted PTAC, Inc. general manager David Howell.
During the downturn, not only did properties cut staff, but many brands looked the other way when it came to hotel owners properly maintaining their properties. That included maintaining their PTACs.
“Now that the downturn is mostly behind us, we’re seeing the brands becoming more assertive. Consequently, owners started stepping up their maintenance programs in 2011 and we expect to see more of that in 2012,” Howell explained.
Hotels typically keep spare units on hand in case one goes down. By swapping out the broken unit with a new or reconditioned one, the owner can keep the room in the inventory. “We recommend the property have one spare for every 100 rooms, storing them on property,” he said.
