PATC units for a garage

[Pathfinders]

Correction PTAC
Found a few PTAC units on Craigslist that were from a hotel unit swap out. They are Amana units. Seems like a great price, $60.00 each. My garage is just under 600sf and insulated except for the 2 OHDs. I will have no problem with the changes to the framing or electrical. I am thinking 2 units should cool the garage. Was going to go with 2 window units, but at this price. Do you have any input?

 

[Pathfinders]

The units are 12000 BTU with heat.

 

[Zeke]

What's a PTAC?

 

[Pathfinders]

PTAC units are the ones you find in front of a motel room. Thinking about putting 2 on the rear wall of my garage.

 

[Al G]

I have two 12000 btu units in my 860 sq ft garage. I think they work great. I have them running year round and haven't noticed any significant impact on my electric bill.

 

[Ohmthis]

I personally dont like them. They are inefficient, but I totally understand using them for that price. Make sure they are single phase. Some of the ones I've put in were 277v. I would want to see them run before buying, they were pulled out for a reason. They need extra maintenance cleaning the coils (pull them out and hose them). The filtration isn't very good for a home much less a shop. When they break they are mostly throw away units. A new one could run in the $700-$1000 range. So keep that in mind if this is your permanent plan. Not trying to burst your bubble, just giving you information. Good luck.

 

[Falcon67]

Permanently Troublesome And Costly - IMHO. They used those in the tower at the drag strip, nothing but hassles and expense over the last 13 years. 1st level uses a 24K BTU mini-split now, 3rd floor control uses TWO PTAC units, ceiling fan and a floor fan to circulate the air to try and keep it livable up there in the summer. Same with the 2nd floor. And if you don't turn them on first thing on a race day, they may never catch up.

You could not give me one, personally.

 

[Pathfinders]

Thank you for the info. I will pass on the units. Do not want to change the garage framing for a temporary measure.

 

[dshop]

I am in NC near Raleigh and have run a Carrier 12K refurbished PTAC in the shop office (400 sq. ft.) w 10 ft. ceiling for 10 years now. It will drop or raise the temp 5 degrees in 2 hours.
I should mention the roof is spray foam 5.5 inches and the walls are R30.
works for me.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I know that more than once I have had problems with them in motels. My brother in law just purchased a new unit for his man cave, but have not gotten it hooked up yet.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Typically very inefficient (i.e. expensive to run). Difficult ($$$) to repair.

 

[ssbtech]

These things aren't all that different from a typical window A/C, are they? Why would they be so much more troublesome?

 

[theoldwizard1]

These things aren't all that different from a typical window A/C, are they? Why would they be so much more troublesome?

They are actually a heat pump. More valves, etc. means more things that can go wrong.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I hate PTACs. $60.00 is a good deal for one year old used units. I wouldn't waste the effort for anything older...

Tommy

 

[Big Daddy Chop Shop]

Not all PTACs are heat pumps, many are straight A/C with or without electric heat. Hotels use them because they are pretty universal in sleeve size (hole thru the wall) and are a fast changeout, minutes. any brand will side back in said hole. Then they are taken back to to shop to be repaired or replaced. For a garage? Maybe. Its cheap enough. At that price I'd get a spare.