PTAC Units, Central Air, And Mini Splits: Which Is Better?

It can be difficult to choose an AC system. Which air conditioner should you choose: a PTAC or a central air conditioner? Why not go with a tiny split?

Choose a PTAC unit if you live in an apartment room. If you want to cool the largest possible area in a building, just use central air. A small split is the perfect choice for you if you wish to control the selective cooling of a few rooms in your house.

Because of all the essential information you might be seeking, discussing the three AC kinds collectively can be difficult.

The Benefits Of PTAC Units

Does your entire structure require cooling? Or does only a certain area need to be cooled? With PTACs, you may control the temperature in a specific area without affecting the entire building.

Easy Installation

They are frequently installed in hotel rooms so that visitors can control the temperature on their own. PTACs can easily be inserted through a wall because they lack separate units.

To use them, no expensive or unsightly ductwork needs to be installed. PTACs are often placed next to exterior walls, beneath windows.

The arrangement allows for efficient cooling and ventilation of the unit. They can also be installed beside a metal shield, enabling direct wall installation.

PTAC Units Are Complete Units

Condensate drain plumbing is not required because these units are totally self-contained. The condenser fan propels the condensate water drawn from the air onto the condenser coil’s surface, where it evaporates.

Every PTAC Has A Heater

A ductless system known as a PTAC is one that can simultaneously chill and heat a room. Every unit has the option of using a heat pump or electric heat. A unit with electric heat can be purchased for a low initial cost, but due to its lower efficiency, it eventually costs more.

Heat pumps typically cost more up front but use less energy. Given that they are more potent heaters than electric heaters, the costs may be justified. A heat pump PTAC unit will ensure you have more than enough warmth if it gets too cold during the winter.

What Makes Central Air Conditioning Better?

Central air is one of the most economical ways to produce cool air throughout a house, as opposed to a PTAC unit.

By distributing cool air throughout the air duct and vent system, centralized units chill every room simultaneously rather than just one.

Return-air ducts carry the air from a room into the air handler unit. The device filters the air, eliminating airborne impurities such lint, pollen, dust, allergies, and pet dander.

A new ducting system is then used to circulate the filtered air back into the rooms. Modern systems and high-end air filters can effectively catch even the smallest contaminants, greatly enhancing indoor air quality.

Many people are unaware of the harmful effects that temperature extremes—whether they be excessively hot, too cold, or frequently fluctuating—can have on their health. Overheating or overcooling has the potential to swiftly deplete energy, which might impair immunity.

Delivers Temperatures That Are Constant

Your body finds it simpler to maintain body temperature when the room temperature is constant, which benefits your immune system.

Built-in filters in the ductwork of central air conditioners automatically filter the indoor air before cooling and distributing it throughout the space.

In order to clean the air inside homes, many air conditioners even include dehumidifiers and microparticle filters.

More Effective Than A PTAC Unit At Cooling

A central air conditioner can chill numerous rooms simultaneously by using a system of thermostats and vents (a big advantage over a PTAC unit). This ensures that cool air is available all year round in all spaces (be they apartments or offices).

There are high-quality central air conditioners that normally cost around $1,500, despite the fact that they can cost up to $8,000.

A PTAC unit is far less expensive, with prices ranging from $500 to $1,500 and monthly operating costs of between $80 and $100, depending on usage.

If you need to cool more than three rooms, a central air conditioner will be less expensive in the long run. The down payment for one central air conditioner might be more than covered by three PTAC units.

Remember that a single central air conditioner is more effective than a number of PTAC units.

Furnaces Are Compatible With Central Air

Central air conditioning, which can also adjust the conditioned air in numerous ways, can cool an entire house. In order to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, furnaces can also be used in conjunction with central air conditioning.

The Benefits Of A Mini Split

Mini splits’ main advantages are their portability for zoning and cooling certain rooms as well as their small size. Up to four interior air handling units and one exterior unit may be present in some models (each serving four zones or rooms).

Each zone will have a thermostat that will only permit it to cool the actual inhabited rooms in order to conserve energy and money.

With inverter technology, mini splits can self-correct. They might alter output depending on the temperature that has been set.

Benefits Compared To Ducted Systems

Mini plit systems don’t require ducts, so duct-related problems are not a concern. Mini plits can connect the indoor and outdoor units by drilling a tiny three-inch hole in the wall.
If left dangling, the cables that pass through the three-inch hole in the wall would be unattractive.

Comparing ductless installation to central air installation, the former is substantially simpler and less expensive. Installing ducts does not need knocking down walls and ceilings, especially if there is no existing ductwork.

Can Serve As Heater

Mini split air conditioners can function as warmers by using a reversing valve. The micro split’s internal reversing valve changes the refrigerant flow direction to transform it into a heater in cold weather.

Maintain Consistent Room Temperatures

The ability of a small split system to run several air handlers is another important feature (indoor units). Most households only utilize four air handlers, but this system’s single outside unit can supply up to eight indoor units.

This advantage of a ductless system may be adjusted to maintain the ideal temperatures in specific rooms. You can make use of the air handlers that are just required to keep your family cool because they can all run on their own.

Although central air conditioners would perform better at cooling an entire home, they lack the zoning control that mini split systems do.

Mini splits do have filters even though they don’t have ducts that might gather pollutants. These filters collect dirt, dust, and allergies; they do not circulate the air. For optimal cooling, filters need to be cleaned frequently.

Extremely Effective

Whole-home air conditioners typically have a SEER rating between 22 and 24. The cooling capacity of a ductless mini split can even exceed 42 SEER! Mini splits are among the most effective AC systems available today because of this.

The primary factor is the variable-speed compressor used in mini splits (inverter technology). The apparatus receives high-voltage power, which converts it into DC voltage. It can therefore do more work with less energy.

To Sum Up

Direct comparisons between the three AC kinds show that each one performs differently to meet a particular need in a variety of houses. Making a decision amongst the three should be much simpler once you have thought about the cooling area you desire.