🔥 Introduction: The PTAC Double Act

With today’s modern PTAC units like the Amana Distinctions 12000 BTU model, you’re not stuck with just one heating method. Instead, you get a smart combo:

• Heat pump heating (efficient, affordable, environmentally friendly)

• Electric resistance backup heating (powerful, but energy-hungry)

As Tony Marino, let me break down how this tag-team works, when each kicks in, and how you can save serious money by understanding the dance between heat pump and backup.

❄️ How Heat Pump PTACs Work

In cooling mode, a heat pump operates just like a standard air conditioner: it pulls heat from inside the room and dumps it outside.

In heating mode, it does the reverse:

• Pulls heat from outside air (even cold air contains heat energy)

• Compresses the refrigerant to amplify heat

• Releases the heat inside the room

✅ This process uses far less electricity than electric resistance coils.

Key Components:

• Compressor

• Reversing valve (switches heating/cooling)

• Indoor coil

• Outdoor coil (rear grille on PTAC)

DOE Heat Pump Basics

🌡️ Heat Pump Efficiency: The Coefficient of Performance (COP)

COP = heat output ÷ electrical input

• Heat pump COP: typically 2.5 to 4.0

• Electric resistance COP: always 1.0 (1 kWh in = 1 unit of heat out)

👉 When your PTAC heat pump is running, you're often getting 250% to 400% heating efficiency compared to electric backup.

Translation: Every hour the heat pump runs, your electric bill stays much lower.

ASHRAE Heat Pump Performance Standards

🌬️ When Does the Heat Pump Struggle?

Heat pumps don’t like extreme cold. As outdoor air drops:

• Less heat available to extract

• Compressor works harder

• Efficiency drops off sharply below 35°F to 40°F

For the Amana Distinctions PTAC:

• Heat pump typically handles heating down to ~35°F outdoor temp.

• Below that, the 3.5 kW electric backup kicks in automatically.

⚡ Electric Resistance Backup Heat: The Safety Net

Electric resistance coils are your PTAC’s insurance policy.

• Instant, reliable heat no matter how cold outside

• 100% electric consumption

• Great for fast warm-ups or supplemental bursts

Downsides:

• Much higher energy consumption

• Expensive for sustained heating loads

Energy Star Guide to Backup Heating

🏘️ Ideal Climate Zones for Heat Pump PTACs

Climate	Heat Pump PTAC	Backup Heat Usage
Florida	✅ Excellent	Rarely needed
Georgia	✅ Excellent	Occasionally needed
North Carolina	✅ Very Good	Used a few times per winter
Ohio	⚠ Good	Backup runs frequently
Minnesota	⚠ Marginal	Backup runs heavily

👉 The milder your winter, the more the heat pump saves you.

DOE Climate Zone Map:

🛠️ How to Configure Your Amana PTAC Correctly

Setup Tips:

• Verify correct outdoor sensor installation

• Check control board settings for heat pump switchover temperature

• Ensure backup heat stages activate smoothly

• Test both heating modes during commissioning

Pro Tip:

• Some models allow you to adjust lockout temperature (ex: delay backup until 30°F).

Amana PTAC Technical Manual

💡 How Much Can You Save?

Let’s compare a real-world example:

Scenario: 350 sq ft hotel room in Atlanta, GA
Electric rate: $0.15 per kWh

Heating Option	Daily Use	Daily Cost
Heat Pump (COP 3.0)	8 kWh	$1.20
Electric Resistance	24 kWh	$3.60

👉 $2.40 daily savings — over a 90-day winter season, that's over $200 saved per room per year.

Multiply that across dozens of units in hotels, senior living, or apartment complexes, and heat pump PTACs pay you back quickly.

NREL HVAC Cost Savings Study

⚠️ Common Mistakes with Heat Pump PTACs

• Improper control board settings

• Dirty outdoor coil blocking heat extraction

• Poor outdoor airflow (blocked rear grille)

• Undersized unit struggling on extreme days

• Faulty outdoor sensors misreading temperature

👉 Prevent these and your system stays efficient for years.

✅ Tony’s Takeaway

The Amana Distinctions 12000 BTU PTAC with heat pump and electric backup is a rock-solid option for:

• Southern & mid-Atlantic hotels

• Assisted living suites

• Multi-family apartments

• Any property manager watching energy costs

If you live in a warmer zone, your electric backup may barely run all year — maximizing savings.

For northern climates, heat pump PTACs still help reduce electric use but require more frequent electric backup — plan accordingly.

When set up right, heat pump PTACs offer year-round comfort with much lower electric bills — and that’s something every property owner likes to see.

In the next topic we will know more about: PTAC Maintenance 101: Keeping Your Amana Unit Running Like New