PTAC Heating Efficiency: Heat Pump vs Backup Heat Strip Cost Breakdown 

If you clicked on this guide, it’s because you’re tired of vague HVAC advice, guesswork, and energy myths. Good — because Data Jake is here, and I’m bringing numbers, formulas, charts, and real performance analysis. This isn’t a fluffy “heat pump good, heat strip bad” article. You’re getting the complete cost breakdown, the true COP explanation, and the real hourly energy consumption math so you know exactly what your PTAC is costing you — and what it could be costing you less.

You’ll learn:

• Cost per hour charts for heat pumps vs heat strips

• Heat pump COP analysis at different temperatures

• Electric heat strip power usage and why it spikes your bill

• Seasonal usage examples, including mild, moderate, and cold-climate scenarios

• 6–7 external sources HVAC pros use

This is the precise 3000-word Data Jake breakdown you need to make the right PTAC purchasing or operational decision.

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1. PTAC Heating 101 — Why Heat Source Matters More Than Anything

Most people compare PTAC units based on brand, BTU, or price. That’s the wrong approach.
If you want to know how much your PTAC will cost to run, you start with this truth:

Your PTAC’s heating source determines 80–90% of your power bill.

PTAC heating options come in two main forms:

A. Heat Pump Heating (High Efficiency)

• Uses a refrigerant cycle to move heat

• Delivers 2–3+ units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity

• Efficiency changes depending on outdoor temperature

• Quiet and cost-effective in moderate climates

• Backed by decades of performance data through organizations like Energy Star – Air Source Heat Pumps

B. Electric Heat Strip Heating (Low Efficiency)

• Essentially a giant toaster coil

• Consumes massive wattage

• Delivers exactly 1 unit of heat per unit of electricity (COP = 1.0)

• Always expensive to run, regardless of outdoor conditions

• Standard manual coil heaters operate similarly to electric resistance heat explained in Energy.gov – Electric Resistance Heating

Both heating types have legitimate roles — but their cost per hour is wildly different.

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2. Heat Pump COP Analysis (Where Efficiency Lives and Dies)

Heat pumps have a magic metric: COP (Coefficient of Performance).
This tells you how many units of heat you get per unit of electricity.

• COP 3.0 → 3 units of heat per 1 unit of electricity

• COP 2.0 → 2 units per 1 unit

• COP 1.0 → same as electric resistance heat

Heat pump COP changes with temperature.

Here’s a realistic PTAC COP chart used by Data Jake:

And yes, PTAC heat pumps do rely on strip heat below certain temps.

Manufacturers like Amana, Friedrich, and GE publish similar performance expectations in their engineering documents, such as those found on Goodman/Amana HVAC Technical Resources.

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3. Electric Heat Strip Power Consumption (The Budget Killer)

Electric heat strips inside PTACs are incredibly simple:

Electricity in → Heat out
COP = 1.0, always
Efficiency never changes
Wattage draw stays fixed

Typical heat strip wattages:

Compare that to heat pumps, which may produce 12,000 BTU using just 1,000–1,300 watts in mild weather.

That’s why heat pump heating is dramatically cheaper most of the year.

An external explanation for electric resistance heating inefficiency is documented by Energy.gov – Electric Resistance Heating.

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4. Cost Per Hour Heating Charts (Data Jake’s Big Reveal)

Assumptions:

• Electricity cost: $0.15/kWh

• Heat pump PTAC:

  • 12,000 BTU output requirement

  • Input varies based on COP

• Heat strip PTAC:

  • 3.5 kW (common rating)

Cost Per Hour — Heat Pump vs Strip Heat (12,000 BTU)

Heat Pump (varies by temperature)

Heat Strip (fixed cost)

• 3.5 kW strip

• 3.5 kW × $0.15 = $0.53 per hour

What the data shows:

• In mild weather, heat pumps cost 70% less per hour.

• In moderate cold, 50% less.

• Even in cold weather, heat pumps still often cost 25–35% less before switching to backup heat.

• When temps drop to the “heat strip takeover zone,” cost equals strip heat.

This exact pattern is consistent with energy usage data shown in HVAC consumer guides like Energy Star Clean Heating & Cooling.

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5. Seasonal Usage Examples (Data Jake Goes Real-World)

Let’s build yearly scenarios based on climate.

We’ll assume:

• 1,000 heating hours per season for simplicity

• 12,000 BTU room load

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Scenario A — Warm Climate (South, Southwest, Gulf Coast)

Outdoor temps are mostly 45–60°F.

Heat Pump Costs

• Avg COP: 3.0

• kWh/hour: ~1.1

• Seasonal total: 1,100 kWh

• Cost: $165/year

Heat Strip Costs

• 3.5 kW × 1,000 hours = 3,500 kWh

• Cost: $525/year

Savings

$360/year per room
Hotels with 100 rooms save $36,000 per year.

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Scenario B — Moderate Climate (Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest)

Outdoor temps 25–50°F.

Heat Pump Costs

• Avg COP: 2.3

• kWh/hour: ~1.5

• Seasonal total: 1,500 kWh

• Cost: $225/year

Heat Strip Costs

• Same 3,500 kWh

• Cost: $525/year

Savings

$300/year per room

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Scenario C — Cold Climate (Northeast, Mountain States, Upper Midwest)

Outdoor temps 10–35°F.

Heat pumps run efficiently part-time, strip heat takes over below ~25°F.

We’ll estimate:

• 600 hours heat pump

• 400 hours strip heat

Heat Pump Portion

• 600 hours × 2 kW = 1,200 kWh

Heat Strip Portion

• 400 hours × 3.5 kW = 1,400 kWh

Total

• 2,600 kWh/year

• Cost: $390/year

All Strip (no heat pump)

• 3,500 kWh/year

• Cost: $525/year

Savings

$135/year per room

Even in cold climates, heat pumps save money.

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6. Why PTAC Heat Pumps Still Use Backup Heat Strips

Data Jake explains it straight:

Reason 1 — Heat pump output drops in cold air

Lower outdoor temperatures reduce heat extraction.

Reason 2 — Compressor protection

At very low temperatures, compressor strain skyrockets.

Reason 3 — Quick warm-up

Heat strips provide instant heat to supplement slow heat pump recovery.

Reason 4 — Defrost cycles

During heat pump defrost mode, the strip heat keeps the airflow warm.

Manufacturers detail this hybrid operation in their manuals such as you’d find on Amana PTAC Official Website.

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7. Why Electric Heat Strips Are Always More Expensive

Data Jake breaks the physics:

1. They convert electricity directly into heat

No amplification.
No multiplier effect.
Just pure watt = pure BTU.

2. High wattage draw

Typical PTAC strip wattage: 2.5–5.0 kW.

At $0.15/kWh:

• 5 kW strip = $0.75/hour

• 3.5 kW strip = $0.53/hour

• 2.5 kW strip = $0.37/hour

Heat pumps rarely exceed:

• 1.3–2.0 kW/hour

• $0.20–$0.30/hour

3. Avoidability

Most regions can avoid heavy strip usage with correct installation and temperature management.

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8. Data Jake’s Optimization Rules (How to Reduce Heating Cost)

If you want to minimize electrical cost, follow these:

Rule 1 — Keep setpoint temperatures moderate

Avoid spikes — they trigger heat strip activation.

Rule 2 — Keep PTAC filters clean

Dirty filters reduce heat pump efficiency by up to 35%.

Rule 3 — Seal the wall sleeve

Air leaks force longer runtimes and cause cold drafts.

Rule 4 — Use heat pump mode whenever possible

Don’t manually force strip heat unless absolutely needed.

Rule 5 — Replace failing sensors

A failing thermistor triggers unnecessary strip heat use.

Rule 6 — Maintain outdoor airflow

Blocked grilles → poor heat pump COP.

Reference ASHRAE airflow guidelines at ASHRAE Technical HVAC Resources.

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9. Full Data Jake Operating Cost Chart (Per 1,000 Hours)

 

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Conclusion

Let’s end this with cold, hard math — the language Data Jake speaks best.

If you want the lowest heating cost:

➡ Heat pump PTAC
Saves $135 to $360 a year per room, depending on climate.

If you want reliability with no moving outdoor parts:

➡ PTAC heat pump with backup strip
Efficient in mild temps, reliable in cold.

If you rely on strip heat only:

➡ Prepare for the highest operating cost possible.

The bottom line from Data Jake:

A PTAC heat pump isn’t a luxury — it’s a financial weapon. The strip heat is a backup tool, not a primary heater. Use it sparingly and your wallet wins.

In the next blog, you will learn about Troubleshooting Guide: Common PTAC Heat Pump Problems & Quick Fixes