HVAC Tips
Climate Zone Math — Why a 15k BTU PTAC Performs Differently in Arizona vs. Ohio
🧭 Introduction: Same Unit, Different Universe
You might think that a 15,000 BTU PTAC will perform the same no matter where it’s installed. After a...
The Undersized Problem — What Happens When You Push a PTAC Too Hard
🧭 Introduction: When “Small and Efficient” Turns Into “Tired and Overworked”
If the Oversized Trap is about too much power, the Undersized Problem...
The Oversized Trap — Why More BTUs Can Mean Less Comfort
🧭 Introduction: When “Bigger” Stops Being Better
It’s one of the most common mistakes in HVAC sizing:
“I’ll just buy the biggest unit I can affor...
Sizing by Scenario — Hotel Suites, Apartments & Offices Each Play by Different Rules
🧭 Introduction: Same Square Footage, Different Story
If you’ve ever tried to pick an air conditioner by square footage alone, you know the charts m...
Quiet Power — How Amana Balances BTU Output Without the Noise
🏠 Introduction: When Comfort and Silence Coexist
Powerful cooling used to come with a price: noise. Whether it was a roaring window unit or the co...
When Heat Mode Matters — Matching Electric Heat (3.5 kW) to Your Winter Load
🏠 Introduction: The Other Half of Your PTAC’s Power
When most buyers look at a PTAC specification sheet, their eyes go straight to the cooling numb...
Beyond Square Feet — How Ceilings, Windows & Wall Type Change Your Sizing Math
🏠 Introduction: The Myth of “One Number Fits All”
Ask most homeowners how they picked their air conditioner, and you’ll hear something like:
“My r...
The Goldilocks Zone — Finding the Just-Right BTUs for Every Room
🏠 Introduction: Why "Just-Right" Sizing Is the Secret to Year-Round Comfort
In HVAC, balance is everything. Too small a unit, and your system strai...
Pre-Install Checklist — Sizing Tools and Must-Have Gear Before You Cut the Wall
✏️ Measure Twice, Cut Once — The Wall Unit Way
The first time I installed a through-the-wall air conditioner, I had that nervous mix of excitement ...
Heat Mode Math — Sizing for Winter Warmth, Too
🌬️ When Cooling Season Ends but Comfort Still Matters
By November, my Amana wall unit had already proven itself through a brutal summer. But as the...
The Undersized Problem — Why a Too-Small AC Works Harder and Lasts Less
🌬️ When “Almost Enough” Isn’t Enough
I’ll admit it — my first air conditioner was a classic case of “good intentions, bad math.”
When I moved into ...
From Square Feet to BTUs — How to Calculate the Right Cooling Power (Without Guessing)
🌬️ When Guessing Goes Wrong
When I bought my first through-the-wall air conditioner, I made the same mistake most people do: I guessed.
My living s...