HVAC Tips
Why a 12k PTAC Needs a Builder’s-Level Wall Sleeve — Not the Cheap One the Contractor Threw In
🧱 1. The Truth Nobody Says Out Loud: The Sleeve Is the Entire Install
Most installers talk about PTACs like the sleeve is just a piece of metal yo...
Left, Right, or Center? Tony’s Placement Rules So Your PTAC Doesn’t Fight Your Furniture Layout
By Tony Marino — “Airflow doesn’t care where your bed is, but your comfort will.”
When people talk about PTAC installation, the conversation usual...
The Forgotten Foam Kit — Tony’s Air-Leak Audit That Adds 15% More Heating Efficiency for Free
By Tony Marino — “If air can sneak through it, you’re paying for heat you never get.”
There’s a dirty little secret in PTAC and heating installs t...
Why Tony Cuts 1/8 Inch High on Every PTAC Opening — The Expansion Gap Nobody Teaches but Every Pro Uses
By Tony Marino — “Material moves. The only question is whether you plan for it.”
Every installer knows how to cut a hole.
Very few know how to cut...
Stop Pushing Warm Air Into a Muddy Hole — Tony’s Condensate Rule That Saves Floors, Carpets, and Drywall
By Tony Marino — “If the condensate doesn’t know where to go, it will choose the worst place possible.”
Every PTAC installer talks about cooling.S...
The Back-Pressure Trap — How Poor Weather Seal Installations Make a 12k PTAC Sound Twice as Loud
By Tony Marino — “Noise isn’t a mystery. It’s pressure fighting to get out.”
There’s a moment every HVAC tech knows—the customer calls and says:
...
Why Tony Always Re-Wires the Disconnect Box — The Hidden Voltage Drops That Starve a 3.5 kW Heat Kit
By Tony Marino — “If the heat kit’s starving, your wiring’s lying.”
A 3.5 kW electric heat kit inside a 12,000 BTU PTAC unit is a simple machine o...
If You Don’t Square the Sleeve, You Already Lost — Tony’s Rule for 12k PTAC Wall Cuts That Never Leak or Shift
By Tony Marino — The Furnace Whisperer Who’s Seen Every Botched PTAC Install Imaginable
Installing a 12,000 BTU PTAC unit like the Amana Distincti...
Pay Cash or Finance? A Smart Shopper’s Guide to HVAC Decisions
Should you pay cash or use financing when replacing your HVAC? This guide helps homeowners compare both paths with clear pros, cons and smart budgeting tips.
Choose the Right Way to Pay: Comparing HVAC Financing Options for Your Household Budget
Compare dealer plans, personal loans, HELOCs, and cards — find the financing path that matches your budget, timeline, and comfort goals with clear examples.
Upgrade Sooner, Save Sooner: How Financing Lets You Get an Energy-Efficient HVAC System Without Delay
Upgrade to a high-efficiency HVAC sooner — learn how smart financing lets you switch to energy-saving systems now and start shrinking your utility bills.
Smarter Home Comfort: How HVAC Financing Works — A Guide for Smart Shoppers
Unlock the benefits of HVAC financing: learn how monthly payment plans work, what to watch out for, and how financing helps make a new HVAC system affordable.