By Eric Aiden
Key takeaways
- A PTAC heats with electric resistance. A PTHP heats with a heat pump and switches to electric backup heat when it is too cold outside.
- In heating mode, a heat pump delivers more heat per kilowatt-hour than electric resistance, so a PTHP usually uses less electricity over a heating season. How much less depends on climate, rates and controls.
- Both use the same through-wall format. Ask for both on the same written quote, and let your engineer confirm the choice.
A PTAC (packaged terminal air conditioner) and a PTHP (packaged terminal heat pump) are both one-room, through-wall units. The difference is how they make heat. This post covers the decision at the purchasing level. Detailed changeover temperatures and heater data belong on the spec sheet for the model being quoted, and PTAC House will cover them in technical depth.
What are you choosing between: a PTAC or a PTHP?
Both are packaged terminal units in a wall sleeve with an exterior grille, and both cool the same way. A PTAC heats with an electric resistance heater for every hour of heating. A PTHP reverses its refrigerant cycle to move heat indoors, then switches to its electric heater when outdoor conditions make the heat pump less effective.
- PTAC: cooling through the refrigerant circuit; heating through an electric resistance heater.
- PTHP: cooling the same way; heating by heat pump in milder weather, with an electric heater as backup.
Natural Resources Canada explains that heat pumps move heat rather than generate it, so their efficiency is typically well over 100%, while efficiency drops as outdoor temperatures fall (NRCan: heating and cooling with a heat pump). That is the whole case for a PTHP.
How do the two options compare on an order?
For purchasing, the comparison comes down to heat source, cold-weather behaviour, mechanical complexity and how the units match the rest of the fleet. The table below is a buyer-level summary, not a specification. Use it to decide which option to price, then check the spec sheet for each model on the written quote.
| Factor | PTAC (electric heat) | PTHP (heat pump + electric backup) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling | Yes | Yes |
| Primary heat | Electric resistance | Heat pump (reverse cycle) |
| Cold-weather heat | Electric resistance | Switches to electric backup; changeover point is on the spec sheet |
| Heating electricity use | Higher | Usually lower over a season; depends on climate and controls |
| Mechanical complexity | Simpler | Adds heat pump components such as a reversing valve |
| Price | Compare on the written quote | Compare on the written quote |
To see both options side by side on one quote for your building, request a quote in CAD at ptac@aidco.ca or through the quote form.
Will a PTHP order still need electric heat in Canada?
A PTHP runs as a heat pump while outdoor conditions allow, then hands off to its electric heater. In Canada, that means the heat pump does much of the work in spring and fall, and the electric backup carries long cold stretches. The backup heater must be sized for the room, exactly as it would be on a PTAC.
NRCan notes that air-source heat pumps lose capacity and efficiency as temperatures drop and need a supplemental heat source in cold weather. On a PTHP, that supplemental source is the built-in electric heater. The changeover point varies by model and is listed on the manufacturer's spec sheet. PTAC House will cover changeover and heater data in technical detail; this post stays at the ordering decision.
Which costs less to run?
Over a heating season, a PTHP usually uses less electricity than an equivalent PTAC, because in milder weather it delivers more heat per kilowatt-hour. The size of the difference depends on climate, electricity rates, occupancy, settings and controls, so we do not publish a savings figure. Ask your engineer to compare the efficiency ratings of the models on your quote.
Controls matter for both heat types. Occupancy-based thermostats reduce runtime in empty rooms whichever unit you choose. See occupancy-based PTAC thermostats.
When does a standard PTAC make sense?
A standard PTAC makes sense when electric heat is already specified, when another system carries most of the heating load, or when you are matching an existing electric-heat fleet and want identical parts and controls. It can also suit buildings with short heating seasons. Your engineer of record makes the final call on heat type.
- The engineer of record has specified electric heat
- Another system provides most of the building's heat
- You are matching an existing fleet of electric-heat units
- The capital budget is fixed and a heat pump upgrade does not fit the plan
When does a PTHP make sense?
A PTHP makes sense when the through-wall units are the main heat source and heating hours are high enough for heat pump operation to matter. It also fits capital plans with energy or emissions targets, and full fleet replacements where the heat-type decision is made once. Ask your engineer to confirm heat pump operation suits the building and the climate.
- The units are the main heat source and heating hours are high
- Energy cost or emissions targets are part of the capital plan
- The whole fleet is being replaced, so the upgrade is a one-time decision
- The engineer or energy model supports heat pump operation
Can you switch an existing PTAC fleet to PTHPs?
Sometimes, but it is a design and procurement check, not an automatic swap. Whether a heat pump chassis can go into the existing openings depends on the model line, sleeve, electrical circuit and heater size. Send your existing model numbers and nameplate photos so current heat pump options can be quoted, and have your engineer and contractor confirm fit.
- Send model numbers and nameplate photos for each unit type
- Confirm voltage and circuit amperage against the existing circuits
- Ask your engineer to confirm heater size for each room
- Decide whether controls stay the same or move to a wall thermostat
For the full send-list, see how to order replacement PTACs. Browse current PTHP units or PTAC units.
Frequently asked questions
Should we order PTACs or PTHPs? If the units are the main heat source and heating hours are high, price PTHPs. If electric heat is specified or you are matching an electric-heat fleet, price PTACs. Your engineer makes the final call.
Do PTHPs work in Canadian winters? Yes, with electric backup heat. The heat pump runs while outdoor conditions allow, then the electric heater takes over, so the heater must be sized for the room.
Is a PTHP more energy-efficient than a PTAC? In heating mode, usually yes, because a heat pump moves heat rather than generating it. Actual savings depend on climate, rates and controls.
Can we switch our PTACs to PTHPs? Sometimes. It depends on the model line, sleeve, circuit and heater size. Send model numbers for a quote and have your engineer and contractor confirm.
Does AIDCO supply PTHPs across Canada? Yes. AIDCO delivers PTHP and PTAC units anywhere in Canada, with spec sheets and submittals available on request.
Comparing heat types for your building? Request a quote in CAD at ptac@aidco.ca or through the AIDCO quote form, and ask for PTAC and PTHP options side by side.