By Eric Aiden
Key takeaways
- A PTAC sits in an exterior wall sleeve and serves the room it faces. A VTAC stands in a closet against an exterior wall and delivers air through a short duct or grille.
- PTACs suit room-by-room replacement where wall openings already exist. VTACs suit spaces where a clean wall, less in-room equipment noise, or ducting to an adjoining room matters.
- Switching between the two is a building change, not a unit swap. Your engineer and contractor should confirm it.
PTACs and VTACs are both packaged terminal units, and both come in electric heat and heat pump versions. The decision is mostly about the space, not the cooling. This post covers the choice at the purchasing level for commercial properties.
What are you choosing between: a PTAC or a VTAC?
The two use the same refrigeration principle in a different footprint. A PTAC is a horizontal chassis in a wall sleeve that supplies air from its front panel into the room. A VTAC is a vertical chassis in a closet or cabinet that takes outdoor air through a wall louver and supplies conditioned air through a short duct or grille.
- PTAC (packaged terminal air conditioner): slides into a wall sleeve; controls on the unit or on a wall thermostat.
- VTAC (vertical terminal air conditioner): installed in a closet against an exterior wall, with a wall plenum and louver; usually controlled by a wall thermostat.
How do the two unit types compare on an order?
At the purchasing level, the differences are location, air delivery, rooms served, in-room equipment noise, floor space and the replacement path. The table below is a buyer-level comparison, not a capacity chart or a substitute for the spec sheet. Use it to decide which form factor to price, then confirm model details on the written quote.
| Factor | PTAC | VTAC |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Exterior wall sleeve | Closet against an exterior wall |
| Air delivery | From the unit face | Through a short duct or supply grille |
| Rooms served | One | One, or an adjoining room with ducting (model-dependent) |
| Equipment in the room | Yes | Behind a closet door |
| Floor space | Wall space only | Closet floor space |
| Wall penetration | Sleeve and exterior grille | Wall plenum and louver |
| Heat options | Electric heat or heat pump | Electric heat or heat pump |
| Replacement path | Chassis change in the existing sleeve | Chassis change in the closet; confirm plenum and duct fit |
When is a PTAC the better fit?
A PTAC is usually the better fit when you are replacing existing through-wall units and each room is a single space with an exterior wall. The openings are already there, the chassis stays accessible from inside the room, and the replacement path is familiar to contractors. For a fleet already on PTACs, staying with PTACs keeps the project simple.
- You are replacing existing PTACs and the wall openings are in place
- Each room is a single space with an exterior wall
- Speed of changeover is a main driver
- You want units accessible from inside the room
For a replacement order, see how to order replacement PTACs.
When is a VTAC the better fit?
A VTAC is usually the better fit when the design calls for a clean wall, when equipment noise in the room is a concern, or when one unit should serve an adjoining space through ducting. It also fits buildings already designed with closets for vertical units. Your engineer confirms whether a vertical unit is the specified path.
- The building already has closets for vertical units
- The design calls for no unit under the window
- In-room equipment noise is a concern, for example in offices or meeting rooms
- Your engineer has specified a vertical unit for the space
To price vertical units on your schedule, request a quote in CAD at ptac@aidco.ca or through the quote form. AIDCO supplies all vertical models from Amana, GE Zoneline, Friedrich and Islandaire, including the GE Zoneline AZ95 and AZ9V lines and all Islandaire vertical lines. You can also browse VTAC units.
Can you switch from PTAC to VTAC, or the other way round?
You can, but it is a building change, not a like-for-like replacement. Moving from PTAC to VTAC needs a closet, wall plenum, louver, ductwork and a wall thermostat. Moving from VTAC to PTAC needs a new sleeve opening in the exterior wall. Either change should go through your engineer and contractor before anything is ordered.
Most replacement projects stay with the form factor the building already has and focus on brand, heat type and controls. For new or renovated buildings, use the PTAC supply quote checklist.
What should you send for a VTAC replacement quote?
A VTAC replacement quote is only as accurate as the details you send. Start with the nameplate: model and serial numbers, voltage and heat type. Then add what you know about the closet, plenum, louver, ducting and thermostat. Photos of the nameplate and the closet help match current units and flag accessories that need to ship.
- [ ] Model and serial numbers, with a nameplate photo
- [ ] Voltage and circuit amperage
- [ ] Heat type: electric heat or heat pump
- [ ] Wall plenum and louver: condition and whether they will be reused
- [ ] Closet access path for the new chassis
- [ ] Duct connection and return-air arrangement
- [ ] Thermostat type, and whether you want occupancy-based control
- [ ] Quantity and delivery location
Do VTACs and PTACs use the same thermostats?
Often, yes. Many energy management thermostats are made for terminal units of both types, but the match still has to be checked against the models on site. AIDCO is an official Verdant thermostat distributor, and Verdant thermostats are compatible with the vast majority of PTAC, PTHP and VTAC units. Send model numbers so the right thermostat is quoted.
See occupancy-based PTAC thermostats or browse PTAC thermostats.
Frequently asked questions
Should we order PTACs or VTACs? Stay with the form factor the building already has for replacements. For new or renovated spaces, choose a VTAC when the design calls for a clean wall, less in-room equipment noise or ducting to an adjoining room. Your engineer confirms.
Is a VTAC quieter than a PTAC? In the room, usually, because the equipment sits behind a closet door. A PTAC operates inside the room it serves.
Can a VTAC serve more than one room? Some models can be ducted to an adjoining room, within the airflow limits on the spec sheet. A PTAC serves the room it faces.
Can I replace a PTAC with a VTAC? Only as a building change. It needs a closet, plenum, louver, ductwork and a wall thermostat, confirmed by your engineer and contractor.
Does AIDCO supply VTACs across Canada? Yes. AIDCO delivers VTAC and PTAC units anywhere in Canada, with spec sheets and submittals available on request.
Choosing between a PTAC and a VTAC? Request a quote in CAD at ptac@aidco.ca or through the AIDCO quote form, and ask for spec sheets your engineer can compare.