By Jenna Anderson, Customer Experience Representative for PTAC4Less.com. PTAC4Less.com has been selling energy-efficient new and refurbished PTACs for more than 15 years.
A June 2017 TripAdvisor hotel review had this matter-of-fact title: “Bad Timing to Do Maintenance on AC: End of June.”
It’s true. Midsummer is a poor time for PTAC units to fail. And if your maintenance is disturbing your guests so much that they’re leaving negative reviews, that’s a problem.
That’s why it’s always better to stay ahead of the curve through preventative PTAC maintenance. If you can take care of PTAC issues discretely before they disturb guests, everyone wins.
Here are some simple tips to help keep your PTAC units in good condition.
1. Make regular inspections
When it comes to PTAC inspections, consistency is key.
Scott Schaedle, founder and president of Quore, told Hotel Management that “one big mistake hotels make is not evenly or consistently doing preventative maintenance.” He explained that making only a single inspection per quarter leaves at least 90 days between inspections, and up to 180. That span, Schaedle says, is “where real damage can be done.”
Jeff Tucker, director of retrofit solutions at the Climate Control Group, advises that on top of quarterly inspections, it’s important to emphasize open communication with hotel staff. That’s essential for making sure routine maintenance actually happens.
A Hotel Business article shows a good example of this in action: La Quinta and New Castle properties both let housekeepers adjust PTAC settings whenever rooms are unoccupied.
2. Pay attention to manufacturer recommendations
Using the wrong replacement parts creates problems. Mike Milburn, of La Quinta Corp., explains why it’s so important for hoteliers to pay attention to manufacturers:
“To ensure efficiency, it’s most important to follow the suggestions of the manufacturer of the unit because they’ve done all the testing and know what’s best.”
3. Clean the filters and coils
You should clean your PTAC’s filters every month and the entire units at least once a year.
And yes, it’s worth doing. Dirty filters will clog the unit, put extra stress on compressors, and can cause serious damage. Environmental factors, such as construction and pollution, may make it necessary to replace filters more often.
Other inner components besides filters require regular preventative maintenance as well. The inner coil and condenser coil are particularly important. Because newer coils are built with more fins, they need to be cleaned more frequently. It is recommended that you pretreat the coils, then cleaning them with a low-pressure washer from the inside out.
4. Inspect gaskets, exteriors, and pans
It isn’t all about the filters or coils. Other parts also need regular inspection and cleaning to keep your PTAC unit operating at full efficiency. You’ll need to clean base pans, exteriors, and gaskets (per the manufacturer’s instructions).
Not only will this keep the units working well, but it also prevents stains and other aesthetic damage.
5. Check that all the features work
Every so often, either you or your staff should double check the switches, thermostats, and controls to make sure they’re all working. Even a seemingly minor problem can lead to bigger ones.
If a switch goes bad, you’ll have to replace it ASAP.
6. Keep a maintenance log
By keeping an up-to-date maintenance log, you can track problems and monitor them over time. That will help you (and any engineers you may end up calling on down the road) diagnose root causes so you solve them faster.
Happy guests make for happy hoteliers.
By employing a strategy of preventative PTAC maintenance, you can keep your guests happier and earn better reviews for your hotel.
Good luck!
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Be flexible and identify new ways to make guests happy.
As guest behavior and pattern continues to evolve, expectations will continue to rise. Navigating these changes can be challenging. Learn more about how we can help your Hotel.
Credit
Jenna Anderson, Customer Experience Representative for PTAC4Less.com. PTAC4Less.com has been selling energy-efficient new and refurbished PTACs for more than 15 years.
About the author
Are Morch is the founder and owner of Are Morch – Hotel Marketing Coach. Get more from Are on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Instagram| Podcast
