When air conditioning was relatively new—during the 1930s and 1940s—having this technology in hotels was considered a luxury, a way to pamper upper class guests. In 1957, though—according to Lodging Magazine—a major hotel chain said that “complete air conditioning has become a virtual necessity in leading hotels, as well as being a good investment.”
Fast forward by another fifty-some years, and guests expect quality air conditioning units in their hotel rooms and lodging facilities. To help you to please guests and earn their loyalty, contact us online or call us at (800) 359-6741 to discuss which hotel AC units are right for your facilities.
Factors to Consider with Hotel AC Units
Multiple factors go into selecting the most optimal units, including how many British thermal units (BTUs) would be appropriate for a certain-sized room. Each BTU represents the amount of heat that’s required to increase the temperature of one pound of maximum density water by one degree F.
You’ll typically require at least 20 BTUs for each square foot of a room with a typical ceiling height, and you can round up rather than down. So, a 300 square foot room would need a 6,000 BTU hotel AC unit (300 x 20 = 6,000 BTUs). A larger room—say, 700 square feet—would likely benefit from a 14,000 BTU hotel AC unit.
“Rounding up,” though, doesn’t mean that you should go significantly beyond this BTU formula. The role of hotel AC conditioner units is to cool the room while also lowering the humidity. If a room is blasted with cool air beyond what’s recommended, you could have a humid room despite lowering the temperature. Plus, you’ll pay more in energy costs than you need to pay.
Also, consider how much direct sunlight a room might receive and the quality of the room’s insulation when making your sizing decision.
Air Conditioner Types
When referring to physical shapes and sizes (not BTUs), the type of air conditioning unit chosen will play a role. At MDM, we have three types of hotel air conditioner units, each with many choices so that you can find exactly the right type and size that will work best for your lodging facilities.
- Hotel PTAC air conditioner units: A packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) is a self-contained system that’s typically installed in masonry walls/window walls, a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system that’s used instead of a central HVAC system. These are ideal for rooms in hotels, motels, and resorts.
- Hotel vertical PTAC air conditioner units: These are a specific kind of PTAC system, ones that—because of their vertical orientation—can be installed in closets and other places where guests won’t see them.
- Hotel in-room air conditioner units: These in-room units empower guests to enjoy their preferred room temperature while, in your facilities, you’ll benefit from reduced operational costs and energy cost savings. This makes in-room hotel AC units a win/win all around.
Energy Efficiency with Optimally-Sized Upgrades
Perhaps, in the past, AC units installed in your lodging facilities weren’t the ideal size for rooms or the older models may not be as energy efficient as you’d like. If either (or both) is true, then our experts can recommend which models would be best, and you can do a cost analysis on the upgrade. There are, for example, operational costs for keeping older models in your facilities, including energy costs and repair and maintenance ones.
The U.S. Department of Energy, when looking at central air conditioning improvements over the past few decades, notes how today’s most efficient models use 30 to 50 percent less energy than ones manufactured in the 1970s; when compared to those created just ten years ago, today’s models can be 20 to 40 percent more energy efficient. This research was not specifically performed on the types of units you’ll put into your hotels, but the idea is the same. Technology has come a long way.
So, consider how much more efficiently you could heat and cool rooms with modern units, and how much you could save on repair costs. What kinds of warranty coverage would you benefit from? Also include intangibles, including the peace of mind you’ll have, knowing that you have hotel air conditioner units that will work well, pleasing your guests while saving on operational/energy costs.
Then create a plan. You may decide to upgrade AC units in your oldest facilities or those in high demand. Or, you may upgrade the oldest units in each of your locations. As you craft a strategy, know that experts at MDM are happy to help with analysis along with customized recommendations for your facilities.
We continue to monitor technological advances and energy efficiencies in the air conditioning industry, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s Emergency Technologies Program that supports sustainability research. Although nobody can predict the future, you can count on MDM staying fully plugged into what’s happening to bring you the best options.
Choose MDM for Your Hotel AC Units
We promise to go above and beyond to serve you, including recommendations for hotel air conditioner units: optimal size, type, and BTUs. MDM offers premium consulting services, outstanding products from trustworthy brands, installation services, top-notch customer services, technical support and more. To get started, simply share your goals, budget, and any challenges. Then, we’ll create a personalized plan for your facilities. So, please get in touch with our hospitality pros online or call 800-359-6741.