Packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) units are popular choices for hotels because of their cost, small footprint and ease of installation. As they age, however, they are prone to breakdown. Hoteliers can replace them, or, if the hotel is ready for a renovation, they can upgrade the property to an HVAC system.
But what happens to the old PTAC units? They can’t simply be thrown away. Knoxville, TN-based RoomOne Solutions has been recycling PTAC units not just for safety, but to save the planet. In fact, the company has recently partnered with its 1,000th hotel for environmentally responsible disposal of PTAC units.
“When it comes to aging PTAC units, many properties are quick to move on—but what happens to those old units can have long-term consequences,” said Jeff Pudelek, president, RoomOne Solutions. “Some hotels turn to local scrappers or haulers to take equipment off-site, but that shortcut can be risky. These individuals are often uninsured and untrained. If someone gets injured while removing units on your property, the hotel could be held liable.”
Stacks of PTAC unis for recycling in the RoomOne warehouse and at a Holiday Inn Express hotel.
RoomOne Solutions removes that risk. The company’s team members are insured, trained and certified to meet EPA compliance standards. “We show up on schedule, remove units safely and provide detailed documentation,” he added. “In short, we turn what could be a compliance headache into a sustainability win and an operational ‘easy button.’”
When disposing of PTACs, there is also the issue of harmful refrigerants still contained in the units. “R-410A has more than 2,000 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide,” said Pudelek. “If even one pound leaks, it’s equivalent to driving a gas-powered car across the country.” RoomOne captures that refrigerant before it escapes.
Every unit is either refurbished or broken down into recyclable materials by RoomOne, diverting 78 pounds of steel, copper and plastic from landfills per unit, according to Pudelek. Refurbishing a PTAC instead of replacing it avoids up to 2.6 metric tons of carbon emissions. “It’s a straightforward way for hotels to reduce their environmental impact without making major operational changes,” he said.
RoomOne’s recycling program is designed to “make life easier for hotel staff, while ensuring full compliance with federal environmental standards.” he added.
The four-step process begins with a plan for the removal of the PTAC units, followed by the RoomOne team removing them and recovering the refrigerant on-site using EPA-certified equipment. From there, units are either refurbished or sent for material recycling. All materials are handled by verified processors. The hotel will then receive a detailed sustainability report documenting refrigerant recovered, emissions avoided and materials recycled.
“For management companies or ownership groups, RoomOne can also provide roll-up reports across multiple properties—making it easier to hit ESG [environmental, social and governance] benchmarks and communicate progress to stakeholders,” said Pudelek.
At any given time, RoomOne has around 500 active clients,” he noted, adding, “We’ve served around 2,000 individual properties across hospitality, senior living, multifamily and other verticals. Our client list includes IHG, Red Roof, Stonebridge, Concord Hospitality, LBA Hospitality, National Hospitality Services, McNeill Hotel Company and Xanterra Travel Collection.”
RoomOne’s primary focus is on PTAC recycling, but it also provides project management support for the installation and removal portion of hotel renovations or PTAC retrofits.
“This can include labor, equipment rental, logistics and storage,” said the RoomOne president. “Our company has provided this service to large resort renovations, midscale hotel AC retrofits, property demolitions, site conversions and everything in between.”
