Heat Pump vs. Electric Heat PTAC Units for Philadelphia Winters

Published October 15, 2026 by Philly PTAC, powered by Air Distributors Company, Inc.

Every PTAC cools the same way. The difference is how it heats. In Philadelphia, where the heating season runs from October into April, that choice drives most of a unit's operating cost. Here is how heat pump and electric heat PTACs compare, and how to choose for your building.

How electric heat PTACs work

An electric heat PTAC uses a resistance heater, the same principle as a toaster. Electricity runs through a heating element, and a fan blows air across it. Every unit of electricity becomes one unit of heat. Engineers call that a coefficient of performance, or COP, of 1.

Electric heat is simple and reliable. It heats the same at 50°F outdoors as at 5°F. The cost is efficiency. It is the most expensive way to make heat with electricity.

Heat output depends on the heater size, and the heater size depends on the circuit. A unit on a 15 amp circuit has a smaller heater than one on a 30 amp circuit. If rooms run cold on the coldest nights, the circuit is often the limit.

How heat pump PTACs work

A heat pump PTAC runs its refrigeration cycle in reverse. Instead of moving heat from the room to the outdoors, it pulls heat from the outdoor air and moves it into the room. Even cold air holds usable heat.

Because the unit moves heat instead of making it, it delivers more heat than the electricity it uses. GE rates its AZHS heat pump models at a COP between about 3.3 and 4.1, depending on size and voltage. That means roughly three to four units of heat for each unit of electricity at rated conditions.

Heat pump output and efficiency drop as the outdoor temperature falls. Below a set point, the unit switches to its built-in electric heater. On GE's AZHS, that changeover happens around 25°F. GE's variable speed AZVS keeps the heat pump running down to 0°F outdoors.

What Philadelphia winters mean for the choice

Philadelphia winters are cold but not extreme. January is the coldest month, with average lows in the upper 20s. Cold snaps push temperatures into the teens or lower for a few days at a time. Most heating-season hours, from October through April, are well above 25°F.

That pattern favors heat pumps. A standard heat pump PTAC runs on its efficient heat pump cycle through fall, spring, and most of winter, and switches to electric heat only on the coldest nights. A variable speed heat pump stays on the heat pump cycle through nearly all of a Philadelphia winter.

The result is lower heating cost over the season compared to electric heat alone. How much lower depends on your electric rate, how the building is used, and how warm occupants keep their rooms.

When electric heat still makes sense

Heat pumps cost more up front. Electric heat units are the right choice in some cases:

Rooms that rarely need heat. Interior rooms, rooms with other heat sources, and spaces used mostly in summer.
One-off replacements on a tight budget. When a single unit fails and the building runs electric heat everywhere else.
Short ownership horizons. If the building is changing hands or the rooms are slated for renovation soon, the operating savings may not pay back the extra cost.

When a heat pump pays off

Rooms heated all winter. Hotels, apartments, senior housing, and dorms run heat for months.
Owner-paid electric. When the owner pays the electric bill, as in most hotels and many senior buildings, heating cost hits the operating budget directly.
Buildings already on heat pumps. Replacing a heat pump with an electric heat unit raises that room's heating cost. Match what you have.
Energy or sustainability goals. Heat pumps cut electricity use for heating and help properties working toward efficiency targets.

What about hydronic heat?

Many older Philadelphia buildings heat with hot water from a central boiler, and their PTACs carry a hot water coil instead of an electric heater. If that describes your building, the choice is different. A hydronic replacement keeps heating on the boiler, where it was designed to be. See Applied Comfort for hydronic replacements on standard and legacy sleeves.

Comfort differences

Electric heat delivers hot air quickly. Heat pump air feels a little cooler coming out of the unit, though it heats the room just as well. Some occupants notice the difference at first.

Fixed-speed units of either type cycle on and off, which causes small temperature swings and the familiar on-off noise. Variable speed heat pumps like the GE Zoneline AZVS run continuously at low output, which holds temperature steadier and runs quieter. In senior living and hotels, residents and guests notice that.

Electrical considerations

Heat pump PTACs still carry an electric heater for backup, so they need the same circuit as an electric heat unit of the same size. You can usually swap an electric heat unit for a heat pump on the same circuit and receptacle. Confirm the voltage and amperage before ordering. See the replacement guide for how to read your receptacle.

Making the choice

For most Philadelphia hotels, apartments, and senior buildings that heat with their PTACs all winter, a heat pump is the better long-term choice. For rooms that barely heat, or one-off replacements in an all-electric building, electric heat is fine.

Compare the options on the GE Zoneline page, which covers the AZES electric heat, AZHS heat pump, and AZVS variable speed series. Then request a quote with your model number, or call 800-866-1210 to talk through the choice.