Replacing Discontinued McQuay PTAC Units

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

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McQuay stopped building PTAC units in 2014. More than a decade later, McQuay, Singer, and Remington units still run in apartment towers, hotels, and senior housing across the Philadelphia area. When one fails, the original manufacturer has no unit to sell you. You still have a clean replacement path.

What happened to the McQuay PTAC line

McQuay International, now Daikin Applied, built packaged terminal and through-the-wall units for more than 50 years. It sold them under several names: McQuay, Singer, Remington, and Climate Control. In March 2014, the company announced it was ending the PTAC line. The last day to order was March 31, 2014.

Daikin Applied continues to make other HVAC equipment, and parts for many McQuay products remain available through distributors. New McQuay PTAC chassis are not built.

Why a standard PTAC usually does not fit

Many McQuay series were not built on the 42 x 16 sleeve that most PTACs use today. Some were wider, some narrower, some used a different height or a sloped top, and the K series used a three-piece design. A current GE Zoneline or other 42 x 16 unit does not slide into those openings.

Many McQuay units in older buildings also heat with hot water from the building boiler. A standard electric PTAC changes how the room heats, which changes the building's heating plan and the residents' electric bills.

Identify your McQuay series

Read the nameplate on the existing unit. You find it on the chassis behind the front cover. See how to identify your existing PTAC model number for help locating it.

McQuay used many series designations over the years. Common ones in the field include PNES, ENH, and Series 16; PDAE, PMES, MEA, and EA; PKES, MEK, and K; PDHE, PMRS, and RS; and J series units. Hydronic models carry designations such as PDAA, PDHA, PDE, MQE, MQS, PDAN, PDAC, and PDNS.

Write down the full model number. The prefix tells the distributor the series and sleeve family. The rest tells capacity, voltage, and heat type.

If the nameplate is gone, measure the sleeve and photograph the unit. The sleeve dimensions and the chassis design usually identify the series.

Path one: a replacement chassis built to the McQuay sleeve

Applied Comfort builds PTAC chassis to the dimensions of discontinued McQuay series. The new chassis slides into the existing sleeve. The outdoor grille stays. The wall stays. The room is usually back in service the same day.

This path is the right choice when:

  • The building is occupied and wall work is disruptive
  • The existing sleeves are structurally sound
  • The facade or grilles cannot change, as in some historic properties
  • You replace units one at a time as they fail

Replacement chassis come in electric heat, heat pump, and hydronic versions. Hydronic replacements keep the coil in the same position, top or bottom, so the existing supply and return piping connects without rework.

See McQuay PTAC replacement and Applied Comfort for more detail.

Path two: convert to 42 x 16

Some owners choose to remove the McQuay sleeves and install standard sleeves. That means cutting or rebuilding each wall opening, installing new sleeves and grilles, and patching inside and out.

Conversion makes sense when:

  • The building is undergoing a gut renovation and rooms are already empty
  • The old sleeves are rusted through across the building
  • You want to switch from hydronic heat to electric or heat pump heat building-wide

Conversion costs more and takes longer per room. In occupied buildings, most owners choose the chassis-only path.

Voltage, controls, and heat source

A replacement chassis has to match more than the sleeve. Before you order, confirm:

  • Voltage. 208/230V or 265V, from the nameplate. Some McQuay units run 265V and are hardwired.
  • Circuit size. The breaker or circuit amperage, which limits electric heat output.
  • Controls. Unit-mounted controls or a wall thermostat. Some McQuay installations used a remote 24V thermostat.
  • Heat source. Electric, heat pump, or hydronic. For hydronic units, note whether the piping connects at the top or bottom, and what kind of valve the unit has.

Lead time and spares

Many legacy replacement chassis are built to order. If your building runs on McQuay units, a failure in January can mean a room without heat until the replacement arrives. Two habits prevent that:

  1. Keep one or two matching spare chassis on site.
  2. Survey the building now. List each room, the McQuay model, and the condition of the unit. Replace the worst units on a schedule instead of waiting for failures.

For a phased replacement across a building, read PTAC replacement planning for hotels and multi-unit buildings.

Parts for units you keep

Not every McQuay unit needs replacement right away. Some failures are a motor, a control board, or a fan, and a part keeps the unit running. Ask about parts availability for your series when you request a quote. Balance repair cost against the age of the unit. A 25-year-old chassis on its third major repair is usually a replacement candidate.

Next step

Send the McQuay model number, the sleeve dimensions, voltage, heat type, and quantity. Air Distributors has supplied replacements for discontinued McQuay units since the line ended in 2014. Request a quote or call 800-866-1210.

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