Failure to Properly Seal and Install PTAC Units in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly install and seal packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs) in four out of eight resident rooms reviewed across three of four halls. In multiple rooms, the PTAC units were not aligned with the wall, resulting in gaps ranging from one to two inches at the top of the units. These gaps allowed daylight from the exterior to be visible from inside the rooms, and the insulation present was found to be crumbled or in poor condition. In one room, wet, soiled towels and sheets with brown stains were found underneath the PTAC unit, which was leaning inward and not sealed to the wall. During a facility tour with the Maintenance Director, Regional Maintenance Director, and the Administrator, it was confirmed that the PTAC units remained improperly installed and the gaps persisted. The maintenance staff indicated that the PTAC units had been removed and reinstalled recently to replace electrical cords, but only the middle screws were secured during reinstallation, leaving the units misaligned. The facility leadership was not previously aware of these issues until the surveyors' observations.