Preventing the computer room from overheating can help companies avoid significant downtime and costly losses.
Key Takeaways:
- A computer room houses many important components of business technology
- This equipment gets hot as it continuously runs
- Developing a permanent cooling solution is essential to your company’s survival
- Numerous commercial cooling options are available
The computer room is one of the most critical areas of an office building because it’s home to various pieces of vital equipment businesses use every day. Protecting that infrastructure is vital; it’s almost impossible to keep the business functioning without your computers up and running.
The first aspect you’ll need to focus on is cybersecurity. With more employees working from home than ever, protecting your data is essential. A breach could set your organization back significantly, leading to financial losses and reputation concerns.
You’ll also want to protect the tech equipment in your computer room. Your computers and servers should have a dedicated space with adequate ventilation, as this equipment can quickly overheat.
Here’s a look at why a computer room cooling system is critical to your business and some techniques for preventing this space from overheating.
What’s in a computer room?
The equipment inside an office’s computer room varies based on the business. However, if an office building has a dedicated computer space these devices are likely essential to the company’s day-to-day operations.
In many cases, these rooms will contain the servers the company uses for file storage and managing the organization’s network. It could also house printers, data banks, and network equipment.
Many of these devices run hot, so keeping the room as cool as possible is recommended. The computers will have fans to cool themselves internally, but they blow this warm air into the room, heating the entire space.
As a result, cooling the whole room is a priority, especially if the space is full of computer equipment.
The risks of an overheated computer room
Many things can go wrong if an organization fails to keep its computer room cool enough. Unlike other parts of the building, a hot computer room isn’t a comfort issue. Overheated computer equipment could stop working, costing the company a great deal of lost time and money.
The company could experience increased network downtime as devices begin shutting down because of the excessive heat. If this happens in the evening or on a weekend when no one is around to reset the network, it could lead to slowdowns as remote employees are unable to complete their work. In fact, 91% of corporations say an hour of network downtime costs them at least $300,000.
An overheating computer room could slow operating speeds even if the equipment doesn’t shut down entirely. Some components might not be available as the room reaches dangerous temperatures, causing problems throughout the organization. Random freezes and shutdowns could also become an issue.
Data loss is another problem you’ll have to worry about if you store information on-site and your hard drives begin crashing. This information could be vital to the company as a whole, so data loss is a risk you don’t want to take.
Eventually, your overheating computer room could cause the entire computer system and network to crash and fail, sinking your business along with it. This scenario could ruin your reputation in your industry, and the cost of replacing the entire system could be prohibitive.
Investing in an adequate cooling system prevents this from occurring, ultimately saving you a great deal of time, money, and stress.
How to cool a computer room
Keeping your computer room cool involves creating an environment with adequate air circulation. Air circulation is vital because it removes hot, humid air from the room, reducing the overall temperature.
Even if your building has a top-notch HVAC system, additional cooling technology will be necessary. At the very least, you’ll want dedicated climate controls for your computer room to keep it cooler than what is comfortable in the rest of the building.
You also don’t want to risk a staff member changing the building’s thermostat setting on a chilly day, increasing the computer room’s temperature in the process.
The easiest way to avoid this issue is to install a computer-room-specific cooling system. You’ll want to set up this system on a separate breaker, protecting it from building-wide power outages, and outfit the room with heat sensors that will alert staff when the area reaches a critical temperature.
The climate control system you select could depend on your budget and the building’s existing infrastructure. The most straightforward cooling method is a wall-mounted mini-split system that blows cool air directly into the room. You could also opt for a roof-mounted air conditioning unit that runs through your ductwork. Keep in mind that you’ll need a separate duct system for your computer room if you go this route.
You can also choose between air chiller and water chiller climate-control systems. The unit you choose will likely depend on your preferences and the building’s design.
Water-cooled chillers are typically more efficient because they condense at a lower temperature than air-cooled chillers. They have a refrigeration loop and a chilled-water loop, which they use to transfer heat from the computer room to a cooling tower.
Air-cooled chillers work similarly to water-cooled systems but they require less maintenance, are better for the environment, and don’t bring flooding and mold risks. They’re simpler systems, but not as efficient.
Speak with an expert to determine the best cooling system for your situation. The goal is to protect your vital computer equipment from overheating, so you don’t want to cut corners when deciding on a solution.
Installing your computer room cooling system
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a computer room cooling system, so you’ll want to look over your options carefully. A professional contractor will examine your building’s setup and existing infrastructure to assist you in making a decision.
Universal Electrical Services provides computer room cooling solutions for businesses in South Florida. We can help as you select a contractor to upgrade your computer room cooling system while ensuring the electrical work is completed to the highest standard. Contact Universal Electrical Services today for a free quote.
