If server room temperatures are too high, the system will overheat and information stored on servers could be lost forever. Plus, the actual servers can overheat to the point they break down completely. This is a costly problem you want to avoid. In order to do so, it’s paramount that your server room stays at the right temperature.
The ideal temperature for your server room varies based on a few different things. In general, temperatures should not fall below 50 °F or rise above 82 °F. Optimal temperatures range between 68° and 71°. Within that range, there are a variety of opinions regarding the best temperature for server rooms. For instance, The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers recommend keeping temperatures between 77° and 81 °F, based upon the facility.
Conserving Energy In Server Rooms
Experts agree that servers and computing equipment account for the majority of the world’s electricity consumption, but the cooling systems used to regulate temperatures of server rooms hog up even more energy. That’s why it’s so important to take into account energy efficiency when determining the best temperature for your server room. It’s all about finding the right balance between the ideal temperature for your technology without incurring sky-high electricity bills and further harming the environment.
For this very reason, Google admits to keeping their server rooms as warm as 80°. That may seem rather warm to some. Especially considering data center expert Don Beaty told Data Center Knowledge that the average server room temperature falls somewhere between 73° and 75°.
While servers will chug along just fine down to 50 °F, it would cost way too much money to keep temperatures this low year-round. The goal is to pick the warmest temperature you can get away with while still preserving servers so that they are in no danger of overheating.
Important Factors That Determine Cooling Needs For Your Server Room
Data centers big and small are responsible for storing unimaginable amounts of sensitive data and mission-critical applications. All of this data processing and storing requires a lot of energy, which creates a lot of heat. Server machinery can get incredibly hot. When kept in a hot environment, servers are sure to overheat and potentially cause the loss of vital information. Yet, some server rooms require more cooling power and lower temperatures than others.
There are a few factors that determine how cool your server room should be at all times. Starting with, how big is the server room? The bigger the room and the more servers packed inside, the greater the production of heat. On the other hand, if you have the same amount of servers in a larger room it will produce less heat because servers are less compacted. Which brings us to the next matter of importance, how many servers do you have? More servers equal more power/heat, which equals the need for more cooling.
Airflow is key to keeping temperatures lower without blasting the AC quite as much. Adding some fans, or keeping a window open (depending on the weather) may help maintain greater airflow without keeping the thermostat as low.
What If My Central AC System Isn’t Able To Cool Off The Server Room?
It’s not uncommon for a central AC system to lack the necessary power to keep server rooms at optimal temperatures. In order to combat this challenge, many companies add one or more portable AC units to server rooms.
In the instance that your normal HVAC system stops working, or is simply not powerful enough to cool your server room, we have the perfect portable spot cooling units for server rooms big and small. We have spot coolers, air conditioners, air-cooled chillers, cooling towers and air handlers for rent and sale. Depending on your needs, the right device for you will vary. Contact us today for personalized assistance.
If your regular HVAC system encounters an issue, for instance the thermometer breaks, you’ll need to have a backup system in place immediately. Even 1 hour is too long for your server room to chug away without proper air conditioning. You don’t want to risk overheating of machinery, there’s far too much at stake. In this instance, renting a device is likely the most affordable option. On the other hand, if you need to add a permanent portable AC to your server room, it likely makes more financial sense to purchase it.
Cooling Power is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, that means we are always available to deliver the energy solutions you need when you need them most. Our trained technicians take care of everything from sizing and specifications to delivery and installation. Plus, we can help you decide if it’s more cost effective to rent or buy equipment.