Especially when you’re in a place like we’re in – Florida – fighting excess heat in server rooms can always seem like a never-ending battle. And it’s an important fight, too! If it gets too hot, you can seriously damage your equipment – costing you hundreds – if not thousands of dollars not only in equipment replacement, but also lost productivity.
So today, we’re going to share some tips with you on how you can keep your server room’s temperature under control. Let’s jump right in!
The basics
Most technology experts recommend that you keep your server room between 64-80 degrees. Humidity should be right around 45-50%. So the first thing you’re going to want to do is check on your room and see if it falls in that range and then act accordingly. If the temperature is high, then it’s going to be time to bring the temperature down as it can significantly impact the lifespan of your equipment.
Check your airflow
Spaces that have poor airflow tend to have more extreme temperatures. Does A/C flow through your server room? Is the space tight and constricted? Is equipment poorly laid out (we’ll get to this)? Just having better airflow alone should dramatically improve conditions.
Design and layout of your system
We recommend alternating aisles of hot and cold equipment. So one has cooler equipment, the other has equipment that generates heat, etc. This is important because it allows the hot air to disperse more evenly and cool the temperature. This way, you’re avoiding hot air becoming trapped.
Keep your server room exclusive
One of the best things you can do is make sure that your server room is only a server room. Not something tucked in the back corner of the office kitchen or something else. This also prevents people from storing other items that can create obstructions and restrict airflow.
Getting creative
If you don’t have AC running into the room or some sort of other temperature controlling device, then you might want to make an investment in one – whether it’s a portable air conditioner or full-blown HVAC install. While some people might balk at the idea initially, it’s worth it when you measure it up against the alternative (failure and lost productivity).
At the end of the day, while layout, planning and proper precautions are all necessary – they’re no replacement for your simply being more attentive to your system. That means monitoring it more, having the system upgraded and maintained regularly and the like.
If you need help getting the temperatures down in your server room, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!