Last Updated on August 13, 2025
Having the right cooling equipment is essential to keep your employees safe and comfortable. In addition to staff comfort, heat and humidity can affect your equipment and products, as well. When you need temporary or portable cooling, comparing the pros and cons of renting vs. buying a temporary air conditioner (AC) can help you make the best choice.
Do I Need a Temporary Air Conditioner?
Every facility needs relief from heat and humidity at some point. Commercial operations, like food processing or pharmaceutical manufacturing, need to maintain optimal temperatures in every square foot of the building to keep their products safe. Businesses need staff to stay focused. Even summer music festivals need a cooled space, like a medical tent, to help concertgoers avoid heat stroke.
You might need temporary AC and climate control if:
- Your main climate control system is offline for repairs or maintenance. What would happen if your central AC system went down for an extended period? Or during the height of a summer heat wave? Staff might be less productive. Product could spoil. Or equipment might overheat. Or, you may need to pause operations entirely. Without a backup temporary AC unit, the costly delays will add up quickly.
- The project site doesn’t have climate controls. Portable AC units can help keep teams and materials cool, even if the site doesn’t have central AC yet. These solutions are especially helpful for construction sites, old buildings and unfinished new builds.
- A heatwave is putting too much strain on your current system. If your facility is large or contains a lot of sensitive equipment, your central AC system may not be able to keep up with the added strain of a heatwave. Temporary climate control solutions add much needed support.
- You need to mitigate hotspots or maintain worker safety and material quality. Even without a heatwave, some facilities will have rooms or areas that are hotter than others. The main AC system might not be able to reach these spots to adequately maintain the temperature. Using spot coolers can help.
Types of Temporary Air Conditioner Solutions
Think your facility is too big (or small) for a portable AC unit? Think again. There are many sizes and types of temporary air conditioning solutions available.
- 5- to 25-Ton Commercial AC Units: These units are the standard for most commercial environments, like retail stores, warehouses or disaster relief sites. They require a three-phase power supply and ductwork.
- 40- to 80-Ton Industrial AC Units: These large industrial units are designed to meet the needs of large, heavy-duty industrial facilities. Many models have features that allow them to adapt to changing operating needs, such as precise temperature control.
- 1- to 12-Ton Portable AC Units: Often known as spot coolers, these small, portable machines are perfect for smaller jobs that lack the necessary connections, space and ducts that commercial or industrial units require. They can also include heating capabilities for year-round comfort.
- Vertical AC Units: Vertical AC units are commercial-sized units designed for limited floor space. If you need 20 to 30 tons of cooling but have limited space, these units are ideal.
- Water-Cooled AC Units: Unlike regular spot coolers, water-cooled AC units don’t require ductwork. Since they use water to cool the air, they don’t create a lot of extra heat, making them great for rooms with high heat loads, like data centers.
Remember, temporary air conditioners are categorized by how many tons of cooling capacity they have. When you’re looking for the right size portable air conditioning unit, consider your space’s total square footage and if there’s room for heat exhaust ducting.
What Are the Pros of Renting a Temporary Air Conditioner?
Renting portable AC units offers a flexible solution when you need to cool your facility. You can rent the equipment for flexible lengths of time to suit your situation.
Benefits of Renting
Renting temporary air conditioning solutions from a reliable equipment rental provider has many benefits, including the following.
- No Maintenance: A high-quality rental company will handle all the maintenance on temporary cooling equipment, freeing your teams up to stay focused on their jobs. You get well-maintained equipment without any added hassle.
- Controlled Costs: Temporary cooling equipment can be expensive. Renting offers a more affordable option without the large up-front investment. You know how much it costs to rent and can budget for that ongoing expense while you need the equipment.
- Support When You Need It: Partnering with a knowledgeable, high-quality provider means you’ll always have someone to call if something isn’t working right.
- Expert Equipment Selection: No one wants to feel like they’re paying for more than they need or feel like they’re left wanting. A reliable rental company can help you determine what equipment is best for your unique environment and demands.
- No Long-Term Storage Hassle: If your cooling needs are temporary or seasonal, renting an AC unit means you won’t have to deal with long-term storage of the equipment. You can rent it for however long you need it and then return it. When storage space is at a premium, this can be a major perk since some cooling units are quite large.
- No Maintenance: A high-quality rental company will handle all the maintenance on temporary cooling equipment, freeing your teams up to stay focused on their jobs. You get well-maintained equipment without any added hassle.
- Controlled Costs: Temporary cooling equipment can be expensive. Renting offers a more affordable option without the large up-front investment. You know how much it costs to rent and can budget for that ongoing expense while you need the equipment.
- Support When You Need It: Partnering with a knowledgeable, high-quality provider means you’ll always have someone to call if something isn’t working right.
- Expert Equipment Selection: No one wants to feel like they’re paying for more than they need or feel like they’re left wanting. A reliable rental company can help you determine what equipment is best for your unique environment and demands.
- No Long-Term Storage Hassle: If your cooling needs are temporary or seasonal, renting an AC unit means you won’t have to deal with long-term storage of the equipment. You can rent it for however long you need it and then return it. When storage space is at a premium, this can be a major perk since some cooling units are quite large.
- Access to Latest Technology: Climate control solutions are always evolving to be more energy efficient and effective while keeping up with changing climates and regulations. When you rent, you don’t have to worry about old, inefficient machinery. Renting gives you access to the newest equipment and technology without the costs and hassle of upgrading your old equipment.
Cons of Renting
It’s also important to consider the potential disadvantages of renting temporary air conditioning, such as the following.
- You Don’t Own the Unit: While the up-front costs of renting are much lower and more affordable than buying an AC unit, you don’t own the equipment. For many, this isn’t a big deal, especially since ownership comes with the responsibility of maintaining, storing or transporting the unit and handling any upgrades.
- Long-Term Rentals May Not Be Cost-Effective: If you need the portable air conditioner for many months or years, you could end up paying a lot in rental fees. However, with renting, you get ongoing support and save on maintenance. Plus, it’s also often easier to budget for an affordable monthly payment rather than the full, upfront cost of expensive equipment.
Why Buy a Temporary Air Conditioner?
An alternative to renting climate control equipment is buying it. Like renting, having full ownership of the temporary air conditioner comes with some advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits of Buying
Reasons to consider buying your cooling equipment include:
- You Have Full Ownership of the Unit: Buying a temporary air conditioner means you own the equipment. It’s there for your use whenever you need it. This could be especially beneficial in an emergency or during periods of high demand for AC rentals.
- Potentially Lower Long-Term Costs: You could save money long-term if you buy the equipment. These savings are more likely if you plan to use the unit continuously over a long period of time or want to recoup some of the costs when you resell the unit. To decide if buying is more cost effective, don’t forget to factor in the long-term maintenance, repairs and storage costs.
Cons of Buying
When you buy a temporary AC unit, you’ll have to manage the following drawbacks.
- High Upfront Investment: Buying large commercial cooling units requires substantial upfront investment. If you finance the purchase, you’re increasing your total investment even more.
- Ongoing Maintenance Responsibilities: When you own the AC unit, you’re responsible for all maintenance and upkeep of the equipment. This can be expensive and add to the workload of your maintenance team.
- Storage and Transport Hassles: If you’re using the equipment temporarily, you’ll need to store it when it’s not in use. Finding a storage spot for large pieces of equipment isn’t always easy. Plus, for large commercial or industrial units, you’ll need additional equipment to transport and lift the unit into place safely.
- Extra Downtime If the Unit Breaks: What happens if the portable AC unit shows an error code? Will your team be able to fix it? Without the support of a quality rental provider, breakdowns could result in expensive service calls or lots of downtime while you secure a qualified repair team.
Keep Cool with a Temporary Air Conditioner Rental from Herc Rentals
If you want exceptional cooling without ongoing hassles and the expense of ownership, then renting temporary air conditioning units from Herc Rentals is an ideal solution. Our extensive fleet has temporary air conditioner rentals of every size ready to go for your next facility or project. They’re easy to install and have the features you need to keep cool.
At Herc Rentals, we understand the value of convenience and confidence. Every AC unit undergoes complete diagnostics and maintenance before it arrives at your site.
Browse our wide selection of climate control solutions or call us at 888-610-4583 to speak to an expert today.
