What You Should Know Before Renting Temporary A/C

It’s getting warmer outside and that means air conditioning systems will be working vigorously to keep you cool inside.

Eventually, your air conditioning system will break down and you’ll need a repair. But what happens if you can’t wait for help to arrive and you need a temporary unit to hold you over? The following are some tips to help you get the most out of your temporary A/C rental.

Understand Your Cooling Need

Before you make that call to a rental company like Herc Rentals, which provides cooling solutions for small rooms up to large warehouses and more, you need to determine the purpose of your A/C rental, how long you’ll need it on rent, and if it will be used indoors or outdoors. Do you need a primary cooling source during a construction job? Do you need supplemental cooling during a heatwave? Are you looking just to spot cool small areas instead of a large space?

Space Your Place

Before you rent temporary air conditioning, you need to know how much space you want to be cooled. The best measurement to know is the total cubic feet you need covered. While the area of a room is helpful, multiplying by the room’s height gives rental companies a better idea of how much volume is needed. You’ll also want to decide if you need multiple rooms cooled or if it’s just one open area.  Also critical to proper sizing is how many people will be in the area to be cooled.

Know Your Power Source

Understanding your electrical outlets is an important part of the A/C rental process. While a 1 Ton unit can be plugged into a standard 115V 15 amp outlet, a 1.2 Ton requires a 115V 20 amp accommodating socket, while 2 to 5 Ton portables will require 208/230/460 Single or 3-Phase power.  Before you place your order, try to verify the voltage and phase of the available power.  If unable to verify, the Herc Rentals customer service representative will ask the Herc Rentals technician — once on the jobsite — to verify the available voltage and match to the correct air conditioner. 

Keep It Ventilated

Portable air conditioning exhausts a good volume of warm air as part of the cooling process. This hot air is typically ducted out of the space being cooled to a window, into a drop ceiling, or through a wall. Knowing your options in advance will help the rental company determine the best ducting options.  If it is not possible to duct the hot air out of the space being cooled (think vaulted ceiling), Herc Rentals offers water cooled air conditioners which don’t require exhausting of warm air.  Ask your Herc Rentals representative for more details.

How About Some Elbow Room?

If the space you want to be cooled is tight, you’ll want to know the size of the unit you’ll be renting. This is especially important if you need to maintain some open space for maintaining walkways. When calling a rental company, be sure to tell them if you have any space limitations or if the unit has to be taken up a flight of stairs.

The More Info You Provide, the Better

Don’t forget to share any other important information about the space you need to be cooled.  Some questions to consider:

  • Are there windows in the room? If so, how many?
  • How many people are working in the space?
  • Do you have a lot of electronic equipment in the space?

Understanding what questions to ask now will help ensure your space is cooled efficiently and effectively. Read more.

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