15
Products Tested
35
Hours of Research
52
Reviews Examined
Last Updated on May 17, 2023
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A server room is an integral part of a modern office structure, housing the entire network servers of an organization. These heavy-duty computing machines are responsible for upholding a business’s entire digital structure and operating around the clock.
Naturally, they produce a lot of heat that can result in malfunctioning, frequent failures, crashes, or shutdowns if left unchecked.
This is why server room air conditions exist – to ensure that these server rooms continue to operate seamlessly. Choosing the right air conditioner for cooling a server room can be tricky, given the abundance of options.
This is why we have reviewed the best server room air conditioners to help you make the right choice.
Quick Guide – Our Top Picks
Best Mini Split For Server Rooms
Senville
SENA-18MO-209
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling
4.5
Value
4.0
Our Score
4.3
Best Portable Server Room AC
Tripp Lite
SRCOOL18k
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling
4.0
Value
4.5
Our Score
4.3
Best Wall Mount Server Rack AC
Tripp Lite
SRCOOL2KWM
Ease of Use
4.0
Cooling
5.0
Value
4.5
Our Score
4.5
7 Best Server Room Air Conditioning Units Reviewed
When cooling a room full of computer servers, it’s important to get the right AC for your needs. The ones below are currently the best ones on the market and the entire HVAC industry.
1 - Senville SENA-18MO-209 – Best Mini Split For Server Rooms
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling Ability
4.5
Value for Money
4.0
Overall Rating
4.3
If you’re looking to cool a large area (more than 750 sq ft), you require an efficient and high-performance air conditioning device. Well, your search ends here – presenting, Senville SENA-18MO-209 – the best dual zone air conditioner.
This model has a cooling capacity of 18000 BTU and can cool large server rooms that span 750-1250 sq ft effortlessly. This is why we have termed this dual-zone machine as the best cooling machine for large server rooms.
Unlike APC server room air conditioner, Senville SENA-18MO-209 is an Energy Star certified unit, which means you don’t have to worry about paying huge electricity bills. Instead, it can save you about 50 percent of your total energy costs every year. One of many features that make Senville popular.
Moreover, thanks to its ultra-inverter technology, it provides instant cooling to the room at 75% efficiency. This translates to efficient performance with additional cost savings.
What we particularly liked about this AC is that it gives you the authority to control the temperature of different sections of your room evenly. In other words, it includes several air handlers that allow you to set the desired temperature of your room with even-distribution of cold, fresh air.
With seven years of comprehensive compressor warranty and a two-year parts warranty, the Senville SENA-18MO-209 is undoubtedly the best server room cooling device currently available.
BTU Rating | 18000 |
Energy Efficiency | 12.5 |
Coverage Area | 750 – 1200 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 24.5 dB |
Installation Type | Professional Installation |
Pros
Cons
2 - Tripp Lite SRCOOL18k – Best Portable Server Room Air Conditioner
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling Ability
4.0
Value for Money
4.5
Overall Rating
4.3
If you want an efficient and affordable air conditioner for a small server room, choose Tripp Lite SRCOOL18k.
Its 18000 BTU cooling capacity and extreme portability enable it to provide instant cooling to small rooms and prevent equipment malfunctions, failures, and shutdowns resulting from temperature fluctuations and overheating.
This is why we’ve labeled Tripp Lite as the best portable air conditioner for server room on our list.
In addition to that, this AC comes in multiple sizes, such as 7000 BTU, 12,000 BTU, and 24,000 BTU. You can choose one according to your room size and the number of computer servers it has.
This best portable AC for server room isn’t just restricted to cooling, but it also dehumidifies and filters the room’s air, ensuring increased equipment performance. Moreover, its flexible dual ducts provide cool air to places that need it most; this includes overheated rack cabinets or hot spots.
What we particularly liked about Tripp Lite is its close-coupled cooling that removes hot air and delivers cold air where required. This feature reduces the unit’s running cost and saves you an ample amount of money on bills.
We classify the Tripp Lite as the best server room portable air conditioner for small spaces because of its compact size, allowing it to fit into an area as little as 4 sq ft.
With its enhanced cooling power, convenient operations, and advanced network management, it is one of the best air conditioner for server room to choose from.
BTU Rating | 18000 |
Energy Efficiency | 16 |
Coverage Area | 700 – 1000 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 65 dB |
Installation Type | Easy |
Pros
Cons
3 - Tripp Lite SRCOOL2KWM – Best Wall Mount Server Rack AC
Ease of Use
4.0
Cooling Ability
5.0
Value for Money
4.5
Overall Rating
4.5
If you’re looking for an affordable yet efficient server rack air conditioner to cool your devices from overheating, your search stops with Tripp Lite SRCOOL2KWM server closet air conditioner. It’s the answer to your needs!
This server room wall-mounted air conditioner not only provides increased cooling but also saves you floor area, which can be a daunting problem for smaller rooms with computer servers.
Besides providing adequate cooling, this device also dehumidifies and filters the air through the server rack’s side panel or front door. This way, it increases the equipment’s performance and keeps them from frequent shutdowns and other malfunctions caused by excess heating.
Thanks to this unit’s close-coupled cooling that removes warm air and replaces it with cold air, you can reduce the operational cost by a margin and conserve energy.
Moreover, it has an easy-to-operate control panel that allows you to schedule unattended restarts, shutdowns, and temperature control. You can also use it as an emergency backup unit as well.
We particularly liked the Tripp Lite server room AC because it’s simple to install; you can even do it yourself.
Plus, the server mount air conditioner is eco-friendly and doesn’t contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer!
BTU Rating | 2000 |
Energy Efficiency | 7.3 |
Coverage Area | 60 – 80 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 55 dB |
Installation Type | Easy installation |
Pros
Cons
4 - Pioneer WYS012A-19 – Smallest Ductless Server Room Air Conditioner
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling Ability
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
Overall Rating
4.2
If you’re looking for a high-quality ductless air conditioner but don’t have enough space in the server room, choose Pioneer Air Conditioner WYS012A-19.
This electrical appliance is energy-efficient and comes with a 19 SEER rating, which means while the device effortlessly cools your server racks, it also saves you a considerable chunk of money throughout the year.
This Pioneer model is more than just a cooling device – it also provides heating, ventilation, and dehumidification. This boosts the server’s performance and prevents frequent equipment failures, malfunctions, or shutdowns due to the varying temperature.
Although it’s energy-efficient, it doesn’t compromise on its cooling capabilities. The 12000 BTU of cooling capacity makes Pioneer mini split one of the best small server room air conditioner units on the market.
Moreover, it is ultra-quiet during operation and is ETL approved, which means you won’t have to worry about performance hazards as it complies with all essential safety standards.
Plus, it includes a reusable filter (along with various enhanced filter choices) and easy to operate remote control for enhanced user convenience.
BTU Rating | 12000 |
Energy Efficiency | 14 |
Coverage Area | 500 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 55 dB |
Installation Type | Simple installation |
Pros
Cons
5. KwiKool KIB6023 – Best Large Portable Unit For Server Room
Ease of Use
4.0
Cooling Ability
5.0
Value for Money
3.5
Overall Rating
4.2
Are you looking for a high-powered portable air conditioner for your large room? Equipped with a power of 60,000 BTU and a coverage area of 2000 sq ft, the KwiKool KIB6023 fits the bill.
With its balanced venting system, full-featured design, and highly sensible cooling, this KwiKool portable AC unit for server room is the best model in terms of instant cooling.
It’s also the reason why we have labeled this model as the best large portable AC for server rooms.
It offers two different operations that you can choose from. Up first is the short-term operation, which automatically shuts off once the large water tank (with a total capacity of 5 gallons of water) gets filled.
And secondly, the continuous operation, where it keeps performing without a pause due to its internal pump. This function allows it to pump water out of the model.
The cooling operation will only stop if there’s an issue with the drain hose or the pump. Otherwise, it continues cooling the server racks.
This enhances your server equipment’s performance by preventing recurring shutdowns, failures, and malfunctions triggered by heating.
Moreover, it also features an auto-restart function that allows you to return to previous room settings if you lose power. Plus, it’s an ETL certified model, which means it’s safe to use and highly efficient.
BTU Rating | 60000 |
Energy Efficiency | 11.6 |
Coverage Area | 2000 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 74 dB |
Installation Type | Professional installation |
Pros
Cons
6 - De’Longhi 3-In-1 Portable Air Conditioner, Dehumidifier & Fan
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling Ability
4.5
Value for Money
4.0
Overall Rating
4.3
If you want an AC with increased portability and efficiency for your computer servers, choose De’Longhi portable air conditioners!
With the ability to cool, fan, and dehumidify, this is the best small, versatile AC for serves covering 700 sq ft of area or less. It provides non-stop cooling to your rack servers with its remarkable cooling capacity of 14000 BTU.
In fact, this is one of the few small AC units that checks the indoor temperature by measuring humidity, temperature, drying, and cooling first and then provides you with the ideal room atmosphere.
It does this by using its smart sensing technology. This technology uses Bluetooth monitoring for measuring room temperature and providing the perfect cooling.
Through its advanced SMART remote, you can set a default room temperature for your rack cabinets.
Moreover, it comes with a sound level of 4 decibels only, which means it’s super quiet during operation.
This is because De’Longhi portable air conditioner is fitted with the Arctic Whisper known to decrease 50% of a unit’s sound level.
It also has a unique real feel feature that can automatically adjust the room temperature for enhanced cooling while conserving 30% energy.
Related Article – Troubleshoot Common DeLonghi Portable AC Issues
BTU Rating | 14000 |
Energy Efficiency | Not Specified |
Coverage Area | 700 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 4 dB |
Installation Type | Easy installation |
Pros
Cons
7 - Movincool – Best Ceiling Mounted Air Conditioner
Ease of Use
4.0
Cooling Ability
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
Overall Rating
4.0
If you’re looking for an efficient way to provide cooling to your rack server but don’t have enough server room space, the MovinCool 115v is the perfect AC for you.
With this MovinCool model, you don’t have to make any space in your room since it can be mounted easily on the ceiling. It has exhaust and intake flanges attached to the ceiling ducts to ensure higher cooling.
The device has a cooling capacity of 10,500 BTU and a 9.3 SEER rating. This means that your rack servers will get ideal cooling resulting in increased performance and less susceptibility to malfunctions due to excess heating.
It also saves you plenty of money on utility bills.
We particularly liked this model because it’s energy-efficient and provides the desired cooling to ensure optimal performance without taking a considerable floor room. That’s why we have labeled MovinCool as the best ceiling mounted server room air conditioner in our AC reviews.
Moreover, you can control the room temperature using its off-the-rack thermostat. It also has an auto-shutoff feature that allows it to turn off once the required setting is achieved, which you can control it through its embedded fire alarm panel.
BTU Rating | 10500 |
Energy Efficiency | 8.5 |
Coverage Area | 400 sq ft |
Noise Levels | 52 dB |
Installation Type | Easy floor mount installation |
Pros
Cons
Server Room ACs Compared
EER = Energy Efficiency
How To Choose An Air Conditioner For Server Rooms
Coverage Area
One of the most important factors that you need to consider before making a purchase is the server room’s coverage area. The type of AC you need to buy depends on the room size and the amount of heat generated. You can utilize an air conditioner BTU calculator for server room to know how many BTUs you need.
However, to give you an understanding, here’re a few recommended coverage areas with appropriate cooling capacities:
Installation Requirements
vent their hot/warm air while cooling the indoors. The air vents out using the unit’s exhaust hose and can be released through the window, ceiling, wall, or the server room’s sliding glass doors.
It is crucial to ensure that whatever outlet you use to vent out air is vacuum-sealed to protect the machinery’s integrity. These units also come in dual or single-hose to provide effective cooling by venting warm air produced by the servers and drawing fresh air insides to cool.
Additionally, if the air conditioner has a dehumidifying feature, you also need to consider how it deals with the moisture build-up. Different air conditioning units have various methods to deal with moisture, such as fully evaporative, partially evaporative, drain hose, condensate pipe, or buckets.
Besides that, you need to make sure the power system you have meets the unit’s needs. Generally, AC systems that have a cooling capacity below 15000 BTU functions on a 120v circuit. On the contrary, large AC units, such as central air conditioning models, come with a cooling capacity above 15000 BTU require a circuit around the 230-240v range.
Related Article – What are the Venting Options for a Portable AC?
Portability
Portability includes many variables, such as weight and server room air conditioner sizing. You need to move the AC to where it’s needed the most (rack servers).
Mobility also allows you to prevent the AC from leaking water on the floor and around the equipment. When looking for a small portable AC, remember to check for wheels on the model you are considering.
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is the measurement of an air conditioner’s energy efficiency level. A higher efficiency level means the device uses less energy. In other words, the higher the EER rating of AC models, the more energy you save.
What’s significant to bear in mind is that the EER ratings measure an air conditioner’s efficiency at the one standardized operating temperature, i.e., 95°F.
Generally, an AC with a 12 EER or higher is considered energy efficient. Thus, always aim for a higher EER rating AC to ensure adequate cooling in less power.
Related Article – How Many Watts Does My Portable AC Use?
Noise Levels (DBA)
Irrespective of which type of air conditioning system you use, all air conditioners produce a little sound. Wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, spot cooling, or commercial grade – they do make some noise while operating.
Although there are many options when it comes to quiet portable ACs, they can sometimes emit a recurring sound that the model generates is often termed as background noise. This noise is easy to ignore when the AC is new, but it increases as it depreciates.
This noise level is measured in decibels. Typically, any AC unit within the range of 50 to 60 decibels is quiet enough for everyday usage.
Related Article – Can I Make a Noisy Portable AC Quieter?
Air Filters
Air filtration is a key function of every air conditioner. This technology is responsible for removing dust, dirt, odor, allergens, mold, and bacteria from the room to ensure clean, cool, and fresh air.
There are several different types of air filters used in air conditioners. Some of the widely used types include washable or reusable filters (stronger cloth-based material and relatively cheap), fiberglass filters (can only be used once), or pleated filters (polyester material).
Normally, AC air filters are equipped with a self-clean function that keeps it dust-free on the inside. This further helps it provides optimal performance.
Related Article – Best AC Filters Reviewed
Performance Features
Here are some performance features you should also look for in your AC:
Price Vs. Budget
Lastly, you may want to consider the price of the air conditioner you intend to buy and your budget.
There are various air conditioning systems available in the market that can effectively cater to your server room’s cooling requirements. You can find an efficient AC for anywhere between $500 to $9000.
However, you need to keep in mind that an air conditioner’s price will vary according to the number of features, its cooling capacity, and the room size. Thus, it is important to consider these elements before making a purchase.
Why Air Conditioners Are Necessary For Server Rooms
Rooms with computer servers require adequate cooling to keep the room temperature cool and prevent it from excess heating.
Consistent overheating can damage your equipment beyond repair. Your business operations may be disrupted entirely without a functioning room in addition to the hefty replacement cost.
As the backbone of your network infrastructure, they must continue to operate smoothly. That is why buying effective and efficient air conditioners are not a matter of if, but when.
Related Article – How Does a Portable AC Work?
How Much Cooling Is Needed For Server Rooms And Data Centers?
You need to consider many factors to calculate air conditioner size for server room and data centers. Believe it or not, sizing a server room air conditioner is crucial if you want proper cooling and functional equipment. These factors are:
Once you have all the BTUs, add them up or place them into a server room AC calculator. This way, you will know how much cooling capacity is required for the room and data center.
Related Article – Find Out What Size of Air Conditioner is Perfect for You
Types Of Cooling Systems For Server Rooms
There are various air conditioning systems that you can choose from based on the size and the amount of heat produced in your room.
Spot Cooling AC Systems
Spot cooling AC systems are highly desirable for small server rooms. These portable ACs can be put close to the rack servers, closets, or any other place where it is needed most.
You should choose it if you want to cool high-priority small server rooms in a shorter period.
Wall Mounted AC Units
Wall-mounted ACs are another popular type that you can opt for, especially if you have medium-to-large server rooms.
Also known as ductless, mini-split air conditioners – these units deliver server rooms with easy, uniform, and most-efficient cooling without any added hassle or expense.
Ceiling/Cassette ACs
Another type of cooling system you can choose for the server room is the ceiling/cassette air conditioning system. What’s unique about this system is that it’s mounted on the server room’s ceiling instead of the floor or wall.
Many IT professionals prefer this type of cooling system for their server rooms since they don’t acquire any floor space and provide adequate cooling for the entire room.
Commercial Grade AC Units
Commercial Grade air conditioners are some of the most popular cooling systems for server rooms and other high-demand commercial uses. Not only do they provide sufficient cooling, but they also offer heating and dehumidification, which can improve servers’ performance and efficiency.
Liebert’s Mini Mate and PDX are some of the most sought-after commercial grades ACs because they provide increased cooling with dehumidification and air filtration.
Consider them and other Liebert server room AC units if you want instant cooling.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What happens if a server room overheats?
An overheating server room can corrupt your programs, meltdown heat-sensitive CPU components, and damage your devices. In short, it can cause irreparable damage to your business.
Can I keep a portable air conditioner running continuously?
Yes, you can. There’s no trouble in keeping your portable AC running continuously. In fact, the problem arises when it keeps switching between on and off.
Do portable ACs need to be drained?
Since portable air conditioners use the condensation system, it drains water through its vent hose alongside warm air.
Related Article – How Often Do I Need to Drain My Portable AC?
What does self-evaporative technology mean?
It means the self-evaporating portable AC unit releases water through the exhaust hose using condensation without requiring help with draining or emptying the bucket.
What type of maintenance is required with server room AC units?
Though server room ACs require little maintenance and effort, to ensure optimal performance, you need to wipe their air filters, drain it (if necessary), and check if they’re installed properly.
Related Article – Learn How to Clean a Portable AC
How much will it cost to run air conditioners for a server room?
Although AC running costs may vary from unit to unit depending on the size, model, and cooling capacity – a server room air conditioner’s average running cost is $600-$3000 per year.
Where can I buy these server room ACs?
You can buy an AC for your server room from your nearest air conditioning solutions store. However, If you’re looking for impressive server room AC deals, check Amazon, Sylvane, or Liebert.
Conclusion
There you go! Now you know everything about the best server room air conditioners the market has to offer.
Although every unit we have reviewed makes for a good choice for server rooms, our best pick would be the Senville SENA-18MO-209.
Our #1 Server Room AC
Senville SENA-18MO-209
Ease of Use
4.5
Cooling Ability
4.5
Value for Money
4.0
Overall Rating
4.3
