Cautionary Tips When Renting Commercial Air Conditioners

In the hot Texas sun, air conditioning is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re looking to plan an outdoor event or just keep your warehouse cool, having a climate control solution is a vital part of any plan. The problem is, air conditioning can be confusing and expensive.  There are so many options available that it can be hard to know exactly what you need – and then when you do figure it out, you have to pay for it!

To help solve these problems, many choose to rent. Renting an a/c system can be a good idea for many reasons. It’s cheaper on the budget in many cases, it allows you to outsource things like maintenance and it makes it easier to get the exact system you need.

Renting an a/c system is not without its problems, though. Before you decide to rent, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Consider Your Exact Needs

One of the biggest mistakes people make is getting the wrong type of air conditioning system. Not all systems are created the same, and each type of system has been designed for a very different situation. Keeping a small space in an office corner comfortable, for example, requires very different needs than cooling down a large tent at an outdoor reception. 

Not planning your system based on your needs can lead to a lot of problems, not the least of which is simply getting a system that doesn’t do the job right. A poorly performing system causes anger and frustration, and it’s even worse when the problem could have been avoided by just taking the time to understand what sort of cooling system works best for the need. Whether it’s a spot cooler for a smaller space, a power breeze fan for a line of people or a large 25-ton unit to cool down an entire warehouse, understanding your needs is the first, most critical step in renting the right air conditioning system.

Consider Your Available Resources

One thing to remember when you are using energy-intensive air conditioning units is that they suck up a lot of resources. If you are powering an office, that’s one thing, but if you are looking to cool down a tent at an outdoor venue, or keep customers cool while standing in a line, then the amount of power you have at your disposal becomes an important factor to consider. Renting out equipment that draws too much power or causes outages to put you right back into the same trouble that you had without them, and is therefore a very good reason why 

Different types of units require different amounts of energy and resources, and this factor must be taken into account when planning for your cooling needs.

Consider Your Space

In addition to knowing your needs, you also have to consider the size of the space that needs to be cooled. The reasons for this are probably obvious. If you are trying to use a large space, then getting an air conditioner that is too small for space is just a bad idea. Not only will the space stay too warm and humid, but it will also tax the system and add stress to a machine that is already working overtime. This can cause the system to fail, which of course means your space gets even warmer. 

What a lot of people fail to realize, however, is that having a system that is too big can actually create other problems. First, an oversized system cools a space too fast. This fast cooling is actually bad because it does not allow the entire space to get cooled gradually and evenly. The result is an area with a multitude of warm or cold spots that are uncomfortable. 

The second problem with an oversized air conditioner is that the shorter cycle means the a/c doesn’t have a chance to thoroughly dehumidify the air. Many people don’t realize that cooling the air is only one of the a/c’s jobs. The other is to take the moisture out of the air and leave the space dryer. If the air conditioner is unable to do that, the result is cool, moist air that feels cold and clammy. This is not comfortable and can lead to a very unpleasant working environment.

Consider Your Budget

Another factor to consider is a very practical one – money. How much can you spend on air conditioning rental? While renting is a much cheaper option than purchasing and financing a system, it still has costs associated with it. The difference is that renting is a cost that doesn’t go away, which means that it needs to be planned for over a longer period. You might be saving money, but you still 

Consider Expert Advice

Of course, you can avoid all of these pitfalls if you make the smart move first and call in an expert, like those at Preferred Climate Solutions. A knowledgeable, trained expert can listen to your information – or even visit, if possible – and make recommendations based. This recommendation takes all factors into account, from your cooling needs to the size of the space involved to the budget you’re working with, and provides the best possible solution for your situation. Renting out equipment without consulting an expert means you run the risk of obtaining the wrong cooling system and causing more problems than you were trying to solve.

If you would like to get more information about the types of air conditioning available, or you would like to speak with someone about your air conditioning needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Preferred Climate Solutions today!