Server rooms, comms rooms and IT cupboards can become warm very quickly if heat is not removed properly.
Servers, switches, network cabinets and communications equipment can produce heat continuously. Even a small room can become difficult to control if it has poor ventilation, several pieces of equipment and no dedicated cooling system.
Server room cooling is designed to protect IT equipment by controlling temperature, improving airflow and helping prevent overheating. This can be important for offices, shops, warehouses, hospitality venues, schools, commercial buildings and any business that relies on network or server equipment.
This guide explains what server room cooling is, why it matters, what temperature a server room should be, how to choose the right cooling system and when portable or spot cooling may be useful.
You can also browse our server room cooling, compare spot cooling, or read our wine cellar, beer cellar and server room cooling guide.
Server Room Cooling: Quick Answer
Server room cooling is used to remove heat from IT equipment and keep a technical space within a controlled temperature range.
Unlike normal comfort cooling, the priority is not personal comfort. The priority is protecting servers, network hardware and business critical equipment from overheating.
| Cooling Need | Best Option | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent IT room | Fixed server room cooling | Server rooms, comms rooms and technical spaces |
| Temporary overheating issue | Portable or spot cooling | Short term cooling, emergency support or temporary layouts |
| Small IT cupboard | Compact cooling or improved ventilation | Network cupboards, cabinets and small equipment rooms |
| Larger equipment load | Professionally sized cooling system | Rooms with racks, servers and continuous heat output |
What Is Server Room Cooling?
Server room cooling is a cooling solution designed for rooms that contain IT and communications equipment.
This can include:
- Servers
- Network switches
- Routers
- Comms cabinets
- Storage equipment
- UPS equipment
- Security system equipment
- Telecoms equipment
All of this equipment can give off heat while it runs. If the heat is trapped inside a small room, cupboard or enclosed space, the temperature can rise quickly.
Server room cooling helps remove that heat and maintain a more stable environment.
Why Do Server Rooms Need Cooling?
Server rooms need cooling because IT equipment can generate heat all day and night.
A normal office may only need cooling when people are working in it. A server room may need cooling even when the building is empty, because the equipment continues to run.
Without proper cooling, a server room may suffer from:
- High room temperatures
- Equipment fans running constantly
- Slow or unreliable performance
- Unexpected shutdowns
- Increased strain on hardware
- Reduced equipment life
- Business interruption
- Higher risk during warm weather
For many businesses, server room cooling is not just about comfort. It is about protecting systems that support daily operation.
What Temperature Should A Server Room Be?
Many server rooms aim to keep the air entering IT equipment within a controlled range, often around 18°C to 27°C depending on the equipment, layout and manufacturer guidance.
The exact target should be based on the equipment being used, the heat load in the room and the level of reliability required.
Important points to remember:
- The temperature at the equipment intake matters
- The room display may not show the hottest point in the room
- Racks and cabinets can have hot spots
- Poor airflow can make one area much warmer than another
- Temperature can rise quickly if cooling fails
- Humidity may also need to be considered in more sensitive environments
If the room contains important equipment, do not rely only on how the room feels. Use monitoring, temperature checks and suitable cooling advice.
Signs Your Server Room Needs Better Cooling
A server room does not always need to be large to have a cooling problem.
You may need server room cooling if:
- The room feels hot when you enter
- Equipment fans are loud or running constantly
- The room has little or no ventilation
- The temperature rises through the day
- IT equipment shuts down or becomes unreliable
- The space contains several racks, cabinets or servers
- The room is internal with no windows or natural ventilation
- The existing air conditioning does not reach the room properly
- Equipment has recently been added
- The room becomes worse in summer
If a server room is already warm before the hottest part of the day, it is worth reviewing the cooling setup.
Server Room Cooling Vs Normal Air Conditioning
Normal air conditioning is usually designed to keep people comfortable. Server room cooling is chosen around equipment protection.
This matters because a server room can need cooling for longer hours, may contain concentrated heat loads and may not have the same airflow pattern as a normal office.
| Normal Room Cooling | Server Room Cooling |
|---|---|
| Designed around people | Designed around equipment heat load |
| Often used during occupied hours | May be needed all day and night |
| Comfort is the main priority | Reliability and heat removal are the main priorities |
| Room size is a key factor | Heat output from equipment is a key factor |
| Short term temperature changes may be acceptable | Temperature stability is more important |
For small comms rooms, a standard cooling product may be suitable if it is correctly sized and installed. For more important server rooms, expert advice is recommended.
How To Choose Server Room Cooling
The right server room cooling system depends on the room, the equipment and how important the systems are to the business.
Before choosing a product, consider:
- The size of the room
- The amount of IT equipment inside
- How much heat the equipment produces
- Whether the equipment runs continuously
- Whether the room is internal or external
- Whether the room has existing ventilation
- Whether the door is normally kept closed
- Whether more equipment will be added later
- Where cool air needs to be delivered
- Where warm air can be removed
- Whether backup cooling is needed
For server rooms, do not choose cooling based only on room size. The heat produced by the equipment is often the most important factor.
Room Size And Heat Load
Room size matters, but heat load matters more.
A small room with several servers can need more cooling than a larger room with only one small network cabinet. This is because the equipment is constantly producing heat.
When thinking about heat load, consider:
- How many servers are installed
- How many network switches are installed
- Whether there is UPS equipment
- Whether the equipment is rack mounted
- Whether cabinets have good airflow
- Whether equipment runs all the time
- Whether the room temperature keeps rising
- Whether future expansion is planned
If the server room protects important business systems, ask for advice before choosing a cooling system.
Airflow Is Just As Important As Cooling Power
Good airflow helps server room cooling work properly.
If cool air cannot reach the equipment intake, the room may still have hot spots even if the cooling system is running. If warm air cannot escape properly, the cooling system may have to work harder.
Useful airflow checks include:
- Make sure racks and cabinets are not blocking airflow
- Keep vents and grilles clear
- Avoid pushing cabinets tightly against walls
- Do not block cooling outlets with boxes or equipment
- Keep cables tidy where possible
- Check the temperature at different points in the room
- Make sure warm air is not being blown back into the equipment
In a server room, airflow layout can be as important as the cooling unit itself.
Fixed Server Room Cooling
Fixed cooling is usually the best option for permanent server rooms and business critical IT spaces.
A fixed system can provide more reliable ongoing cooling and can be designed around the room layout, heat load and operating requirements.
Fixed server room cooling may be suitable for:
- Dedicated server rooms
- Comms rooms
- IT rooms
- Business critical equipment spaces
- Rooms with several racks or cabinets
- Spaces that need cooling all year
Browse our server room cooling range.
Portable And Spot Cooling For Server Rooms
Portable cooling or spot cooling can be useful in some server room situations.
It may not replace a permanent system for a critical server room, but it can help when you need a flexible or temporary cooling solution.
Portable or spot cooling may be useful for:
- Temporary overheating issues
- Emergency cooling support
- Short term IT projects
- Temporary server rooms
- Equipment moves
- Targeted cooling for a specific rack or cabinet
- Extra support during warm weather
When using portable cooling, make sure warm exhaust air is removed properly. If hot air is simply recirculated into the same room, cooling performance will be reduced.
Browse our spot cooling range.
Does A Server Room Need Cooling In Winter?
Often, yes.
Server rooms can overheat in winter because the heat comes from the equipment inside the room, not just from warm outdoor weather.
An office may feel cold in winter while the server room is still warm. This is especially common when the room is small, enclosed, internal or poorly ventilated.
That is why server room cooling should be planned around equipment heat output and operating hours, not just the season.
Cooling Small Comms Rooms And IT Cupboards
Small comms rooms and IT cupboards can be easy to overlook.
They may contain only one cabinet, but if the space is enclosed and the equipment runs continuously, heat can build up quickly.
For small spaces, consider:
- Whether the door is usually closed
- Whether there is any ventilation
- How hot the cabinet gets
- Whether cables or boxes block airflow
- Whether heat can escape from the space
- Whether a compact cooling solution is needed
- Whether the equipment is business critical
Even a small cooling improvement can make a big difference in a cramped technical space.
Cooling Larger Server Rooms
Larger server rooms need more careful planning.
As the number of racks, cabinets and devices increases, the room may develop hot spots. Cooling also becomes more important because more equipment may depend on stable operation.
For larger server rooms, think about:
- Heat load from all equipment
- Rack layout
- Airflow direction
- Hot and cool areas
- Temperature monitoring
- Future expansion
- Service access
- Backup cooling requirements
- Professional installation
If downtime would cause serious disruption, the cooling design should be planned carefully.
Do You Need Backup Cooling?
Some server rooms may need backup cooling, especially if they support business critical systems.
Backup cooling may be worth considering if:
- The server room runs all day and night
- Downtime would affect sales, operations or customer service
- The room overheats quickly if cooling stops
- The business has no easy way to move equipment
- The room supports multiple departments or sites
- There is valuable or sensitive equipment inside
For smaller businesses, backup cooling may be as simple as having an emergency plan. For more critical environments, a more robust cooling strategy may be needed.
Ventilation And Heat Removal
Server room cooling is not only about adding cold air. It is also about removing heat.
If warm air cannot leave the space, the room temperature may rise even when cooling equipment is running.
Check:
- Where warm air is being discharged
- Whether exhaust air is trapped in the room
- Whether ventilation grilles are blocked
- Whether cabinets are recirculating warm air
- Whether the room has enough fresh airflow
- Whether the door or ceiling void affects airflow
A good cooling setup should move heat away from the equipment and out of the space effectively.
Common Server Room Cooling Mistakes
Before choosing server room cooling, avoid these common mistakes:
- Choosing cooling based only on room size
- Ignoring the heat output from IT equipment
- Not checking airflow around cabinets
- Letting warm air recirculate into equipment
- Blocking vents with boxes, cables or furniture
- Assuming the room only needs cooling in summer
- Using portable cooling without exhausting warm air properly
- Not allowing for future equipment growth
- Ignoring temperature monitoring
- Waiting until equipment starts failing before acting
If you are unsure, speak to CoolEasy before ordering so the system can be matched to the room and equipment.
Recommended CoolEasy Cooling Ranges
Best For Dedicated IT Spaces: Server Room Cooling
Choose server room cooling if you need a cooling solution for servers, network equipment, comms rooms or technical spaces.
Best For Temporary Or Targeted Cooling: Spot Cooling
Choose spot cooling if you need flexible, targeted or temporary cooling for a specific rack, cabinet, workstation or equipment zone.
Best For Wider Climate Control: Heating And Cooling Systems
Choose heating and cooling systems if you need a fitted air conditioning system that can provide comfort cooling and heating in a wider commercial or office space.
Best For Specialist Cooling Advice: Commercial Refrigeration
You can also browse the wider commercial refrigeration range for specialist cooling categories including cellar cooling, server room cooling and spot cooling.
Server Room Cooling Buying Checklist
Before choosing a server room cooling system, check:
- How much IT equipment is in the room
- Whether the equipment runs continuously
- How quickly the room temperature rises
- The room size and ceiling height
- Whether the room is internal or external
- Whether there is existing ventilation
- Whether cool air can reach the equipment intake
- Whether warm air can be removed properly
- Whether there are hot spots
- Whether monitoring is in place
- Whether the system needs to run all year
- Whether backup cooling is needed
- Whether professional advice is required
Server Room Cooling FAQs
What is server room cooling?
Server room cooling is a cooling solution designed to remove heat from servers, network equipment, comms cabinets and technical rooms.
Why does a server room get so hot?
Servers, switches, routers and other IT equipment produce heat while running. In a small or enclosed room, that heat can build up quickly.
What temperature should a server room be?
Many server rooms aim to keep equipment intake air within a controlled range, often around 18°C to 27°C depending on the equipment and guidance. Always check the requirements for your own hardware and installation.
Can I use normal air conditioning in a server room?
Sometimes, but it depends on the heat load, room layout and operating hours. A server room should be cooled around equipment protection rather than personal comfort.
Does a server room need cooling in winter?
Yes, many server rooms need cooling in winter because the heat comes from the equipment inside the room.
Can I use portable cooling in a server room?
Portable cooling can be useful for temporary or emergency support, but the warm exhaust air must be removed properly. Permanent server rooms usually benefit from a fixed cooling solution.
How do I know what size server room cooler I need?
The right size depends on the heat output from the equipment, room size, airflow, ventilation and how critical the systems are. Expert advice is recommended for important server rooms.
What are server room hot spots?
Hot spots are areas where heat builds up because cool air is not reaching the equipment properly or warm air is being recirculated.
Should server room doors be kept closed?
Usually, yes, provided the room has suitable cooling and airflow. Leaving doors open may disrupt controlled airflow and allow warm air from other areas to affect performance.
When should I speak to an expert?
Speak to an expert if the room contains important equipment, overheats regularly, has several racks, needs all year cooling or would cause disruption if systems failed.
Final Advice: Choose Cooling Around The Equipment, Not Just The Room
Server room cooling should be chosen around the heat produced by the equipment, the airflow inside the room and the importance of the systems being protected.
A small comms cupboard may only need a compact solution or improved ventilation, while a dedicated server room may need a properly sized fixed cooling system. Portable and spot cooling can also be useful for temporary support, emergency cooling or targeted cooling around specific equipment.
The key is to remove heat reliably and stop warm air building up around the equipment.
Explore our server room cooling, compare spot cooling, or speak to the CoolEasy team for help choosing the right cooling solution for your server room, comms room or IT space.