How to Choose the Right Portable AC for Industrial Spaces
Why Portable AC Is a Smart Investment
Industrial environments — whether they’re warehouses, fabrication shops, food processing plants, or logistics centers often struggle with effective climate control. These facilities typically have high ceilings, minimal insulation, large open bays, and heat-emitting machinery. Traditional HVAC systems may be oversized, outdated, or simply not designed to accommodate modern workflow demands.
Inadequate cooling can bring about risks both to personnel and operations. According to OSHA, working in high-heat environments can reduce employee productivity by as much as 25%, while simultaneously increasing the risk of workplace injuries. For sensitive operations like precision manufacturing, food safety zones, or electronics handling – the stakes are even higher. Excess heat can cause product spoilage, calibration drift, or unplanned downtime.
That’s why more facilities managers are turning to portable spot coolers. These units offer targeted, powerful cooling that adapts to real-time needs. They’re quick to deploy, easy to reposition, and far more cost-effective than upgrading your building’s HVAC system. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about choosing the right spot cooler for your space.
What Is a Portable Air Conditioner?
In our commercial industry, a portable air conditioner is also referred to as a spot cooler or movincool. This equipment is designed to deliver focused cooling to specific areas within a facility. Unlike central HVAC units, which treat the entire volume of air in a building, spot coolers focus on particular "hot zones" — a machinery bay, a workstation, or a temporary storage area, for example. Movincool is the pioneer brand associated with the commercial portable air conditioners. Movincool created the first portable air conditioners. In fact, they were engineered specifically for the purpose of cooling down industrial floors of their parent company and factory Denso, Inc in Japan.
These units draw in warm ambient air, cool it using a refrigerant cycle, and push the conditioned air through a flexible hose or directional vent. At the same time, they remove the extracted heat and moisture through an exhaust duct, which typically vents into a drop ceiling, a wall port, or outside.
The real advantage of a spot cooler lies in its flexibility. Whether you need to protect sensitive equipment, maintain OSHA-compliant temperatures for your workforce, or respond to an emergency HVAC outage, a spot cooler provides fast, efficient relief with no need for permanent installation.
How Cooling Power Is Measured: Understanding BTUs
When selecting a portable AC, one of the first questions to answer is: “How much cooling do I need?”
Cooling power is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. A BTU represents the amount of energy needed to reduce the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In air conditioning terms, 12,000 BTU per hour is equivalent to one ton of cooling.
For residential environments, this conversion is relatively straightforward. But for industrial spaces — with their higher ceilings, heat-generating equipment, and poor insulation — the actual requirement can be significantly higher.
Let’s consider a real-world example. Suppose you have a 1,000 square foot production area. At a baseline of 25 BTU per square foot, you’d need 25,000 BTU. But that doesn’t factor in the internal heat load from five CNC machines, a dozen employees, and exposure to afternoon sun through west-facing doors. Each of these elements adds thousands of BTUs to the total.
In this case, a better estimate might be around 42,000 BTU, or about 3.5 tons of cooling — possibly spread across two or more units.
The key takeaway is this: BTU sizing is the single most important factor in choosing the right portable AC for your application. Undersizing your equipment leads to inadequate cooling and wasteful energy use. Oversizing can be equally inefficient. Get it right, and your cooling will be both effective and economical.
How Do You Plan? Sizing Movincools for Industrial Spaces
Here’s a general guideline based on typical warehouse or factory conditions, assuming moderate internal heat load:
A 400 to 700 sq ft area may need a unit in the 12,000 to 18,000 BTU range
For 800 to 1,200 sq ft, you’ll likely want between 24,000 and 30,000 BTUs
A 1,500 to 2,000 sq ft zone will typically require 36,000 to 48,000 BTUs.
If you’re working with 2,000 to 3,000 sq ft, look at 60,000 BTUs or more, potentially across multiple units.
For spaces larger than 3,000 sq ft, it’s often best to divide the area into zones and use several units, each tailored to its own conditions.
Remember: These figures assume average conditions. If your facility contains high-output machinery, baking ovens, or is located in a hot and dry climate like inland California, you’ll need to increase your cooling capacity by as much as 20–40%.
For the most accurate results, especially in complex facilities, it's smart to conduct a heat load analysis or consult with a rental specialist who can help assess your needs.
Environmental and Operational Factors That Impact Cooling Needs
Spot coolers don’t operate in a vacuum. Your building’s environment plays a huge role in how well they perform. In industrial facilities, several specific factors often influence whether your equipment performs adequately or struggles to keep up.
Ceiling height is one of the biggest considerations. A high-bay warehouse with 20-foot ceilings contains much more air to cool than a small fabrication room with standard ceilings. Heat also rises, meaning warm air can pool at the ceiling, creating temperature stratification that makes cooling less effective at ground level.
Insulation quality is another critical element. Older industrial buildings, or those with exposed metal walls and roofs, tend to absorb and retain heat far longer than insulated drywall spaces. If your structure lacks insulation, you’ll likely need a more powerful cooling unit — or at least more airflow to overcome residual heat.
Sunlight exposure adds to the heat load as well. West-facing walls or roofs that receive direct sun in the afternoon can cause interior temperatures to spike by 5–10°F. Similarly, large windows, skylights, and glass roll-up doors let in both light and heat, contributing to a rising thermal load over the course of a workday.
Heat-generating equipment. In some cases, a single machine like a high-output laser cutter or a row of ovens can emit more than 10,000 BTUs of heat per hour. Multiply that by several machines, and the total internal load becomes substantial. That’s why many facilities don’t just use spot coolers to chill the general area — they position them near hot machines, creating a localized buffer zone.
Human occupancy contributes to the heat equation. Every person working in the space adds about 300–500 BTUs per hour, depending on activity level. In densely staffed areas like packing tables or assembly lines, this can make a measurable difference.
How to Install: Venting, Power, and Drainage
Once you’ve selected a portable AC with the right BTU capacity for your space, the next step is planning for installation and logistics. While portable air conditioners are designed to be portable and convenient, they still require some basic infrastructure to operate safely and efficiently. Specifically, you’ll need to plan for where the hot air goes, how you’ll power the unit, and what happens to the moisture it pulls from the air. At Air Solutions, our team specializes in supporting customers and teams through this process. In some cases a walk though also referred to as a site spec out is recommended.
1. Venting the Exhaust Air
Every portable AC draws warm air from the surrounding space, cools it, and then releases the heat elsewhere — and that “elsewhere” must be outside of the cooled zone.
Most units come with flexible exhaust ducts, usually between 5 and 10 feet long, that you can direct through a drop ceiling, window adapter, wall cutout, or even into an adjacent warehouse bay. The important thing is to ensure that the heat has somewhere to go — otherwise, you’re just recirculating warm air and defeating the purpose of the equipment.
If your space is sealed or climate-sensitive (like a cleanroom or lab), you’ll want to use ceiling-mounted ductwork or custom exhaust panels to maintain airflow control.
In some industrial environments, there’s also concern about negative pressure — when more air is vented out of a space than is being replaced. To avoid this, many facilities use dual-hose portable air conditioners, which draw air from the outside and exhaust it back out, maintaining pressure balance. These models are slightly more complex but are especially useful in sealed environments.
2. Power Requirements
Movincool ACs range from simple plug-and-play models to high-capacity systems that require commercial power sources.
Smaller units, typically under 18,000 BTU, often run on standard 115V outlets, which makes them easy to deploy in almost any facility.
Mid-sized units, in the 24,000–48,000 BTU range, usually require 208V–240V single-phase power. These may need a dedicated 20 or 30 amp circuit, especially if you’re running more than one unit on the same panel.
Larger spot coolers, delivering over 60,000 BTUs, might need three-phase power in 208v or 460v, which is common in large industrial buildings but not always available in older facilities or temporary jobsite trailers.
Before installation, always check:
The unit’s power draw (in amps)
Your panel capacity and breaker availability
Whether the outlet is within range of the planned cooler location
The type of plug (twist-lock, straight blade, etc.)
3. Condensate Drainage
As spot coolers remove moisture from the air, they collect water — known as condensate — that must be drained or disposed of. Ignoring this step can lead to unit shutdown, leaks, or even floor hazards.
There are several ways to handle condensate:
Manual drain tanks are built into most small to mid-size units. They’re easy to use but require someone to empty them daily.
Gravity drains are useful if your unit is elevated and located near a floor drain. Simply connect a hose and let the water flow downward.
Built-in condensate pumps are the most efficient solution, especially for 24/7 operations or when the unit sits at floor level. These pumps automatically push water through tubing to a drain or out of the building, eliminating the need for manual emptying.
Example Setup: A 36,000 BTU Spot Cooler in a Warehouse Bay
Let’s say you’re installing a 36,000 BTU unit near a loading dock that’s experiencing consistent heat buildup.
You’ve positioned the unit on a flat surface near the dock door, and run the warm air exhaust hose outside a side door or rollup door to prevent heat from reentering the space. Your team plugs the unit into a nearby 240V outlet on a dedicated 30A breaker. For condensate, you’ve connected the included pump-out hose and routed it outside as well to remove water from the building. The entire setup takes less than an hour, and within minutes your team starts feeling the difference.
Real-World Applications: Portable Air Conditioners in Action
Case Study 1: Solving Heat Fatigue in a Fresno CNC Machine Shop
In Fresno, California, a mid-sized fabrication company operated several CNC machines in a large bay with 16-foot ceilings. During summer months, indoor temperatures regularly exceeded 90°F by mid-afternoon — even with fans running.
The company began noticing a drop in both operator productivity and equipment performance. Machine error codes were becoming more frequent due to overheating, and several team members requested to be reassigned from the CNC area due to discomfort.
To solve the issue, the company installed three 36,000 BTU spot coolers, each positioned to deliver direct airflow to the machine clusters. The hot exhaust was vented outside using adjustable ducting. Each unit was outfitted with a built-in condensate pump routed to nearby floor drains. The units also included programmable thermostats, so cooling could be scaled based on shift activity.
Within a few days, the CNC area saw a consistent 10–12°F temperature drop. Operators reported higher comfort, and the number of machine resets caused by overheating dropped to nearly zero.
Case Study 2: Keeping a Cold Chain Warehouse in Compliance
A large food distributor in Anaheim handled perishables like dairy and produce, which required careful temperature control especially near loading zones. Despite having refrigeration systems inside their main storage area, they faced compliance issues in the dock area, where trailers were constantly being opened and closed. The cool air escaped quickly, allowing heat and humidity to creep in during each loading cycle.
To mitigate this, the company deployed four 60,000 BTU spot coolers aimed at the loading dock doors. These units featured ducting kits that allowed cold air to be concentrated into vertical curtains, creating a barrier between the inside and outside air. With this setup, the dock area was able to maintain temperatures below the regulatory threshold for refrigerated items.
The result? The facility passed two back-to-back safety audits, and product loss due to temperature fluctuations dropped by over 20%.
Case Study 3: Maintaining Temperature Precision in an Aerospace Cleanroom
A Long Beach aerospace supplier specialized in high-precision components used in satellite assembly. Their cleanroom environment required extremely tight temperature tolerances — specifically, air must remain at 70°F ±2°F during part calibration and laser alignment.
During a July heatwave, their central HVAC system struggled to keep pace, especially in the afternoons when solar gain peaked. Instead of halting operations, the team rented two MovinCool Climate Pro X26 units — each delivering 24,000 BTU of focused cooling.
The units were placed in the staging area of the cleanroom, ducted to direct airflow across the sensitive work zone. Each cooler was equipped with sealed intake ducts, and digital thermostats to provide consistent control without disrupting cleanroom standards.
With this temporary supplement, the facility maintained compliance throughout the audit window and avoided any need to reschedule critical testing operations.
Case Study 4: Protecting Perishables in a Food Packaging Plant
In California’s Central Valley, a food production plant was preparing to expand its packaging line for seasonal demand. However, the facility’s internal temperature frequently climbed above 80°F, placing both food safety and worker comfort at risk.
To create a temporary climate-controlled zone, the operations team installed Climate Pro K36 model 36,000 BTU movincools around the packing floor. These units were positioned to form overlapping airflow zones that cooled the line from multiple directions. Because the floor space was sealed and lacked a built-in drain system, each cooler was paired with a high-capacity condensate pump to handle around-the-clock operation.
Not only did the facility maintain safe working temperatures, but the plant also improved its inspection pass rate — which had previously been inconsistent due to borderline conditions. Workers noted the temperature drop immediately, and absenteeism declined during peak summer weeks.
portable air conditioner working to provide air conditioning relief in an industrial warehouse environment
spot cooler cooling down an assembly line
Case Study 5: Supporting Worker Comfort in a Logistics Fulfillment Center
In Ontario, California, a regional fulfillment center with hundreds of employees across multiple shifts needed cooling during the summer. Indoor temperatures near the shipping stations climbed quickly — especially where conveyor belts and scanner systems generated localized heat.
Rather than attempt to cool the entire 50,000 sq ft building, the facilities team opted for zoned spot cooling using several 60,000 BTU Climate Pro K60 portable units. These were strategically placed along the picking and packing lanes and outfitted with directional airflow ducts aimed at employee stations. Fans were paired in some locations to help extend the airflow.
Each unit was activated during peak shipping windows and powered through the facility’s existing 208V industrial circuits. The cooling effect was immediate, with measurable improvements in both comfort and productivity.
Over the course of the quarter, the company saw a 15% reduction in shift turnover, alongside a drop in packing errors and manual overrides, both of which had spiked previously during high-heat days.
Portable AC vs. HVAC Upgrades: What’s the Real Cost?
One of the first questions facility managers ask is: “Wouldn’t it be better to just upgrade our HVAC system instead of renting portable coolers?” It’s a fair question — and in some cases, the answer might be yes. But for many industrial spaces, especially older buildings or seasonal-use facilities, spot coolers offer a better return on investment with significantly less upfront cost, downtime, and risk.
Let’s break it down.
A full HVAC replacement or upgrade for a 20,000–50,000 square foot warehouse can easily range from $80,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on square footage, ductwork complexity, insulation, and ceiling height. The installation process can take weeks or months, often requiring permit approvals, electrical upgrades, and scheduling shutdowns.
On the other hand, a commercial-grade portable AC rental — say, one 60,000 BTU unit — typically costs $1,500 to $2,500 per month, depending on location, configuration, and duration. Even if you need multiple units to create cooling zones, you’re often spending less than 10% of what a major HVAC overhaul would cost.
But the advantage isn’t just financial. Spot coolers are:
Deployable in hours, not weeks
Scalable — you can add or remove units as demand changes
Non-invasive — they require no major construction
Ideal for temporary needs and emergencies, such as heatwaves, short-term leases, or seasonal work surges
Let’s say your packaging plant needs to maintain temperatures below 75°F from June to September. Renting 3–4 spot coolers for four months could cost a fraction of the investment required for a new rooftop unit, and you only pay for what you use.
Plus, by cooling only where it’s needed, you lower your utility costs, protect your equipment, and reduce the strain on your existing HVAC system, potentially extending its service life.
From an ROI perspective, the benefits add up fast:
Increased worker productivity due to improved comfort
Fewer mistakes and injuries in heat-sensitive tasks
Reduced equipment downtime caused by overheating
Better audit and inspection outcomes, especially in food and cleanroom environments
In most cases, companies see their spot cooling investment pay for itself within one or two months of use — especially when the alternative is production disruption, spoilage, or failed compliance tests.
Safety and Compliance: What You Need to Know Before You Cool
In any industrial facility, maintaining a safe and compliant environment isn’t always optional, in some cases it’s a legal obligation. When introducing portable cooling equipment into your operation, it’s important to ensure that your system aligns with federal, state, and industry-specific regulations.
Integrating spot coolers into your operation, especially when ducted and powered correctly, are in full compliance with these standards provided that exhaust heat is properly vented and electrical connections are secure.
Another consideration is trip hazard prevention. Spot coolers involve electrical cords, condensate drain lines, and sometimes long duct runs. These must be routed safely and clearly marked if they cross walkways or pass near active work areas. In higher-traffic spaces, it may be necessary to use floor cord covers or suspend hoses overhead.
How to Choose the Right Features for Your Spot Cooler
Just like any industrial equipment, not all spot coolers or movincools are created equal. Choosing the right unit for your environment depends on more than just BTU capacity. Let’s look at the key features you should consider and why they matter.
Drainage Method
If your unit runs more than a few hours a day, it will produce condensate — and that water needs to go somewhere. A manual drain tank will work fine for smaller machines but someone will need to empty it daily. For 24/7 operations and larger units you may want to consider a built-in condensate pump. These pumps automatically remove water and send it through tubing to a sink, drain, or outdoors.
Thermostat Control
Basic models offer manual dials, but higher-end spot coolers include digital programmable thermostats or even remote sensors. These allow you to:
Set target temperatures
Program on/off schedules
Monitor conditions remotely
If your cooling needs vary throughout the day (for example, during shift changes or high-load periods), these features can help optimize efficiency and reduce power consumption.
Airflow Control
In many industrial environments, you don’t just want cool air — you want it directed where it matters. Look for models that offer:
Adjustable louvers or nozzles
Modular duct kits for targeted airflow
High static pressure fans to push air through long duct runs
This is especially important if you’re trying to cool individual workstations, conveyor lines, or clusters of heat-producing equipment.
Portability and Safety
Most units come on locking casters, but some are bulkier than others. If you’ll be moving your cooler between zones, choose a model with handles, brakes, and a compact frame. Also check the unit’s decibel level, especially if it will be running near staff or sensitive electronics.
Final Steps: Checklist for Choosing the Right Spot Cooler
Choosing the right spot cooler isn’t just about renting a big machine and plugging it in. At Air Solutions we aim to help tailor the solution to your space, your process, and your needs - whether that’s protecting sensitive materials, maintaining employee comfort, or passing an audit.
Here’s a quick checklist to make your selection easier:
Portable AC Selection Checklist
Have I calculated my total BTU needs, factoring in size, heat load, and equipment?
Is there a plan for venting hot air safely out of the building?
Do I have the right electrical circuits for the unit’s voltage and amperage?
Can I manage condensate drainage — with a tank, pump, or gravity system?
Do I need programmable thermostats or remote sensors?
Are ducting kits or directional vents necessary for airflow control?
Have I considered noise levels, portability, and setup constraints?
Is my cooling plan compliant with OSHA and ASHRAE guidelines?
If you’re unsure about any of these items don’t worry! Our team at Air Solutions can walk you through your cooling needs and deliver the right unit fast. Whether you’re dealing with an emergency shutdown, a peak-season heat surge, or a high-stakes inspection, we’ve got you covered.
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