Cooling a Warehouse in Summer

Cooling a warehouse in summer is a tough task for any building manager. You know that as the temperature rises outside, it rises even more inside the building. Instead of the already uncomfortable regular temperatures around 80°F, now it gets up to 100° to 110°F. High temperatures like this are brutal for morale, lead to constant employee turnover, and are even dangerous.

We often hear stories of workers having to walk around with sponges under their hardhats to keep cool. Alternatively, some employees take multiple breaks an hour to cool down from the high temperatures. These short-term fixes can be helpful when you’re in a bind, but they don’t really solve the problem. Fortunately, Moffitt can help you find a meaningful ventilation solution for your building.

“How Do I Effectively Cool a Warehouse in Summer?”

Decreasing the temperature of a warehouse in summer can be difficult. It’s not as easy as installing a few high volume, low speed (HVLS) fans. Nor is it as simple as setting up a few air-circulating fans and calling it a day. Furthermore, powerful natural ventilators like a mushroom cap or hooded roof ventilator may not be enough. Read on as we evaluate these options one-by-one.

HVLS Fans

For instance, a high volume, low speed (HVLS) fan won’t do the trick by itself because they might just push the hot air back towards the workers. If all they are doing is circulating the hot air throughout the building, then the high temperature air will surround the workers. However, if you combine your HVLS fans with fresh intake air from wall louvers or an evaporative cooling unit, then they can be a powerful solution. As long as an HVLS fan is moving cool air, they can help keep your building cool.

Air Circulating Fans

An air circulating fan, like the Model AF, is a great way to provide specific workers with a cool breeze in a specific place. The jet of moving air provides an evaporative cooling effect on the skin. This breeze dries sweat, and makes workers feel cooler. The only issue here is that warehouses are, by definition, big. Air circulating fans work great when workers are stationary, but they’re less effective when they move. This can lead to hot spots and uneven temperatures in your building.

Natural Ventilators

A natural ventilator can be a great way to cool a warehouse in summer. However, we’ve seen far too many buildings that have ventilators that are too small or installed in the wrong place. For instance, a large building, with lots of people inside, probably needs more ventilation than a 6″ ridge vent. Additionally, a mushroom cap or model RS circular vent are great products, but if they aren’t installed in the right location, you’re not getting the full impact.

The Whole Building Solution for Cooling a Warehouse in Summer

No two warehouses are alike, and that is why Moffitt has been designing custom ventilation solutions for over sixty years. We know which products work best together, and where to place them. We’ve seen the impact new intake wall louvers can have on improving air circulation. We’ve also seen how adding a few more exhaust fans in the right spot can make a world of difference.

So if you’re dreading cooling a warehouse in summer, just give our team a call. We can help you find the right ventilation solution for your facility.