Easy-to-use
exhaust tube units
High capacity
split type air
conditioning
units
Local depots,
nationwide
Same-day
delivery, 24/7

Portable Air Conditioning

Andrews Air Conditioning Hire is the UK’s leading specialists for portable air conditioner hire and sales, we offer an extensive range of portable air conditioners which include; exhaust tube units, split type units and evaporative coolers. We provide cooling solutions for a wide and diverse range of environments which include offices, server rooms, shops, events, exhibitions, hospitals and many more. Whether you want to buy or rent, we can provide a cost effective solution which will be suited to your particular needs.

Split Air Conditioners

Offering cooling capacities between 4kW and 17kW, our split type air conditioners have been designed for server rooms, data centres and offices

Evaporative Coolers

These units provide instant cooling via the transmission of a sea breeze effect and are commonly used in instances where an external source is unavailable.

Cooling Fans

Capable of producing air flows of up to 37,000m³/h, our cooling fans circulate clean, fresh air to provide subtle comfort cooling in any environment

Portable Humidifiers

Compact and reliable, our portable humidifier units add moisture to an indoor application and are operated by connecting to a traditional 3-pin power socket

Portable AC units

Andrews Air Conditioner Hire offer a wide range of portable air conditioning units for hire or sale. These are divided into four main categories: Exhaust tube units which disperse the heat via a small exhaust tube, split type units which are typically used for environments which require large capacities such as server rooms or large offices. Evaporative coolers provide comfort cooling where conventional air conditioners cannot be used. Cooling fans are often used to provide a more comfortable environment to larger areas such as warehouses or workshops.

Why choose Andrews?

By using Andrews air conditioning you will have the comfort of dealing with the UK’s leading specialist in portable air conditioning. We have been providing portable climate control equipment for over 50 years and today we have the widest range available to hire or buy. We support this with a true 24/7 service which is available from our network of strategically located depots throughout the UK, click here to find your local branch.

Our hire fleet consists of thousands of units, all of which are fully serviced and rigorously tested before being delivered to your location. Our drivers are fully trained, they will assist you with installing the units and provide simple instructions on how to use them. You can find out more about our hire units by clicking here.

For customers who prefer to purchase a portable air con unit, we offer the latest stylish and most efficient units on the market. These units are quiet in operation and very effective, you can buy these units by calling us on 0800 211 611 or you can purchase on line by clicking here.

Alternatively if you prefer to purchase a permanently installed wall or ceiling mounted air con unit, you can find out more details about our fixed installation services by clicking here.

  • The UK’s leading air conditioning hire company with over 50 years’ experience in providing climate rental solutions.
  • Wide range of units available for immediate hire. 1000’s of units held in stock.
  • All of our Portable Air Conditioner units are very simple to use: wheel them in, set them up, plug them in and you’re in business.
  • We will provide you with environmentally friendly, energy efficient Portable Air conditioning units for reduced emissions and lower running costs.
  • Andrews are very easy to do business with - call one of our friendly operatives for free advice on 0800 211 611.
  • Same day delivery for hire units, anywhere in the UK.
  • Our hire packages are flexible with short and long-term rental options.
  • Discounts are available for continuous hire periods and special packages for everything from a single room to multiple sites.
  • You can purchase units from our simple online sales page at any time of day and we promise delivery within 3 days anywhere in the UK.
  • Genuine 24 / 7 service nationwide for service back up or emergency deliveries.
  • Andrews are ISO14001 environmental and ISO 9001 quality accredited.
  • Call Andrews Air Conditioning now, for planned support and the fastest emergency response.

Hire or Buy

Many of our customers have difficulty in deciding whether to hire units or buy them. At Andrews Air Conditioning you have the choice to do either, but which is best for you?

If you choose to purchase, the unit is yours for life and this can often appear to be the most economical solution. However, there are many hidden costs of ownership including storage when the units are not being used, maintenance whilst in use, electrical safety testing, repair or replacement in the event of damage and the cost of disposal at the end of it useful life. The units can also become outdated as new models are developed.

If you choose to hire it means that we look after the units for you, we store them between seasons, maintain and test them, provide the latest models as they are developed and ensure that the units are repaired or replaced immediately should they fail.

The benefits of hiring air conditioning include;

Free Site Survey & Consultation

We will provide you with a no obligation Free Site survey carried out by our experienced qualified Technicians and provide you with a detailed quotation and advice, which ensures that you get the best equipment to suit your needs.

24/365 Support

If you need assistance or equipment in an emergency we will respond within four hours of your call, whatever time of day or night, giving you the peace of mind that your climate control needs will be met, whatever the situation. This is especially useful for critical cooling requirements such as server rooms and communication environments.

Service & Maintenance Included

Our hire rates are inclusive of Service and Maintenance throughout the duration of the hire period which enables you to budget accurately. The responsibility for electrical testing and compliance to the relevant standards remains with us saving you the time and trouble involved in organising electricians and record keeping.

Latest Range of Energy Efficient Equipment

At Andrews Air Conditioning, we offer the latest energy efficient, environmentally friendly equipment on the market endorsed by our BS14001 accreditation ensuring that you can manage your carbon footprint and save money. We constantly update and renew our hire fleet to ensure that we can offer you the latest technology.

No Capital Outlay

When you choose to hire units, there is no capital expenditure required, therefore negating the need to go through lengthy approval processes and leaves your capital free to invest in your businesses’ core capabilities.

Tax Allowance

Rental costs are tax deductible, which saves you money and avoids discussions with your accountants as to whether the units should be an asset, or how long they should be depreciated over.

Damage Waiver

This is a low cost optional extra at time of hire, but protects you from the costs of accidental damage, so if there’s the odd clumsy employee in your building then you won’t be charged for their misdemeanours!

Storage and Disposal

If you purchase units you’ll need to find somewhere to safely store them during the winter months. Then when their working life is over you must dispose of them in accordance with the relevant environmental and waste disposal regulations. If you hire, we do all of that for you and we recycle many of the components when the reach the end of their life.

Cost Management

If the temperature changes at the end of the minimum hire period and you don’t need them anymore, you can simply off hire the units, we will come and collect them and you stop paying for them.

How it works

When the temperature rises, it reduces our performance and vital equipment can fail. To avoid these problems, Andrews offers a wide range of portable air conditioners. These include both air and water cooled versions, with exhaust tubes or external heat exchangers, as well as a wide range of evaporative coolers

The basic principle of air conditioning:

An air conditioner has a closed refrigerant system, comprising an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve (or capillary), which are all connected to each other with refrigerant piping. Refrigerant gas is circulated within the system in the direction shown in the below drawing.

The indoor unit, which is usually installed in the room to be cooled, contains the process where the refrigerant evaporates within the cold element (evaporator). This evaporation is caused because the refrigerant has a very low boiling point at atmospheric pressure. To enable the evaporation, a rise in temperature is necessary. This rise is supplied by the air of the room which is to be cooled and in which the evaporator is situated. As air is passed over the evaporator the air temperature will drop and therefore enable the room air temperature to be reduced.

The compressor draws the vapour refrigerant and reduces the pressure in the evaporator. Because of this pressure reduction, the refrigerant evaporates. The vapour which is drawn by the compressor is then compressed. The pressure and temperature of the gas rises as it is compressed into the condenser, where the warm gas is cooled down to the condensation temperature of the refrigerant. Subsequently the vapour returns back to liquid again.

In the condenser, the process is almost directly opposite to the evaporator. The condenser requires cooling otherwise the temperature and gas pressure will rise too high. For this cooling process either water or air can be used. The vapour which has now returned to liquid again is now passed through the expansion valve (or capillary) to the evaporator. Because of the narrowing of the pipe work the pressure decreases and the refrigerant evaporates once more. To enable this evaporation the warm air is needed and so the circuit is closed.

The operation of portable air conditioners

We offer 3 types of portable air conditioners

Exhaust tube units:

With these units both the evaporator and condenser are positioned within the room unit. The majority of the air that is passed through the unit is directed over the evaporator and returns back into the room, as cooled air. A smaller volume of air is passed across the condenser to cool the refrigerant gas. This air needs to be removed from the room as it becomes hot. An exhaust tube is used to remove this hot air via an opening in the room (usually through a window), in some cases the exhaust tube may be positioned into a false ceiling void, advice should be sought before using this system.

Split type units (refrigerant):

These are models similar to the PAC14, such units have 2 parts, a room unit and a condenser. The room unit placed within the area to be cooled comprises of an evaporator and a compressor. The room air enters the unit and once passed across the evaporator is returned into the room as cooled air. The external unit (which is connected to the room unit by a flexible pipe) contains the condenser which needs to cooled by ambient air, therefore the external unit needs to be positioned outside of the room. Typically the condenser is hung from a window.

Split type units (water):

This range includes the PAC15, Zephyr (PAC), PAC22 and PAC60. These units are also supplied in 2 parts, a room unit and a heat exchanger. The principle in operation is very similar to that of the refrigerant units. The major difference is that the condenser is placed within the room unit and cooled by water. The water is then circulated to the external unit (heat exchanger) via flexible pipes before returning to the room unit. The system is totally sealed and requires no further water once the unit is in place. The main advantage of this system is that the connection pipes can be extended, allowing the heat exchanger to be positioned up to 30 metres away from the room unit.

Applications for temporary air conditioning equipment

  • Offices
  • Events & Exhibitions
  • Temporary accommodation
  • Shops and Restaurant
  • Storage of heat-sensitive products
  • Computer server rooms
  • Spot Cooling
  • Schools
  • Telecommunication rooms
  • Laboratories
  • Hospitals
  • Production Facilities
  • Process control rooms
  • Hotel and conference centres
  • Printing and reprographics
  • or any application where a fixed unit has broken down or needs to be shut down for maintenance.

Calculating the cooling capacity required and choosing the type of air conditioning

The heat load for each individual room can vary considerably. The amount of cooling required depends on the number of lights, the number of people, the amount of glass area facing the sun and also the number of computers or other heat generating electrical equipment in the room. It is important to consider these factors in order to determine the capacity correctly.

An Andrews specialist will be pleased to visit your premises at a time to suit you, they will provide you with an accurate cooling calculation for you and recommend the best unit for your application. Alternatively you can use our online calculator to select the best unit for your application by clicking here.

Selection and installation of your portable air conditioner

To select what size and which type of temporary air conditioner you need, you must first consider the capacity of the unit and the possible alternatives to remove the condenser heat. The follow can be used to estimate the amount cooling required.

Normal Modern Offices: 46 W per m3

Portable Buildings: 57 W per m3

Tents/Marquees: 95 W per m3

In addition to the type and size of the area to be cooled, consideration must be given to any electrical appliances that generate heat in the area. Such appliances are listed below along with the approximate heat emission that they generate.

Personal computer: 100 watts

Printer: 300 watts

Photocopier on standby: 200 watts

Photocopier in use: 800 watts

TV screen: 300 watts

Coffee machine: 800 watts

Before you select your Andrews portable air conditioner we suggest the following issues should be considered.

  • The indoor unit (evaporator) needs to be positioned within 1.5 metres of a 13 amp 230 volt socket. Always ensure that the electrical supply for the unit is adequate and that the operation of the unit will not cause any problems to other sensitive electronic equipment on the same ring main.
  • Ensure the room unit is located in a manner to avoid any obstruction to the airflow. This will ensure an even distribution of the cooled air. Make sure the room unit is level and that any condensate can be safely removed.
  • If you are to use a split type unit, the heat exchanger (condenser) will need to be positioned outside of the building or in a very well ventilated area that can withstand the heat transferred from the room being cooled. Condensation is discharged from the room unit to the heat exchanger where it is allowed to drain to the outside of the building. If the heat exchanger is placed within the building a separate means of discharging the condensation needs to be provided.
  • When using a PAC unit it is always advisable to position the heat exchanger away from direct sunlight or any position where its operation is likely to cause disruption. The heat exchanger can only be positioned within the distance specified by PAC line length. Always aim to keep the PAC line length to a minimum.

Portable evaporative coolers for hire

There are many applications where it is impossible or impractical to use portable air conditioners. In such cases an alternative may be the use of an evaporative air cooler. These units are often used where access to an external source is unavailable, the Andrews range of evaporative air coolers can help overcome uncomfortable conditions.

The evaporative concept is designed to cool fresh air through the process of natural evaporation by drawing air across a wet filter they provide a refreshing cool air flow. As the air passes the wet filter, the moisture evaporates and a drop in temperature will result, although the overall room temperature will not be reduced, the unit does provide localised comfort cooling.

Applications for evaporative coolers

  • Offices
  • Shops
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Kitchens
  • Sports halls and gymnasiums
  • Large manufacturing areas
  • Outdoor events and marquees
  • Retail outlets
  • Night clubs
Andrews Sykes
FREEPHONE0800 211 611