Precision cooling (CRAC and CRAH) maintenance in Toronto
A UPS room that runs hot kills batteries early and trips electronics. Symetrix Canada coordinates precision cooling maintenance for data centres and UPS rooms in Toronto, the GTA and Ontario: CRAC and CRAH units, in-row cooling and their controls, serviced by certified refrigeration technicians and scheduled with your UPS maintenance. Requests get a reply and a quote within 4 business hours.
Key facts
- Inlet temperature target: 18 to 27 °C at the IT equipment inlet, the ASHRAE recommended range1
- Refrigerant work in Ontario: by technicians holding an ozone depletion prevention (ODP) certificate and a refrigeration trade certificate2
- Scope: CRAC (DX) and CRAH (chilled water) units, in-row coolers, humidifiers, controls and sensors
- How we deliver it: we coordinate, with a certified precision cooling contractor
- Response and quote: within 4 business hours
We coordinate this service with specialist partners.
Why cooling is part of UPS service
- Battery life: VRLA battery life falls quickly as room temperature rises 3. A string rated for one temperature dies early in a room that runs several degrees warmer.
- Electronics: UPS fans, capacitors and power modules age faster in heat 4.
- IT inlet temperature: ASHRAE recommends 18 to 27 °C at the IT equipment inlet 1; a cooling unit that drifts out of calibration moves the whole room out of it.
What maintenance covers
- Filters replaced, coils inspected and cleaned, condensate drains and pumps cleared
- Fans and belts checked; EC fan operation verified
- Refrigerant circuit (CRAC): pressures, superheat and subcooling, leak check, by certified technicians 2
- Chilled-water side (CRAH): valve operation, flow and temperatures
- Humidification and dehumidification checked against setpoints
- Controls and sensors calibrated; alarms tested to your monitoring
- Airflow: blanking panels, floor tile placement and hot or cold aisle containment reviewed with the UPS room in mind
- Report with readings and recommended work
Common questions
What temperature should a data centre or UPS room be?
ASHRAE recommends an inlet temperature of 18 to 27 °C for IT equipment 1. Battery rooms are kept near the battery manufacturer's rated temperature, because warmer rooms shorten battery life 3.
What is the difference between a CRAC and a CRAH unit?
A CRAC (computer room air conditioner) has its own refrigeration compressor. A CRAH (computer room air handler) uses chilled water from a central plant and a fan; it has no compressor of its own.
Who can work on refrigerant in Ontario?
Technicians with an ozone depletion prevention (ODP) certificate card. The card alone does not allow repairs, which also need a refrigeration trade certificate 2. The cooling work we coordinate is carried out by contractors holding both.
How often should CRAC units be serviced?
On the manufacturer's schedule, with filters checked more often in dusty rooms. Critical sites set a shorter interval in their maintenance contract.
Request a quote
Reply and quote within 4 business hours; same day in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, and 24 to 48 hours elsewhere in Canada.
Sources
- ASHRAE TC 9.9, 2021 Equipment Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments, reference card, Table 2.1, recommended envelope
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Certificate to handle refrigerants, page body
- Schneider Electric, What is the expected life of my APC UPS VRLA battery? (FA158934), FAQ answer
- Eaton, Straight talk about capacitors in your UPS (WP153009EN), capacitor service life section
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