When winter hits, downtime is something many buildings cannot afford. Between cold snaps, reduced daylight, and higher heating demands, even a short disruption can create bigger headaches. This is why it makes sense to plan ahead. If your heating or cooling system needs maintenance or repair, you might require a temporary setup to keep the building running properly. Choosing between a boiler or a chiller is not always straightforward. While February in London leans cold, there are still spaces and systems that depend on year-round cooling. Many businesses start by searching for chiller rental services, only to realise they may need heat, not cold. Others skip over chillers completely when they could really use one. So how do you know which option is best for your site? London Climate Hire supplies both temporary boiler hire and chiller hire across London and surrounding counties, so a single provider can support either requirement during planned or unexpected downtime.
Choosing the Right Equipment Based on Your System Needs
The first step is figuring out what your building actually relies on through the winter. Some spaces need steady heat, especially during colder months. Others might need cooling 24/7, regardless of the weather outside. There are also hybrid systems where heating and cooling are tied together.
Here are a few things we usually assess before making a decision:
• Does your current system support both heating and cooling from one unit? If so, taking it offline could create a bigger gap than expected
• Are there any temperature-critical zones like server rooms or food storage where cold is a priority year-round?
• How is warmth distributed throughout the building? Radiators, underfloor heating, or vents all have their own quirks
Understanding this early helps prevent rushed installations later. It also gives time to develop a plan that suits the building’s layout and operations. From the first enquiry, an experienced heating and cooling engineer from London Climate Hire can visit your site to assess these points and select the correct temporary equipment for your application.
How Cold Weather Affects Building Performance
London’s February weather is not usually extreme, but it can still add pressure. Low temperatures make indoor spaces harder to warm up, especially if the system has already had issues. If a repair calls for shutting things down completely, the chill moves in quickly.
These are a few common effects of cold-weather downtime:
• Unheated rooms can get uncomfortable quickly, slowing work or keeping people away.
• Pipes in older buildings risk freezing if the heat drops too low, causing bursts and water damage.
• Equipment such as printers or lab tools may stop working properly when the temperature shifts too much indoors
By the time these issues appear, it is usually too late to react quickly. Planning early makes the biggest difference.
When a Temporary Chiller Might Still Be the Better Option
It is easy to assume chillers are only useful in summer. However, some businesses cannot go without cooling, even in the middle of winter. If your site includes sensitive equipment, refrigerated storage, or production processes, letting the temperature climb too high is not an option.
Chiller rental services can still help in February by offering support when:
• Cooling hardware is offline for service but the demand for cool temperatures remains
• Remote or contained areas such as server rooms cannot warm up without risking damage
• You want to provide temperature control without rerouting or altering the entire building’s system
Chillers can be rolled into place and set up to serve just the rooms that need it. This prevents disruption to areas that do not, keeping heating and cooling separate in an efficient way.
Why Boilers Are Often the Go-To in February
For most commercial buildings in London, heating is the top priority in February. Office blocks, warehouses, schools, and hospitals all need steady warmth to keep people comfortable and comply with safety requirements. Even a short gap in heating can lead to complaints, accidents, or larger repair bills.
Temporary boilers bridge the gap when:
• A permanent boiler is offline for servicing or is delayed
• Additional support is needed during periods of high use when one unit cannot keep up
• There are areas susceptible to frozen pipes or a need to keep water above a set temperature
Mobile boilers can respond to a wide range of demands, from small zones to full plant rooms. They are built to be flexible so that setups can match the size and layout of the site, avoiding the need for major structural changes.
Staying Ahead with the Right Backup for Winter
Mid to late winter allows little time for delays. If repairs take longer than planned or a delivery is delayed, having a backup plan already in motion keeps things running smoothly. One of the best ways to prevent problems during downtime is to consider February’s forecast and prepare equipment support before it is needed.
Here are some steps we take to maintain smooth operations through winter:
• Identify which systems are most important and plan coverage before servicing is scheduled
• Decide early which spaces require heat, cooling, or both, especially in larger or multi-use buildings
• Make sure the right connections are prepared so swaps or setups can happen quickly if a failure occurs
Both boilers and chillers are essential, even when the weather leans strongly toward one need. Selecting the one that aligns with your daily requirements is what ensures smooth operation behind the scenes. Waiting until a problem arises usually ends up costing more than being prepared.
When reliable cooling is necessary for your building throughout February and beyond, trust our team for dependable solutions. Whether you manage a data centre, production facility, or need to protect heat-sensitive equipment, a fast response to a cooling disruption is important. With local support across London, we are ready to respond when your systems go offline. To keep operations running as they should, explore our chiller rental services or contact London Climate Hire to discuss your winter requirements.