For some businesses, temperature monitoring is more of a convenience than a necessity. If heating or air conditioning fails, the main issue might just be uncomfortable employees or a temporary dip in productivity. In these situations, a temperature monitoring system may not always be necessary.
But for companies that handle sensitive inventory, critical processes or regulated operations, temperature control isn’t optional.
Even minor temperature fluctuations can have significant consequences including equipment damage, spoiled goods and failed inspections—all of which can lead to lost productivity and profits. That’s why businesses with a lot at stake use a temperature monitoring system to keep their operations running smoothly and reliably.
Does your business have too much at stake to ignore temperature fluctuations? Here are three signs that you need a temperature monitoring system:
Data centers need precise temperature control to run smoothly and avoid costly downtime. That’s why a temperature monitoring system plays a vital role in data center infrastructure management, helping facilities maintain constant, uninterrupted uptime. Without continuous moitoring, even a little heat buildup can bring a fully functional server room to a halt.
Temperature monitoring also saves money. Many data centers mix older equipment, which runs hotter, with newer, cooler-running systems. By identifying hot spots and inefficiencies early, facilities can optimize airflow and prevent overcooling.
Greenhouse operations face similar risks. A small change in temperature can slow plant growth, while excessive heat stresses plants. Temperature extremes in either direction can be fatal.
Many operators still rely on staff walking the facility to check heaters and ventilation stacks. But humans can’t physically watch every inch of a greenhouse around the clock. A temperature monitoring system is always on duty, alerting appropriate personnel immediately so preventive action can be taken before small issues turn into costly losses.
And if your business involves animals, catching temperature problems early can be a matter of life or death. Whether you manage livestock, a zoo or a pet store, the sooner you know about dangerous temperatures, the faster you can respond to protect your animals. Facilities with multiple species face an extra challenge as different areas often require different temperature settings. For example, one part of a zoo might house reptiles and amphibians, while another is home to mammals—each needing its own temperature range.
Hotels, hospitals and office complexes can be huge, with many rooms and areas needing consistent temperature monitoring to ensure occupant comfort, safety and operational efficiency. Property managers are responsible for maintaining a stable ambient temperature not just in rooms and hallways but also in shared spaces and critical areas like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry facilities, laboratories, and clinics.
A temperature monitoring system makes this task much easier. With a centralized dashboard, staff can see real-time conditions across the entire facility and quickly address any issues before they impact occupants or operations.
Remote operations also benefit from monitoring. Facilities like public waterworks rely on temperature monitoring systems to keep an eye on pump stations, well houses and tank farms scattered throughout their service area. The systems alert personnel at the main facility to power failures or other changes that could affect equipment performance. When equipped with additional sensors, a remote monitoring system can also track well levels, system pressure, water pressure, temperature as well as pump status and run time, providing a comprehensive view of operations in real time.
Facilities handling vaccines, pharmaceuticals, tissue samples and other medical assets that must remain cold need to follow best practices for medical cold storage to ensure regulatory compliance and maintain proper documentation for audits. Proper temperature storage is critical for these pharmaceuticals. Any loss of potency due to improper refrigeration can compromise the safety and efficacy of these products.
A temperature monitoring system with a built-in data logger makes compliance easier. It automatically records temperature data, which staff can download, print and share in reports for internal audits or external regulators.
For commercial food cold storage, organizations must comply with the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Remote temperature monitoring helps businesses with:
The FSMA requires food providers to track and document temperatures throughout processing, transportation and distribution. A remote monitoring system simplifies this process, providing real-time oversight and reliable documentation to ensure compliance and safe operations.
When you want to know the temperature outside, you might check your wall thermometer. Or maybe you check your phone. Or you go outside and see how it feels. There are many ways to get temperature readings. The same is true for the remote monitoring systems used to prevent facility and product damage.
Remote monitoring systems can get temperature and humidity data from four different devices:
All these devices monitor temperature and/or humidity and send the data to a Sensaphone remote monitoring system. When the system logs a reading above or below the specified range, an alarm triggers.
So are all these sensors interchangeable? The short answer is: no. The right sensor for your facility depends on your application and environment. If you’re monitoring sensitive products like vaccines in medical freezers, you need to select the best sensor for the job.
Dry contact switches, like the Sensaphone Temp Alert Temperature Switch, are simple devices. It is the easiest temperature alert sensor to set up. To set a high or low alarm limit, all you need to do is move the arms on the front of the sensor. When the temperature exceeds the limit, the sensor will close its contact and send the Sensaphone device into alarm. Also, sensors can be wired in parallel so that multiple sensors only take up one input. And you can view the temperature range and current temperature on the local display.
Dry contact switches have one major limitation. They can’t report an exact temperature. They can react if the temperature exceeds a specific range, but they can't say by how much.
Another disadvantage is that a dry contact switch is bulkier and less responsive than other sensors. It takes approximately 14 minutes to react to a temperature change. The switch has a smaller temperature sensing range and a greater margin of error (+-3°). It can only be used in ambient temperatures, so it would be a poor choice for a refrigerator or freezer.
The Humidistat Humidity Switch uses the same concept, but with a dial instead of arms. It can detect either a high or low limit. When you get an alarm, you will know that the humidity is either above or below the set limit.
The switch type humidity sensor has a lower monitoring range than the transducer type, but you may add multiple devices to one input on a Sensaphone monitoring device.
Sensaphone remote monitoring systems offer solutions to monitor conditions such as temperature across facilities, cold storage, data centers, remote sites and other environments on a 24/7 basis. They alert the right people via text, email or voice based on preset thresholds. Many systems also include data logging, remote access and cloud-based dashboards, making it easy to review conditions and maintain compliance documentation.
Sensaphone remote monitoring systems are compatible with a variety of temperature sensors and environmental probes to provide a flexible, scalable monitoring system for almost any situation.
Picking the right temperature sensors is important for accurate results. For example, some sensors are better suited for measuring ambient air temperatures, while others do better inside a closed space such as a refrigerator or server rack. There are even sensors designed for extreme or harsh environments.
It's important to note that not every Sensaphone system works with every type of sensor. To help you make the best choice, here are some tips for selecting the right sensors for your setup.
If you need to measure temperatures in remote or hard-to-reach areas, a wireless sensor is often the best solution. The WSG30 Monitoring System has its own line of wireless sensors including standard room temperature devices and ultra-low temperature models. You can even connect these sensors to probes inside a refrigerator or freezer for continuous monitoring.
When monitoring very cold environments, it’s important to ensure that both the sensor and the monitoring system are rated for that range. For instance, the Sentinel can be paired with a 2.8K Ultra Low Temperature Sensor to monitor and send alerts for extreme cold environments such as medical or research freezers.
Many industrial applications require monitoring across a wide temperature range. An RTD probe with a 4-20mA transmitter can handle temperatures from -200-35 °C, and even be customized to operate over ranges between -200-204 °C. They work for liquid nitrogen and cryogenic storage facilities as well as they do for ovens, autoclaves, boilers, and furnaces.
The Sensaphone product line also offers a variety of specialized sensors for unique applications. For example, if you want to buffer temperature changes (such as when a refrigerator door frequently opens), you can choose a temperature sensor housed in a vial filled with glass beads.
Many sensors are available with an optional NIST certification. There’s even an outdoor-rated temperature sensor that resists radiant energy as well as sensors designed to measure the temperature of fluids inside a pipe. Whatever your application, Sensaphone can offer a solution that fits your needs.
If you have specific questions about which temperatuer monitoring system and sensors are right for your facility or workplace, our support teamcan help you find the right fit. You may also be interested in 5 Question for Buying a Wireless Temperature Monitoring System.