---
title: "Water Isn’t the Only Thing Keeping Data Centers Cool: Pfannenberg Filterfans"
description: Water isn’t the only thing keeping data centers cool. Learn how Pfannenberg Filterfans protect network, power, and edge enclosures from heat.
image: https://blog.wolfautomation.com/hubfs/Every%20Cabinet%20Counts.jpg
---
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Industry Focus
# Water Isn’t the Only Thing Keeping Data Centers Cool: Pfannenberg Filterfans
Theresa Hoffman
November 13, 2026
We found out that it takes a whole lot of water to cool a data center. A maze of pipes and giant pumps runs through the facility, working around the clock to keep up with the heat coming off all those electronics. It’s an impressive system, and it gets most of the attention.
But here’s a question: what about everything that isn’t a server?
Think about the network cabinets, edge computing [enclosures](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/enclosures/), UPS systems, and power distribution panels that keep a data center humming. They generate heat too, and many of them sit in hallways, mechanical rooms, or remote sites where the big room-level cooling never reaches. And when one of them overheats, uptime takes the hit. A failed switch in a network closet can take down just as much as a failed server!
That’s where Pfannenberg Filterfans come in.
**So, what is a Filterfan?**
Think of it like a window with a screen and a fan. A [Filterfan](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Filterfan) mounts in the side or door of an [enclosure](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/enclosures/) and pulls cooler room air inside. On the opposite side, usually mounted higher, a passive exhaust filter lets the warm air escape. The result is a steady flow of fresh air across your electronics. Pretty simple for something that does such a big job, huh?
The “filter” part is just as important as the “fan” part. Dust acts like a blanket on circuit boards and heat sinks, trapping heat and shortening the life of your equipment. A [replaceable filter mat](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Replacement+Filter) inside the [Filterfan](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Filterfan)catches dust and debris before it ever gets inside. Since the air only enters the cabinet through the Filterfan, it’s always filtered, and the fan builds a slight overpressure inside the enclosure to help keep the dirt out.
**Where do they fit in a data center?**
You probably won’t find a [Filterfan](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Filterfan) cooling an entire server hall. Their job is protecting the equipment inside individual enclosures. Look for them on edge computing enclosures, network and telecom cabinets, UPS and battery systems, and the building automation cabinets that run HVAC, lighting, and access control.
Pfannenberg’s [PF series](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Series=PF+6xxxx+FilterFan+4.0) covers everything from small cabinets to large enclosures. Many models are rated IP54 or IP55 and NEMA Type 12 to keep dust and dripping water out, and 24V DC models are available for telecom and edge sites running on DC power. Short on space? The [PF 67000](https://www.wolfautomation.com/search.php?search_query=pf%2067000)mounts on the outside of the enclosure, making it a great fit for tight IT racks. It even has a maintenance indicator LED that lets you know when it’s time to change the filter.
**Is a Filterfan always the right fit?**
Not always! A [Filterfan](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Filterfan) can only cool an enclosure down toward the temperature of the room around it. If the room is 75°F, the inside of the cabinet will run a bit warmer than that. That makes them ideal for clean, climate-controlled spaces, like an IT closet, where the surrounding air is cooler than your equipment needs.
And one last tip: don’t forget about the [filter mat](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Replacement+Filter)! When it clogs, the fan keeps spinning, but airflow drops and the cabinet keeps heating up. Sneaky, right? Keep a few spares on hand and swap them out when you see dust building up.
The server hall may get all the glory, but uptime depends on every cabinet in the building. With Pfannenberg Filterfans, keeping them cool is pretty easy.
We carry [Pfannenberg Filterfans,](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Filterfan) [exhaust filters](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Exhaust+Filter+for+Fan), and [replacement filter mats](https://www.wolfautomation.com/products/thermal-management-solutions/?_bc_fsnf=1&Thermal+Product+Type=Replacement+Filter).
Have questions? [Let us know](https://www.wolfautomation.com/contact-us/) how we can help with your cooling solution.
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