Supplement Existing Heating System: A Markham, IL Restaurant Utilizes Movincool Portable Heat Pump Rentals

In the winter of 2025, when one of the central heating systems lost partial heating output at a popular fast-food restaurant in Markham, Illinois, the management faced a choice: close down dining or find a rapid-response solution. To keep their customers warm and the kitchen running, they called in the specialists at Porta Air for heat pump rentals.

The rescue mission involved the strategic installation of several heat pumps to provide immediate, localized warmth during the height of the Illinois chill.

The Original Powerhouse: Climate Pro 18

The star of this installation was a Climate Pro 18 Rental, a landmark unit in the MovinCool lineage. As part of the first-generation Climate Pro series, this rental unit was specifically engineered to move beyond simple spot cooling/dehumidification and offer robust, year-round climate control to include heating.

For the Markham fast-food site, the Climate Pro 18 offered several critical advantages:

• · High Heating Output using Standard Power: Despite its impressive 13,100 BTU/h heating capacity, the unit runs on a standard 115V circuit. This allowed Porta Air to plug the units into dedicated existing wall outlets throughout the dining area without needing expensive electrical wiring for a higher voltage, capacity-equivalent, electric heater(s), resulting in both time and cost savings during setup.
• · Customer-Friendly Operation: At its highest speed, the unit operates at roughly 65 dB(A)—about the level of a normal conversation—ensuring that the sound of the portable heat pump didn´t disrupt the dining experience.
• · Space-Saving Footprint: With a footprint of just over 4 square feet, these units were easily tucked into corners and near windows where the cold was most aggressive, without obstructing the flow of customer traffic.

A Fast-Food "Rescue" Operation

Fast-food restaurants are unique environments for heating because of the high rate of air exchange. Every time a door opens for a customer or a delivery driver, the temperature drops. The Porta Air team positioned the Climate Pro 18 units to create "warmth zones" in the dining area.

By utilizing the unit´s programmable electronics, the restaurant was able to maintain a steady 70°F (21°C) throughout the day, ensuring that even as the outdoor temperatures in Markham dipped, the interior remained a welcoming refuge for hungry travelers.

Why Porta Air and MovinCool?

This installation highlights the reliability of "first-gen" engineering. The original Climate Pro 18 series set the standard for durability in the rental industry. While newer "e" models have since been introduced with R-32 refrigerant, the core design of the Climate Pro 18 remains a favorite for emergency response due to its sheer "plug-and-play" simplicity, quietness, and rugged build.

When the heat goes down, every minute of downtime is lost revenue. In Markham, the combination of Porta-Air’s rental expertise and MovinCool’s heating technology proved that even a partial heat loss doesn´t have to mean a "closed" sign on the restaurant door.