EVAPORATIVE COOLERS (Swamp Coolers)

Evaporation takes place in nature all the time. Our bodies use the process of evaporation to cool themselves; sweat evaporates off of the skin. Near a body of water you notice the effects of natural evaporative cooling as a breeze comes off the water, especially in areas with hotter, drier air.

As the dry air passes over the water, the air will absorb some of the water and become cooler. An evaporative cooler simply puts this natural effect to regular use in a machine that will efficiently and effectively cool your home or office or recreational vehicle. RV evaporative coolers are made especially for recreational vehicles or other mobile units and are effective and economical.

An evaporative cooler doesn’t only cool the air; it also moves the air through the room with a fan. The cooler pulls fresh warm air from outside using the moist filters, then picks up water and cools the air by as much as 30 degrees. The filters also serve as an air purifier. This cooled, clean air is then blown throughout the room or building.

When operating an evaporative cooler, windows are opened part way to allow warm indoor air to escape as it is replaced by cooled air. Evaporative air coolers have the advantage of providing a steady stream of fresh air into the house whereas air conditioners re-circulate the same air over and over again and refrigerate it again and again. Evaporative coolers operate under a different principle than air conditioners. Evaporative coolers reduce the air temperature and do not actually remove heat from the air.

Not only do evaporative air coolers cost about one quarter as much energy as air conditioners, they cost about one-half as much to install as central air conditioners.

Installation

Evaporative coolers are installed to blow air into a central location, which work well in compact areas that have open spaces. Or they can be connected to ductwork and be distributed to various areas, which is what larger houses require that have hallways and rooms.

Evaporative coolers are most often installed on the roofs of homes. Others prefer the ground-mounted horizontal units which give easier access when there is need of maintenance. This also means less risk of roof leaks.

Small horizontal-flow units are installed in windows, which are good for cooling a section of a house. These work well in moderate climates but may not cool a room adequately in very warm climates. These are becoming more popular in the western United States with the milder summer temperatures. They can reduce the temperatures by 5° to 15° F.

Most evaporative coolers have at least two speeds and a vent-only operation. When the vent-only operation is in use, the water pump does not operate and the outdoor air is not humidified. This is useful to use as a house fan during mild weather.

An attractive option for homeowners concerned about allergies is that filters can remove most of the dust and pollens from incoming air.

You can control the temperature and humidity by opening the windows where you want the air cooled and closing the windows where there are unoccupied areas. Where open windows are a security risk, the option is to install up-ducts in the ceiling. Up-ducts open to exhaust warm air into the attic as cooler air comes in from the evaporative cooler. The attic will need additional ventilation. Maintenance

Draining and cleaning your evaporative regularly will save yourself a lot of work and money. There will be a build-up of sediment and minerals, which should be removed from time to time. Coolers should be given a major cleaning every season and routine maintenance several times during the season. The more the cooler runs the more often maintenance should take place. In times of long hot, dry periods, look at the filters, reservoir and pump at least once per month. The filters should be replaced at least twice during the cooling season. Where there is continuous cooling, change the once a month. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the filters – some use soap and water and others use a weak acid solution

Evaporative coolers are not effective in humid areas because they add to the humidity. Listen to the dew points as they are announced on weather reports in many areas. Evaporative air coolers work well when the dew point is below 55 %. When the dew point is above 55%, condensation in the ducts may be a problem.