Evaporative Air Cooler
Evaporative air coolers circulate evaporated water to cool and add moisture to the air. They are used primarily in drier climates and are cost-efficient climate control solutions.
The cooling effect of swamp coolers is based on water’s low enthalpy of vaporization. Unlike conventional AC units that remove humidity from the indoor air, swamp coolers boost moisture levels which is ideal for those with dry skin and respiratory conditions.
Cooling Capacity
The cooling capacity of evaporative air coolers is dependent on temperature and humidity. They are best suited to hot, dry climates that can benefit from the added moisture in the form of water vapour. They are not suitable for humid or wet climates, as the humidity will prevent the absorption of water vapour and a reduction in the air temperature.
An evaporative cooler is not as powerful as an air conditioner, and you will need to open windows on the leeward side of your home or office to allow cool, fresh air to flow into the area. You will need to experiment to find out the number of windows you need to open to get the maximum cooling effect from your evaporative air cooler.
This evaporative air cooler from Honeywell has an impressive cooling capacity, with the manufacturer saying it can cool rooms up to 320 square feet. It also has a range of features including three fan speeds, a timer and two mist modes, making it an excellent choice for those who want to be able to control their air cooler via a remote.
This evaporative air cooler is relatively compact and small, so it’s more suited to smaller spaces like offices and bedrooms. It has a tank that can hold up to 1400mL of water, which will last for seven and a half hours Evaporative air cooler when the air cooler is in use. This is quite a long duration, and you’ll likely need to refill the tank less often than if you were using a portable air conditioner.
Energy Efficiency
Evaporative coolers consume a fraction of the electricity required by refrigerated air conditioners. They also have a lower environmental impact because they use no refrigerant gases or compressors, and they do not deplete the Earth’s ozone layer.
An evaporative cooler’s cooling potential is dependent on the humidity of the surrounding environment; dry environments have greater capacity to absorb water vapour than moist ones. However, the cooling potential can be reduced by high humidity levels because excessive moisture reduces the evaporation rate of the air.
The evaporative cooling system has tubing with nozzles that delivers water to the top of the pad, usually made from excelsior (aspen wood shavings). The water trickles down and drips off the pads into a sump at the base of the metal cabinet; the float valve in the sump controls water supply and allows the pad water to be replenished manually or by a recirculating pump.
Ducted evaporative air cooling systems feature a cooling unit located on the roof and ductwork that carries cooled air to outlets at ceiling level in each room. Portable and wall-mounted evaporative coolers are also available to provide spot cooling in small rooms. The evaporative coolers do not require a permanent power outlet, although most large units require a ball-valve “Y” hose fitting on an outdoor hose bibb to supply water. The system can be operated in vent-only mode without the water pump operating to conserve energy and prevent excessive humidity.
Noise Levels
Evaporative coolers use the natural process of water evaporation to cool the air and they have a fan that blows the cooled air out. However, because of the constant movement of air and the heat generated by the fan they can generate some noise.
Generally, the best evaporative coolers for residential and commercial applications have quiet fans. They are also designed to be mounted high off the ground and this will help reduce the noise levels further. However, there are many factors that can affect the amount of noise an evaporative cooler produces.
These include the size of the fan and the type of cooling pads used. Larger fans tend to be quieter than smaller ones Evaporative air cooler and they can move a greater volume of air at lower RPMs, which also helps to reduce the noise level. Choosing a unit with an adjustable fan speed can also make it possible to reduce noise levels even more.
The noise level produced by a cooler is measured in decibels. A typical evaporative cooler will produce between 45 and 50 decibels of noise, which is comparable to the sound of a refrigerator running. This is quite low in comparison to other cooling systems that can emit noise in the vicinity of 60 decibels (normal talking) or 140 decibels (gunshot). Similarly, portable air conditioning units, fans and evaporative coolers typically rank at around 37 decibels.
Maintenance
The main advantage of evaporative cooling is that it uses less energy than air conditioning. However, the system does require maintenance and routine service checks by a qualified HVAC technician to ensure that it functions properly. This helps to prevent expensive problems that may arise if the device is not serviced on a regular basis.
The most important maintenance task is changing the swamp cooler pads in Melbourne on a regular basis. These can become clogged with mineral deposits, and this can reduce their ability to function properly. In most cases, it is a good idea to change the pads twice during the cooling season.
It is also important to change the water in the evaporative cooler on a weekly basis. This can be done by draining the reservoir through a drain plug in window and standalone units. In some instances, it might be a good idea to add water treatment tablets to the water to avoid the build-up of hard water minerals in the evaporative cooling pad.
At the end of the cooling season, it is a good idea to winterize the unit by turning off and unplugging the window or standalone evaporative cooler, disconnecting the motor and pump and allowing the pad and unit to dry completely. Afterwards, the evaporative cooler should be stored in a cool place and covered with a protective cover.
