Evaporative Water Coolers - Evaporative Cooler vs AC
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TheRoman
07-06-08, 10:51 AM
After getting a few quotes on central air ranging in price from about $10,000 - $17,000... I'm considering going with an evaporative cooler.
I'm looking for a window or mobile unit, though. How well do these things work? Humidity around here usually sits at 14% or so during the hottest parts of the day.
I know NOTHING about coolers, so any information you guys can throw out there would be great. Anything I should look for? Avoid? Anything at all?
Thanks!
I'm looking for a window or mobile unit, though. How well do these things work? Humidity around here usually sits at 14% or so during the hottest parts of the day.
I know NOTHING about coolers, so any information you guys can throw out there would be great. Anything I should look for? Avoid? Anything at all?
Thanks!
Handyman663
07-06-08, 11:51 AM
We have low humidity in Colo so evaporation works pretty well here. I use two Convair portable evap units and they help. The best part is they draw only 92 watts. The down side is that they must be filled with water every few hours. Also they are pretty touchy to keep running right and parts are expensive. The drive belt is a large O-ring, costs $8 ea and it consumes 3 or 4 per summer. Window or roof mounted units offer more cooling capacity, are generally hard piped into house water, and are less trouble prone than portables. Due to mold and scale issues all evap coolers should have the media pads changed at least annually.
Do you have an attic? In Boulder all but the hottest nights will be in the low 60's and a whole house fan will cool the house to about the overnight low by sunrise. Then close all windows and doors during the day. I have had several of these and loved them. The negatives are windows must be open at night and this is a security concern for some. Also, the fan will draw in allergens (pollens), which is a problem for some. In my last house I also had central A/C, which I operated only late afternoon on the hottest days.
Both of the above options are a much lower capital investment than central air and have much lower operating costs. How this info is of some help.
Do you have an attic? In Boulder all but the hottest nights will be in the low 60's and a whole house fan will cool the house to about the overnight low by sunrise. Then close all windows and doors during the day. I have had several of these and loved them. The negatives are windows must be open at night and this is a security concern for some. Also, the fan will draw in allergens (pollens), which is a problem for some. In my last house I also had central A/C, which I operated only late afternoon on the hottest days.
Both of the above options are a much lower capital investment than central air and have much lower operating costs. How this info is of some help.
Gunguy45
07-06-08, 11:59 AM
Roman
Kinda new to coolers myself, but have done a lot of research and testing. Have one in the garage (about 350SF), 2800 CFM Champion, (thats the size of the hole that was there when I moved in). Will keep the garage in the low 80's on a 105 degree day, but the humidity is up a bit. 95 at 24% outside, 80at 50% inside garage as we speak. Have to keep garage door slightly opened to allow airflow (very important with evap coolers), but thats ok, as it blows the cig smoke out. The more humid it is outside, the less efficient it is. When the RH outside is in the 8-10% range, my cooler output is under 70 degrees (many times in the 67 degree area), with an 80 degree outside temp. Today it was 80 at 27% when I got up..and the cooler output wouldn't go below 72-75.
House interior (1600 SF) is 77 at 45% with a packaged rooftop A/C furnace unit.
Down in Phoenix and out in the desert areas, where it gets hotter and dryer, they work very well, but I wouldn't put one in my house here, we're kind of in a transition area I guess. They don't use as much electric as an A/C, but your water bill goes up some.
They also take much more maintenance, as in a weekly drain and flush (can be automatic), changing or cleaning the pads, cleaning the pump, filtering the water, etc etc. Because of the high volume airflow, they can be pretty noisy as well. Wife always yells at me to turn down the TV when she comes out in the garage.
If I had it to do over again, and more time to do it, I would have opened up the hole in the wall and installed an 8000BTU A/C. Thats what I'll do when this chiller fails in 7-8 yrs.
The cooler manufacturers websites are pretty informative, they don't seem to be selling their stuff where it won't work well. Try.....
http://www.essickair.com/
Kinda new to coolers myself, but have done a lot of research and testing. Have one in the garage (about 350SF), 2800 CFM Champion, (thats the size of the hole that was there when I moved in). Will keep the garage in the low 80's on a 105 degree day, but the humidity is up a bit. 95 at 24% outside, 80at 50% inside garage as we speak. Have to keep garage door slightly opened to allow airflow (very important with evap coolers), but thats ok, as it blows the cig smoke out. The more humid it is outside, the less efficient it is. When the RH outside is in the 8-10% range, my cooler output is under 70 degrees (many times in the 67 degree area), with an 80 degree outside temp. Today it was 80 at 27% when I got up..and the cooler output wouldn't go below 72-75.
House interior (1600 SF) is 77 at 45% with a packaged rooftop A/C furnace unit.
Down in Phoenix and out in the desert areas, where it gets hotter and dryer, they work very well, but I wouldn't put one in my house here, we're kind of in a transition area I guess. They don't use as much electric as an A/C, but your water bill goes up some.
They also take much more maintenance, as in a weekly drain and flush (can be automatic), changing or cleaning the pads, cleaning the pump, filtering the water, etc etc. Because of the high volume airflow, they can be pretty noisy as well. Wife always yells at me to turn down the TV when she comes out in the garage.
If I had it to do over again, and more time to do it, I would have opened up the hole in the wall and installed an 8000BTU A/C. Thats what I'll do when this chiller fails in 7-8 yrs.
The cooler manufacturers websites are pretty informative, they don't seem to be selling their stuff where it won't work well. Try.....
http://www.essickair.com/
dean1
07-06-08, 04:02 PM
Hi, I live in socal,try your local power co. they have a link to flex your power.It is a little more work but my power bill went from over $100.00 a mo. to may be about $50.00 a mo.
I put a purge in my cooler so every 6hrs i get clean water back.
I put the drain hose to the garden so im not wasting water.
I drain the cooler once a month and put a fresh air block in the cooler. that helps keep the hard water build up out. pads i like the green ones. I hope this helps.
I put a purge in my cooler so every 6hrs i get clean water back.
I put the drain hose to the garden so im not wasting water.
I drain the cooler once a month and put a fresh air block in the cooler. that helps keep the hard water build up out. pads i like the green ones. I hope this helps.
angela-wang
07-15-08, 01:11 AM
HI,i am angela that sale evaporative air cooler.May i help you?My company website:http://www.jh-cool.com
regards
angela-wang
regards
angela-wang
angela-wang
07-15-08, 01:53 AM
HI,i am angela work in a Chinese company which is the manufacturer of evaporative air cooler.Tell me your email address.I will send you some information.My company website:http://www.jh-cool.com.
my Email :angela@jh-cool.com
regards
angela-wang
my Email :angela@jh-cool.com
regards
angela-wang