You have probably heard your friends and neighbors fondly talk about their evaporative coolers, sometimes referred to as a swamp coolers. You may have wondered what are evaporative coolers, and what makes them so special. Evaporative cooling works on the principle of heat absorption by moisture evaporation. The evaporative cooler draws exterior air into special pads soaked with water, where the air is cooled by evaporation, then circulated into your space.
Evaporative cooling is most effective in climates relatively low in humidity such as the desert. The average annual humidity in Phoenix is 37%, making the Valley an ideal location to own an evaporative cooling system. Also, anywhere along the southwest part of the country, Colorado, Texas or Southern California are ideal evaporative cooling locations.
Saving Green
The savings of using an evaporative cooler compared to a refrigerated air condition system is approximately 75%. That can add up to quite a bit of money during the blazing summer months. The cost for installation is about half of that of central refrigerated air conditioning. The cost of maintenance is also lower with evaporated cooling because there are comparatively less mechanical parts, and no refrigerants to replace.
Being Green
Evaporative coolers use water instead of environmentally destructive and toxic chemicals found in refrigerants. Evaporative coolers conserve energy because there are no compressors so they only use about 25% of electricity that central refrigerated air conditioners use. The water vapor is recycled, so there is no waste.
Additional Benefits
Evaporative coolers provide fresh air circulating at all times, instead of recirculated, stagnant air as refrigerated air conditioners do. It increases humidity indoors, hydrating hair, skin, lungs, and sinuses. The pads in evaporative cooling systems can provide a built in air filter, removing many contaminates found in the air pollution.
The good news is, you don’t have to chose. If you already have a central refrigerated air conditioner you can add an evaporative cooler to do the majority of the work during the year. You can supplement with your air conditioner during days of extreme heat and humidity, potentially saving thousands of dollars each year.
There are an entire line of residential evapcool products from window units to whole home units available for comparison on our website.