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Swamp Cooler How It Works

A swamp cooler uses moisture to cool air. A swamp cooler (which is also called an evaporative air conditioner) works by taking warm outside air through wet evaporative cooler pads, effectively cooling the air. The cold air is then blown into a home by a blower motor through a vent.

How effective are swamp coolers?

According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), an evaporative cooler can successfully reduce the ambient temperature by 5 to 15 degrees—but even the DOE is quick to clarify that this process works only in areas with low humidity.

Does a swamp cooler use a lot of water?

Swamp coolers need a constant supply of water. As water keeps evaporating from the unit to cool the air, more water needs to replace it. Larger units may use as much as 20 gallons / 75 litres per hour or more . . . and again, this will depend on the heat and humidity levels.

How do I cool my house with a swamp cooler?

10 Tips to Make Your Swamp Cooler Colder and More Efficient Use Your Swamp Cooler in a Dry Climate. Use Your Swamp Cooler Seasonally. Open the Windows. Run a Dehumidifier. Cultivate a Green Thumb. Experiment With Positioning. Prime the Pads First. Use Cold Water.

Can a swamp cooler cool an entire house?

This powerful evaporative cooler can cool up to 2,200 square feet of living space. Like all whole-house swamp coolers, the MasterCool 7000 CFM is hooked up to a continuous water source to maintain water levels. This unit requires little maintenance and uses less energy than older swamp coolers and AC units.

Do swamp coolers work in high heat?

Swamp cooler, also called desert cooler, air-cooler, works on evaporation of water and consequent cooling of the air. This works in hot and dry climates, not in humid or rainy season. The air that comes out is also higher in humidity.

Should a window be open when using a swamp cooler?

You can attain balanced air flow by installing ducts in each room or opening windows when the cooler is in use. A window should be open just enough to allow air pressure inside a room to slowly and quietly close the door to that room. However, the window is open too far if the door doesn’t move at all.

Can I leave my swamp cooler on all day?

A swamp cooler can be in operation for 24 hours of the day, but you will need to ensure it has enough water. Continuous flow coolers will automatically work and will be fine to run all day. Manual swamp coolers require you to add water to the reservoir and change the settings so it will run all day efficiently.

How long do swamp coolers last?

But, while swamp coolers don’t cost much to buy, they are a lot of work and money to maintain. Not only that, they are only warrantied to work for 5 years. Refrigerated air systems can last up to 20 years if properly maintained.

Can you leave evaporative cooling on overnight?

Yes, it is possible to leave an evaporative cooler on overnight. It is common for some people to leave the cooler on continuously for a 24-hour period. There is no issue with the system running continuously, but you may wish to consider leaving it on overnight if you live in a humid climate.

How many windows should be open with a swamp cooler?

You should have 1 to 2 square feet of a window or open door space for every 1,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM). For example, you have a 4,000 CFM system and windows with 4 square feet of space to the outside when opened. You need 4-8 square feet of space, which is 1-2 windows open, to run this system.

Do swamp coolers work in 100 degree weather?

“When it’s hot, say 100 degrees, the overall effectiveness goes down, especially when it gets humid,” said Matt Preiffer, owner of Avalanche Heating Cooling Plumbing. He says about 89 percent of the time your swamp cooler does a great job.

Can you put dry ice in a swamp cooler?

Can I put dry ice in my swamp cooler? It won’t be effective. It’s the evaporating water within the pad that creates cooler air. Use clean, quality pads and fresh water, you’ll be good.

Do swamp coolers work with AC?

Because of the different ways they work, you can’t run a swamp cooler and a standard air conditioner in the same house. They would cancel each other out, just like running a dehumidifier and a humidifier in the same room.

What is better swamp cooler or AC?

For budget savvy consumers, the swamp cooler is the more economical choice for summer cooling. Central AC does require some maintenance, but this is mostly clearing away debris from the compressor and making sure that the air filters are changed. Evaporative coolers require much more maintenance.

Can I use AC and swamp cooler?

Never use both your AC and your Swamp Cooler at the same time. Due to their different technologies they actually make each other work harder and sort of cancel each other out in some situations. So one at a time. Swamp Coolers work most effectively during the middle of the day, when it is hottest and driest.