A natural and efficient way to cool is by allowing water to evaporate into the air in low-humidity areas. This is the principle that drives evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers. Air is passed over water-saturated pads, and the water evaporates, reducing the temperature of the air by 15°F – to 40°F – before it is directed into the home.
Evaporative coolers work by allowing warm indoor air to escape as it’s replaced by cooler air as the windows are partially opened. Evaporative Cooler continuously provide fresh air into your home, unlike central air conditioning, which recirculates the same air repeatedly.
Coolers that use evaporative technology cost about half as much to install and use one-quarter as much energy as central air conditioners. The only drawback is that they require more frequent maintenance than refrigerated air conditioners, and they only work in humid areas.
Selection And Sizing
Evaporative coolers are rated based on how much air they deliver to a house each minute (cfm). Most models deliver between 3,000 and 25,000 cfm. In most cases, manufacturers recommend providing enough air-moving capacity for 20 to 40 air changes per hour, depending on the climate.
Installing
A typical evaporative cooler is either attached to a central location to blow air into or connected to ductwork for distributing air throughout the building. Installations in a central location work well in compact houses that are open from room to room. Whenever there are hallways and multiple rooms in a house, ducted systems are necessary.
For residential buildings, evaporative coolers are installed in down-flow arrangements on the roof. In fact, many experts recommend installing horizontal ground units, which offer easier maintenance and a lower risk of roof leaks.
The popularity of room evaporative coolers is increasing in western U.S. regions with milder summers. In hot climates, these portable evaporative coolers may not be able to cool a room adequately. Windows are fitted with small horizontal-flow coolers to provide cooling to a room or section of a home. The temperature in a room can be lowered by 5° to 15° F with them.
We have also now introduced small, portable evaporative coolers on wheels. Portable units have the advantage of portability, but the humidity in your home limits their cooling ability. As a result, they will only provide mild cooling.
Operation
There should be at least two speeds on an evaporative cooler and a vent-only option. The water pump is not activated, and the outdoor air is not humidified during vent-only operation. This allows you to utilize the evaporative cooler as a whole-house fan during mild weather.
A window’s openings can impact the cooler’s airflow through the house. The leeward side of your house should have 1 to 2 square feet of opening for every 1,000 cfm of cooling capacity. Experiment with the right number of windows to open and the right number of windows to open. Too many windows will let in too much hot air. When the windows are not opened far enough, the humidity will build up in the home.
By closing windows in areas that are not occupied and opening windows in areas you wish to cool, you can regulate the temperature and the humidity. If open windows pose a security risk, install up-ducts in the ceiling. The ventilation of attics will need to be increased with evaporative coolers installed up-ducts. The evaporative cooler makes cooler air available by opening up the up-ducts.
Most evaporative coolers do not come with air filters, but they can be installed after installation or during installation. Filters can remove most dust from incoming air, which makes them an appealing option for allergy sufferers. Additionally, filters can prevent some coolers from pulling water into the fan blades from the pads.
