Swamp Cooler vs Air Conditioner
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Although swamp coolers and
air conditioners were invented
to turn hot air into cool, the
science behind each method is
quite different.
What is a swamp cooler? It’s
just another name for an
evaporative cooler. Water is
used to wet absorptive pads
around the sides of the cooler.
A fan or "squirrel cage" draws
outside air through the pads
and the air is cooled as the
water in the pads evaporates.
air conditioners were invented
to turn hot air into cool, the
science behind each method is
quite different.
What is a swamp cooler? It’s
just another name for an
evaporative cooler. Water is
used to wet absorptive pads
around the sides of the cooler.
A fan or "squirrel cage" draws
outside air through the pads
and the air is cooled as the
water in the pads evaporates.
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
The major benefit of this type of cooler is that you only need to power a water pump and a
fan to draw the air through the pads.
They typically use between three and 10 gallons of water per day. That's equivalent to a
few toilet flushes or, on the high end, a short shower.
Unless the relative humidity is less than a maximum of 40%, swamp coolers are not very
effective. They work well in the Southwest, West Texas, and parts of Idaho, Washington,
Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. In these areas you could expect a swamp cooler to
achieve a 15- 20 degree difference between outside and inside temperatures.
Also, for a swamp cooler to remain effective it must exhaust as much air as it takes in. This
necessitates keeping a window open. If you don’t, the humidity will rise and so will the
temperature of the air blown from the cooler.
Air conditioning, on the other hand, is popular because it will reliably dehumidify and cool
the air, no matter where you live. This how an air conditioner works:
The compressor compresses cool Freon gas, causing it to become hot, high-pressure Freon
gas. This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and it condenses
into a liquid.
The Freon liquid runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it evaporates to
become cold, low-pressure Freon gas. This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow
the gas to absorb heat and cool down the air inside. Mixed in with the Freon is a small
amount of lightweight oil that lubricates the compressor.
Swamp cooler cost vs air conditioner
As far as hard costs, evaporative coolers are less expensive than air conditioners. For
example, a 4500 CFM evaporative cooler costs about $700 to purchase and install. A
similarly sized AC unit would cost about $2,500. In addition, repair parts are often more
expensive for AC units than evaporative coolers.
Which is cheaper to operate?
The swamp cooler wins handily. For similar sized units, the annual utility costs for an air
conditioner are three times those of a swamp cooler (water & electric).
The difference is the amount of energy required to power an air conditioner compressor
versus the electric motors used in a swamp cooler.
Maintenance
The evaporative cooler can easily be serviced by any home owner with a minimum of
mechanical knowledge, a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. On the other hand, repair
and maintenance of air conditioning systems should be left to professional service
technicians.
Which is better for the environment?
Unless you believe that soon to be outlawed R-22 refrigerant leaking into the atmosphere
from your air conditioner is a good thing, the swamp cooler wins again. The swamp cooler
maintains a Green profile by mimicking nature’s way of cooling.
How an air conditioner or swamp cooler affects the indoor environment of your home is
determined by the way each circulates the air. Although an air conditioner re-circulates the
same air, it's helpful in controlling allergens such as dust and pollen.
Since open windows are necessary when running a swamp cooler, you’ll be letting in
everything the air conditioner keeps out.
Swamp Cooler vs Air Conditioner: Which one wins?
I think swamp coolers are an inexpensive alternative to air conditioning if you live in
Phoenix, Arizona or anywhere the humidity is around 30%. But if you call Little Rock,
Arkansas your home, nobody’s going to talk you out of your air conditioner.
< Alternative Cooling Whole House Attic Fan >
fan to draw the air through the pads.
They typically use between three and 10 gallons of water per day. That's equivalent to a
few toilet flushes or, on the high end, a short shower.
Unless the relative humidity is less than a maximum of 40%, swamp coolers are not very
effective. They work well in the Southwest, West Texas, and parts of Idaho, Washington,
Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. In these areas you could expect a swamp cooler to
achieve a 15- 20 degree difference between outside and inside temperatures.
Also, for a swamp cooler to remain effective it must exhaust as much air as it takes in. This
necessitates keeping a window open. If you don’t, the humidity will rise and so will the
temperature of the air blown from the cooler.
Air conditioning, on the other hand, is popular because it will reliably dehumidify and cool
the air, no matter where you live. This how an air conditioner works:
The compressor compresses cool Freon gas, causing it to become hot, high-pressure Freon
gas. This hot gas runs through a set of coils so it can dissipate its heat, and it condenses
into a liquid.
The Freon liquid runs through an expansion valve, and in the process it evaporates to
become cold, low-pressure Freon gas. This cold gas runs through a set of coils that allow
the gas to absorb heat and cool down the air inside. Mixed in with the Freon is a small
amount of lightweight oil that lubricates the compressor.
Swamp cooler cost vs air conditioner
As far as hard costs, evaporative coolers are less expensive than air conditioners. For
example, a 4500 CFM evaporative cooler costs about $700 to purchase and install. A
similarly sized AC unit would cost about $2,500. In addition, repair parts are often more
expensive for AC units than evaporative coolers.
Which is cheaper to operate?
The swamp cooler wins handily. For similar sized units, the annual utility costs for an air
conditioner are three times those of a swamp cooler (water & electric).
The difference is the amount of energy required to power an air conditioner compressor
versus the electric motors used in a swamp cooler.
Maintenance
The evaporative cooler can easily be serviced by any home owner with a minimum of
mechanical knowledge, a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. On the other hand, repair
and maintenance of air conditioning systems should be left to professional service
technicians.
Which is better for the environment?
Unless you believe that soon to be outlawed R-22 refrigerant leaking into the atmosphere
from your air conditioner is a good thing, the swamp cooler wins again. The swamp cooler
maintains a Green profile by mimicking nature’s way of cooling.
How an air conditioner or swamp cooler affects the indoor environment of your home is
determined by the way each circulates the air. Although an air conditioner re-circulates the
same air, it's helpful in controlling allergens such as dust and pollen.
Since open windows are necessary when running a swamp cooler, you’ll be letting in
everything the air conditioner keeps out.
Swamp Cooler vs Air Conditioner: Which one wins?
I think swamp coolers are an inexpensive alternative to air conditioning if you live in
Phoenix, Arizona or anywhere the humidity is around 30%. But if you call Little Rock,
Arkansas your home, nobody’s going to talk you out of your air conditioner.
< Alternative Cooling Whole House Attic Fan >