|
Evaporation cooling is unique to several parts of the U.S., because its effectiveness relies on low humidity levels. It is an alternative method of cooling a building (residential or commercial), as opposed to forced air conditioning (AC). Evaporative cooling can provide an excellent alternative to traditional AC that may be beneficial to the homeowner in a variety of ways. What is a Swamp Cooler or Evaporative Cooler Evaporative cooling is a natural phenomenon that drops ambient temperature using the cooling properties of water as it transitions from liquid to vapor form. Evaporation cooling is not unlike what happens when perspiration evaporates on the human body, dropping the body’s temperature using principles of physics. The principle of cooling by evaporation was used in ancient Egyptian and Persian civilizations. It was also used by Americans for much of the early 20th century. If you’ve ever heard of a sleeping porch, your grandparents or great grandparents may have spent hot nights there, wrapped in a dampened sheet, enjoying the cooling properties brought about by natural breezes as they evaporated the moisture in the cover. Even Benjamin Franklin wrote in his journals about the health benefits of evaporative cooling! Evaporative cooling units work by pumping water over spun fiber cooler pads, then pumping large quantities of air over the pad, vaporizing the moisture into the air and simultaneously cooling it. Is Evaporative Cooling Right for You? Today, there are many homes throughout the U.S. that do not have traditional AC, but instead relay on a swamp cooler to regulate the ambient temperature of the home during the summer. Many more people minimize the use of air conditioning by using their evap cooler for all but the most humid periods of summer. The benefits include a significant savings on power bills, greatly reduced energy consumption (i.e., environmentally friendly cooling), and maintaining a healthy level of moisture in the indoor air. Air conditioning can dry out a home’s air, causing discomfort to residents such as dry throat and skin. Evaporative cooling will work in any geographic location with hot, dry air. The units are inexpensive compared to traditional AC, and operating a swamp cooler costs about 35% of what an AC costs to run. In addition, evaporative cooling does not require any refrigerant or other chemicals. While they won’t work well during humid weather, many people prefer to have both an evap cooler and an AC unit, using the AC only during those times that the evaporative system is not effective. Finding an Evaporative Cooling Professional Many local, licensed HVAC contractors also provide and install evaporative cooling systems. Professional AC companies local to your area will be able to advise you on the use of evaporative cooling, its benefits, and costs for purchasing, installing, and operating a swamp cooler. Look for a licensed, bonded AC contractor that offers a strong warranty and a full range of maintenance and repair service. Evaporative cooling maintenance is not onerous but it must be done regularly to ensure good operation, just as your AC system does. Outages and repair are infrequent, especially when you have regular maintenance and service performed on the system. So take if from Ben Franklin and Cleopatra, and check out the “green” cooling alternative provided by the simple, efficient evaporative cooler!
Related Articles -
swamp cooler, evaporative cooler, air conditioning, central air conditioning, swamp cooler repair, evaporative cooler installation,
|
