What is Evaporative Cooling, and How Does it Work?
Evaporative cooling is the most eco-friendly and energy-efficient system available. It helps to lower your carbon footprint, but it’s crucial to understand how evaporative coolers work before installing one in your home or office. Evaporative coolers require dry conditions rather than humidity; for instance, if you’re new to the evaporative system and this type of cooling, you may need to learn more before deciding which type to choose.
How Evaporative Coolers Work
The evaporative cooling process works by drawing warm air from outside your home through a series of wet filter pads moistened from water in a tank at the unit’s base. Water from the filter pads evaporates and draws in warm air from outside and humidifies it, sending cooled moist air into your home.
The cool air is dispersed through the system’s fan either to a central location or into other rooms through vents. Portable evaporative coolers work in much the same way as ducted, and some find the ability to move them from room to room more convenient.
Evaporative Cooler Performance Depends on the Weather
Since the performance of your evaporative cooling system depends on the air temperature outside the building, the weather conditions will affect how well it works. Evaporative coolers (also known as swamp cooler) are not ideal for humid climates, prefer dry air, and can be influenced by rainy weather.
Luckily, summers in Melbourne are often more dry than humid, and Victoria is one of Australia’s relatively dry climates, so evaporative systems are a viable and effective cooling option here.
Evaporative Cooler Types
There are a few types on the market ranging from portable coolers to fixed, ducted evaporative systems and non-ducted. If you choose a ducted evaporative cooler with an excellent cooling capacity, it’s essential to get the right ducts and the right system for your location. So, call Gas Safe Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to inspect the area you want to cool and to offer the best advice on ducted systems and portable evaporative models to suit your needs.
Knowing the conditions of the building - whether it’s your home, shop or office, e.g., and your location and the level of energy efficiency you require will help you determine the best kind of cooler. Coolers with a water management system are popular, but some prefer a portable cooler.
The three main kinds of evaporative cooling systems available include:
Mounted “draft” evaporative coolers
Indirect evaporative coolers
Direct evaporative air coolers
Why Is Location So Important?
Most evaporative coolers work best in hot, dry conditions. The cooling effect relies on evaporating moisture from the wet filter pad, so they don’t work as well in humid areas. Since humid air affects the unit's cooling ability, it causes less or no evaporation from the filter pads. For example, on a summer afternoon, Geelong’s average humidity ranges from 40 and 50 per cent, so evaporative coolers work well in this area.
Sizing Your Evaporative Cooler
Purchasing the proper size evaporative cooler for your needs is crucial. For effective performance, the right option for an evaporative cooler for a particular area is based on airflow and the size of the area that needs cooling.
The best way to ensure you buy the correct unit, call Gas Safe Plumbers whose professionals can guide you on size, cooler type, and humidity levels in your location.
How Much Does an Evaporative Cooler Cost to Run?
The running costs of evaporative coolers will depend on the fan you choose and the unit's capacity. Remember that evaporative coolers use water and electricity, so consider water consumption and your power bills. The amount of water you use depends on the day’s humidity levels, and the fan speed determines the power consumption. Your cooler needs to be connected to a constant water source to work effectively and cool rooms.
Your Evaporative Cooler Needs Routine Cleaning
Evaporative coolers need a little more TLC than air conditioners require. So, consistent and regular cleaning is necessary to keep an evaporative cooling system functioning at its full potential. The evaporative unit needs the wet pads, nozzles, blades, air filters, and screens maintained so mould and bacteria don’t grow and become dispersed in the air inside the building. Bad for health.
Also, you have to clean any mineral and salt buildup so the unit can function correctly. Properly maintained, your evaporative cooler will last longer and perform at the highest level.
Who You Gonna Call?
At Gas Safe Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, our professional and highly trained team in Geelong provides quick and efficient cooling services without cutting corners on quality. Our priority is to service or maintain your evaporative cooling system as fast as possible. Call us today at Gas Safe Heating, Cooling & Plumbing for all your plumbing, air conditioning, and evaporative cooling system needs on 0459 788 870, or email lee@gassafeplumbing.com.au.