LEARN ABOUT EVAPORATIVE AIR COOLERS

What is an evaporative air cooler?

Honeywell evaporative air coolers (also known as swamp coolers) are an environmentally friendly and cost-friendly cooling option for your home or office. Much like a breeze flowing across a lake or the refreshing cool air you feel near a waterfall, air coolers produce a comfortable, cool breeze with the natural process of water evaporation.

How do evaporative air coolers work? 

Evaporative air coolers, also known as swamp coolers, include two motorized components: a pump and a fan. The pump circulates water around the unit and saturates a honeycomb-shaped irrigation pad. The fan blows air through the wet irrigation pad, causing the moisture to evaporate into vapor. The conversion of heat energy into evaporative energy results in a coolness in the outgoing air. An example of this is felt in a lakeside breeze: the air along a lake or waterfall feels cooler than the air inland. This is because heat has been converted into water vapor.

Are air coolers used indoors or outdoors?

 Honeywell evaporative air coolers - also known as swamp coolers - are available in a wide range of models for different environments, with models available for indoors and/or outdoors. Outdoor coolers are constructed with weather-resistant materials, making them withstand rain, direct sunshine and UV rays. Many larger outdoor models are also equipped with a continuous water connection, allowing you to connect your garden hose for automatic tank refills and for extended operation. Indoor models could be used in all indoor living areas as well as enclosed outdoor areas, such as covered patios.

Are air coolers effective in humid environments?

Evaporative air coolers, also known as swamp coolers, are more effective in environments with maximum relative humidity of 60% or less. Warm, dry air is important for more effective evaporative cooling and the temperature decrease will be greater in drier environments because higher evaporation occurs when the humidity is low. Evaporative Air Coolers produce moisture and can be used to increase humidification in a room.

If you live in a humid location, air coolers can still be a welcomed, energy saving cooling mechanism for your home by scheduling the air cooler to switch on at specific, drier times during the day. For example, during the hottest hours of the afternoon. Honeywell Air Coolers can also be paired with your air conditioner to extend air conditioner cooling so you can save energy by switching off the air conditioner and extending the cooling effect by switching on a Honeywell Air Cooler.

How is an air cooler different from a mist fan?

Mist fans simultaneously blow out air while spraying a fine mist of water droplets. In very hot and dry climates, these water droplets evaporate, but in most cases, the watery mist sinks to a puddle on the ground. Mist fans are mainly for outdoor use, unless you desire your fan giving you a surprise shower inside your living room.

Like mist fans, evaporative air coolers - also known as swamp coolers - employ the physical law of evaporation, except the process takes place internally, within the unit. The air exiting the unit contains water vapor and not water droplets. This makes air coolers suitable for indoor rooms as well as the outdoors.

How do I choose the right Air Cooler for my space?

Spot coolers are more compact air coolers, or swamp coolers, that are designed to cool the immediate area around the cooler. Room coolers are larger in size and provide more powerful air flow ideal for cooling larger spaces such as living or dining rooms. Outdoor coolers are UV & weather resistant with large water tanks and ultra-powerful airflow, making them ideal for cooling outdoor areas such as your patio or backyard.

Find out the airflow of your air cooler

Look at the CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) or m3/hour rating of the air cooler. These tell you the amount of air that passes through the air cooler per minute (or hour). The higher an air cooler’s CFM or m2/hour rating, the faster it moves the air, providing wider coverage for the space you want to cool.

The water tank capacity does not necessarily dictate the cooling performance of the air cooler however, it affects the time you need to refill the tank and the physical size of the cooler. Smaller water tanks may physically fit better in smaller rooms. Some room coolers and outdoor coolers have a built-in continuous-water supply connection that allows you to connect with your home’s water hose for continuous tank refills. You can find a simple guide below for choosing an air cooler based on tank size.

How can I improve the performance of my Air Cooler?

Ensure adequate cross ventilation

Evaporative air coolers, or swamp coolers, should not be used in enclosed spaces. Doors and windows should be opened to allow free air flow. An Air Cooler works best when placed near an open window, drawing outside air and circulating it in the room before exiting via a window or door. The maximum cooling effect is felt when a person is near the flow of air coming out of the Air Cooler.

Check the humidity of your room

Evaporative Air Coolers are more effective in environments with maximum relative humidity of 60% or less. If you live in a humid location, air coolers can still be a welcomed, energy saving cooling mechanism for your home by scheduling the air cooler to switch on at specific, drier times during the day. For example, during the hottest hours of the afternoon. Honeywell Air Coolers can also be paired with your air conditioner to extend air conditioner cooling so you can save energy by switching off the air conditioner and extending the cooling effect by switching on a Honeywell Air Cooler.