Can I run a swamp cooler AND a window A/C unit? (windows, Air Conditioners)

[katzpaw]

We live in the desert southwest and our 1 level house is cooled by a swamp cooler (evaporated air). Can we run a window refrigerated A/C unit in one room (bedroom) and still have the swamp cooler running? Will they fight each other, one cancel the other, or mess things up?

[Big George]

Well... You can do it, yes. But not well.

However, the two systems operate on an almost opposite principle. One evaporates humidity, and one adds humidity.

Rather than getting a window AC unit, you should probably consider getting a window swamp cooler, or a portable evaporative air cooler.

[mic111]

We did it for years. Just keep the bedroom door closed and exhaust the swamp cooler through other windows in the house.

[CheyDee]

Originally Posted by mic111

We did it for years. Just keep the bedroom door closed and exhaust the swamp cooler through other windows in the house.

That's exactly what I would do.

[BigJon3475]

Since the first purpose of an A/C unit is to remove humidity and cooling the air is it's second purpose would it make sense to pay for another machine on top of that that adds humidity?

[Poncho_NM]

Can I run a swamp cooler AND a window A/C unit?

Yes you can. Depends on the situation. I have done it, did it for about five years in our house with a small room used as an office that just would not cool due to location. I kept the door closed and the ceiling house vent closed. A 6,000 btu wind A/C worked quite well. The added benefit was the "Man Cave", kids, grand kids, dogs (well, one of the old dogs was allowed in.).

[Billy_J]

Yes you can use both. Block off the vent going into the bedroom from the evaporative cooler (if there is one) and keep the bedroom door and windows closed.

That would be less expensive than using A/C to cool the entire house.

[dogbert_2001]

Originally Posted by Big George

However, the two systems operate on an almost opposite principle. One evaporates humidity, and one adds humidity.

This is false. Air conditioners that operate on a closed vapor compression cycle operate by actually removing energy from the air. The dehumidification is a SIDE EFFECT, because the temperature of the air drops below the dew point.

Direct evaporative coolers do not remove energy from the air. It simply adds cold water to lower the average temperature of the air.

Assuming the evaporative cooler does not pull air from the outside, running the air conditioner actually improves the performance of the evaporative cooler, because it's easier to evaporate water in drier air than in humid air.
(If it were pulling air from the outside, then it's like running the A/C in the car with your windows down. I would agree that it would not be very efficient that way.)

And if you wanted to be super efficient, you would loop the air conditioner water back into the evaporative cooler.

[itsMeFred]

I can't argue the science of it, but I DO know that running our window A/Cs this summer made the house tolerable.
Running our window A/Cs, plus the swamp cooler made the house cool.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by dogbert_2001

Assuming the evaporative cooler does not pull air from the outside,

Every swamp cooler (evaporative cooler) I have seen, used and/or maintained in the SW United States pulls air from the outside, and exhausts air to the outside...