A/C vs swamp/evap cooling (hot, great, cool)

[roadrunner1]

Never had or used a "swamp cooler", can you keep the windows open or closed like using an air conditioning system? Thanks!

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by roadrunner1

Never had or used a "swamp cooler", can you keep the windows open or closed like using an air conditioning system? Thanks!

The windows are open. The cooler draws in outside air over wetted pads evaporating the water and cooling the air. The cooled air flows through the house and is discharged. The best way to discharge is to use a thing called and "UP-DUX" which is a damper that you put in the ceilings in the back corner of your rooms. When the cooler is on, the air is exhausted through the Updux into the attic space. This allows for better flow control and a more secure setup. Up-dux used to run about $10 each so they are probably 25 now. They are an easy diy project.

[mdtoaz]

When we moved here in July, our rental only had a swamp cooler. Like most have said, it does not work during monsoon season. Besides not cooling off our house, it pumps more humidity into the air. I'd go to bed and feel like I was laying on a damp sponge. Not good. We went to Lowes and bought an in room a/c unit. It worked well enough to give us some relief.

Our new house has central air. Eventually, we'd like to put in a swamp cooler too. They are supposedly more energy efficient, and then we'd only have to use our central air for a few months a year.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by potranco

Let me help you out a little. It may be a "dry heat" but it does not matter when it is 110 degress everyday and everynight from June thru August. If you come a across a place to live that is only cooled by a swamp cooler, turn right around and walk out. Unless you are going to live in a cave a swamp cooler can only lower the temperature at the most by about 15 - 20 degrees. So you do the the math.

The humidity is about 20 percent most of the time.

And when a dust storm and sudden rain storm hits the humidity will skyrocket to around 80 percent or more.

A/C is the only way to beat the heat, unless you have a pool.

Here is a chart.

Evaporative Cooling

VERY interesting.
Thank you very much (and a point for you).

The link is EXTREMELY informative.

Ken

[artdiva]

Thanks so much for your advice, everyone. You all have been so helpful. I don't want to listen to my husband griping about how "it feels like a wet sock" all season so I think we'll look for a place with A/C.

[whipsaw]

artdiva. do yourself a real favor and get both a/c and evaporative. from april to mid july swamp coolers are perfect (and very cheap) and they don't feel at all like a wet sock. i've lived here for 40 years and evaporative is all i use except from mid-july to early sept. the doors and windows are open with fresh air instead of being cooped up. they're elegantly simple and it's usually easy to do the work yourself if something goes wrong.

you can thank me with the hundred bucks you save every month.

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by whipsaw

artdiva. do yourself a real favor and get both a/c and evaporative. from april to mid july swamp coolers are perfect (and very cheap) and they don't feel at all like a wet sock. i've lived here for 40 years and evaporative is all i use except from mid-july to early sept. the doors and windows are open with fresh air instead of being cooped up. they're elegantly simple and it's usually easy to do the work yourself if something goes wrong.

you can thank me with the hundred bucks you save every month.

After what I've learned, that's probably going to be my plan.

Ken

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by whipsaw

artdiva. do yourself a real favor and get both a/c and evaporative. from april to mid july swamp coolers are perfect (and very cheap) and they don't feel at all like a wet sock. i've lived here for 40 years and evaporative is all i use except from mid-july to early sept. the doors and windows are open with fresh air instead of being cooped up. they're elegantly simple and it's usually easy to do the work yourself if something goes wrong.

you can thank me with the hundred bucks you save every month.

Great advice, Whipsaw.

One point about Swamp Coolers not yet mentioned is water is optional. Many times, especially in the evenings, I have my Swamp Cooler running on low without the pump so it is merely drawing in fresh evening air. Since I have Security Bars throughout my home, I am comfortable leaving the windows and doors open so there's plenty of fresh healthy air.

Beats the heck out of recirculated a/c air.

Good Luck

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Great advice, Whipsaw.

One point about Swamp Coolers not yet mentioned is water is optional. Many times, especially in the evenings, I have my Swamp Cooler running on low without the pump so it is merely drawing in fresh evening air. Since I have Security Bars throughout my home, I am comfortable leaving the windows and doors open so there's plenty of fresh healthy air.

Beats the heck out of recirculated a/c air.

Good Luck

I agree about fresh air beating recirculated air.
I tend to REALLY dislike air-conditioning and much prefer fresh air. Fortunately, out where we have land, some of the locals refer to it as "Little Chicago" because of the reliable winds that rise up over our ridge between the Whetstone and the Rincons.

Ken

[roadrunner1]

How about a whole house atic fan? I use one in my home now when the temps outside are cooler then the temps inside. Does a great job of cooling the house down.