Evaporative Coolers vs. Air Conditioners: Which Is Better?

For homeowners in hot, dry areas, it’s a given that cooling costs account for a large chunk of the monthly power bill. That’s why a lot of homeowners in these areas are starting to use swamp or evaporative coolers. Keep in mind, however, that because of how it works, an evaporative cooler may not be suitable for all homes and climates.

Superior Air, a top air conditioning repair company in the state, further elaborates on how evaporative coolers work and how they differ from standard air conditioners below.

How Evaporative Coolers Work

In a nutshell, evaporative coolers increase the air’s humidity. The moisture that’s added to hot, dry air cools it down, after which the evaporative cooler distributes the cool air throughout the building, pushing the hot air out. But to do so, it needs to be in an open space to allow for airflow.

In contrast, standard air conditioners do the opposite: their evaporator coils strip passing air of its moisture to cool it down. Hot air and condensed moisture are then expelled outside while the cold, dry air is recirculated inside the room.

The Pros and Cons of Evaporative Coolers

One of the biggest advantages of evaporative coolers is that they don’t consume as much energy as a standard AC unit. In fact, the NAHB estimates that evaporative coolers consume only a third of the amount of energy a standard air conditioner typically needs to operate.

This doesn’t mean you can completely do away with air conditioners, however. Evaporative coolers rely on hot, dry air, and if it’s raining outside they won’t be able to produce a cooling effect. Of course, this won’t be much of a problem if you live in an area with a hot, dry climate. You do need to take into account, however, the maintenance work required for evaporative coolers, which is a bit more tedious than standard air conditioning maintenance work.

An evaporative cooler’s pads need to be cleaned frequently, not to mention require a steady supply of water —3.5 to 10.5 gallons, to be precise. And with droughts becoming more frequent in certain parts of the country, this water requirement can be a deal-breaker for many homeowners.

If you’re not sure about which type of air conditioner to pick, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced HVAC contractor.

Superior Air, an HVAC contractor with more than two decades’ worth of experience, offers air conditioning installation services. To get a free quote, call us at (559) 342-0023 or fill out this form. We serve homeowners in Visalia, CA.