Swamp Coolers Can Cool Your Home and Save You Money
Summers in Northern California can get quite hot despite the close proximity to the ocean. In the hotter months of July and August, temperatures easily soar into the 90s and occasionally top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though the air is less humid than in other parts of the country, a 95 degree day still feels hot. For most people, a reprieve from the hot outside air is moving into an air conditioned home. Most homeowners utilize traditional air conditioning units that cost significant amounts of electricity to run and may not know they have other, more affordable options.
What is an Evaporative Cooler?
An evaporative cooler, also known as a swamp cooler, is a unit that can cool a space through evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling works by passing air over or through cool water. The air picks up molecules of water and has been effectively cooled with the addition of the cool water vapor. When this cooled air is shuttled throughout a living space, the temperature can decrease by up to 30 degrees.Swamp coolers have a simple construction. A fan pulls fresh outdoor air into the unit where it passes through a water-saturated pad made of absorbent materials such as aspen shavings or cellulose fiber. As the air passes through, it picks up water vapor molecules, and the unit blows this newly chilled air into the house.Window units can cool a room, garage or an entire house. Down discharge swamp coolers will cool an entire home and are generally installed on the roof, while side discharge units also cool an entire house but are installed on the side of the house and enter through the home’s attic.
What is the Difference Between a Swamp Cooler and my Traditional Air Conditioning?
Swamp coolers and traditional air conditioning units function quite differently and utilize energy is a much different way. One stark difference between the two is the amount of electricity used. Running a central air conditioner for 10 hours per day will use over 1,000 kilowatts per hour, which can cost approximately $150 per month depending on your billing rate. A swamp cooler uses up to 75 percent less electricity and simply plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet. This reduction in electricity use could decrease your $150 electric bill to less than $40 per month.Another difference between the two types of units is air quality. Central air conditioners recycle the air throughout the house, which can lead to stale air. Swamp coolers constantly cycle fresh outdoor air throughout the house, never reusing indoor air. In addition, swamp coolers do not feature the ozone-damaging refrigerants found in central air conditioning units.Evaporative coolers function best in dry climates. Homes in northern California are great candidates for the benefits of evaporative cooling systems.
How Can I Have a Swamp Cooler Installed in My Home?
Because they feature immense energy-savings and cleaner air solutions, more and more people are considering switching out their traditional air conditioning units for swamp coolers. In northern central California, the experts at White Glove Chimney can provide a professional consultation on the best type of evaporative coolers for you and your home.