Swamp Coolers & Humidity: Getting The Most From Your Appliance
Did you know there was a way for you to get more efficiency from your cooling system, while saving money on your monthly bills? If this sounds like a good route for you, then it may be time to consider a swamp cooler for your home.
These systems offer a wide range of benefits, and the installation process isn’t all that complicated either. Trust in our crew for affordable rates and high-quality services every time - White Glove Chimney is always happy to help you out!
Already Have One?
Do you already have a swamp cooler in place? We can help you there, too, with regular maintenance and repair services. We also have all the info you need to ensure you get the most from your system! One of the biggest things we want our customers to understand is that keeping cool with swamp cooling can be problematic in high humidity, which is why you may notice problems on those especially humid days.
Eager to learn more about how humidity affects your swamp cooler? Keep reading! We’re here to ensure you stay as informed and educated as possible.
How Swamp Coolers Work (A Little History)
Before modern air conditioners were commonplace in countless homes, families found themselves searching for alternative ways to stay cooler on those especially hot summer nights. One thing many would do is gather everyone together to sleep inside of their screened-in porch. If temperatures were really unbearable, they would hang damp cloths over the screens for a cooling effect.
How does this make things cooler? Well, when fresh air is pulled through the moist cloth, the water evaporates and causes the air temperature to drop as much as 30 degrees. Basically, an air blower draws the hot outdoor air through wet pads, which allows the air to absorb some of the pads’ water as the water evaporates. Swamp coolers utilize this same process to evaporate water to cool the outdoor air.
This process is almost like sweating but keeps your entire home cool instead of just you!
Air that is hotter and dryer will absorb more water, therefore keeping your home cooler. The air blower in your system circulates the cooled off air throughout your home giving you that more enjoyable atmosphere you are longing for.
That being said, while this cooling process has the potential to lower the temperature of the outdoor air by up to 30 degrees in low humidity, in high humidity swamp cooling does not work as well.
Humidity & Your Swamp Cooler
Humidity levels make a big difference in the efficiency of swamp coolers. How well a swamp cooler keeps your home cool depends on both the temperature and humidity of the outside air. The higher the humidity, the less effective evaporation will be as a cooling method.
Check out these interesting facts:
When the air is at 10% humidity, the swamp cooler can drop temperatures by up to 20 to 30 degrees!
When the air is at 50% humidity, the swamp cooler can drop temperatures by about 10 degrees.
While swamp coolers do make the air feel about five degrees cooler than it really is, due to the air blower sending a breeze through your home, this does little good if high humidity prevents evaporation from significantly lowering the air’s temperature.
Is the heat approaching triple digit levels? This is when the humidity will negatively impact swamp cooling at even lower levels.
According to USA Today, “When the outside temperature soars to 100 degrees (38 C), we’re in trouble if the humidity is much above 25%.”
As temperatures rise, humidity must decline in order to effectively cool your home.
All in all? Swamp coolers add moisture to the air, which while relieving in arid conditions, may feel uncomfortable in high humidity.
So, which states have an ideal climate for these units? Well, swamp coolers are most commonly used in desert areas, like Arizona, as well as other areas with high elevation and low humidity. Other states that tend to utilize them more are Wyoming and Colorado.
And here in California? Well, even though California has an ideal climate for swamp coolers, fewer than 5 percent of California actually use them!
If you are a homeowner in Northern California looking for an alternative to your standard air conditioner, a swamp cooler may be right for you. What’s more, White Glove Chimney and Air Duct installs and services swamp coolers, so we can get the job done right for you.
Benefits Of Evaporative Cooling
Live in the Chico area, but still aren’t sure if evaporative cooling is right for you? Note some benefits below:
Swamp coolers use nearly 75 percent less electricity than an air conditioner - that’s a lot of savings!
Some utility companies offer rebates for customers who use evaporative systems.
Swamp coolers don’t require high amperage circuits like most air conditioners, so there’s no need to add additional circuits to the wiring, as they can plug into any outlet.
The moisture swamp coolers provide improves air quality in the home, filtering out dust, pollen, and other particulate matter pollution.
Evaporative coolers come in small and large sizes, so it’s easy to find the right fit for your space.
Ready to take the plunge? Don’t wait! Give us a call now.