Portable Evaporative Coolers vs Portable Air Conditioners

Possibly the only times that feeling hot and sweaty are expected and necessary are while doing some gratifying exercise, engaging in a fun sports activity, or digging into an outside work project. Otherwise, sweltering inside one’s home, office, or workspace isn’t very desirable. So, what’s the best way to keep cool and comfortable inside when Mother Nature turns up the heat outside?

Air Conditioners vs Evaporative Coolers

The two primary cooling approaches are traditional ac systems and evaporative cooling systems, often called “swamp coolers.”

AC systems cool the inside of a home, office, or workspace, replacing the heated air with drier, cooler air. The AC unit circulates a chemical refrigerant through a series of tubes or coils, essentially forming a “loop” that connects the inside of the building to the outside. The refrigerant absorbs the heat from the inside and releases the heat outside.

All AC systems operate as “closed systems,” meaning that doors and windows must be closed for the system to operate properly. AC units cool well in any climate, but they require a lot of electricity to accomplish their work.

Evaporative cooling systems use the natural process of water evaporation to cool instead of using chemical refrigeration. Evaporating coolers simply use recirculating water and a fan to produce their cooling effect.

In the process, evaporating coolers add humidity to the area cooled. Thus, space cooled needs a few windows left open to allow an inflow of dry, fresh outside airflow while the inside airflow is being cooled and humidified. An evaporating cooler does not function well in humid climates like those found in the Eastern United States and the Southeastern coast.

The Benefits of Portable Units

Portable cooling units can be great in the following conditions:

1. Apartment buildings and HOA’s sometimes restrict cooling systems that are installed on top of a home or placed in windows. Portable units are inside to avoid this problem.
2. They can be appropriate for small spaces.
3. They can reduce cooling costs while also keeping needed spaces cool.
4. Costs to purchase portable cooling units are significantly lower than those of full cooling systems. Also, there are no installation costs.
5. A portable unit can be moved from room to room, making its use highly flexible.

Are Evaporative Coolers Cheaper Than Air Conditioning?

The costs to buy and install either coolers or AC will vary by size of the space to be cooled and by region of the country.

A roof-mounted cooler for a 1,500 sq. ft. home may range from $500 to $1,500 or more, with installation costing from $700 to $1,000. A moveable cooler may cost as little as $100 up to $1,500.

An AC unit for a 1,500 sq. ft. home will cost $1,500 to $2,000, with installation costs ranging from about $2,000 to $5,000. A small portable AC unit can cost from $200 to $700, and a window unit can be purchased from about $300 to $700.

Is An Evaporative Cooler Better Than Air Conditioning?

Both types of systems have their advantages, but evaporating cooling systems offer:

1. Fresh, clean air. These units bring outside airflow into a building through a filter, thus removing dust and airborne allergens. AC systems re-circulate inside air.
2. Energy efficiency. Evaporating coolers work simply with a water pump and fan, so they use much less energy than AC systems; up to four times less energy than for a comparably sized AC unit.
3. Environmentally friendly. Evaporating systems keep carbon emissions down and use less energy, so they are better for the environment.
4. Most maintenance required for evaporating systems is simple to accomplish and can be performed by a homeowner or a staff member instead of a paid HVAC repairman, so maintenance costs less.
5. Both types of systems operate fairly quietly on the inside, but an outside AC unit may generate more noise if placed close to a neighbor’s windows or doors.
6. An evaporating cooler will add moisture to the building, while an AC unit will remove moisture.

The disadvantages of evaporating cooling systems are that they only work in dry climates and they rely on a constant water source. Additionally, AC units have a more precise temperature control system.

Purchase High Quality Portable Evaporative Coolers

It can be advantageous to purchase an evaporating cooling system if:

• You live or work in the Mountain West or Southwest regions of the country.
• You want lower energy bills during the heat of the summer.
• You want an eco-friendly system for cooling.
• You have good air quality in your area and can keep some of your windows open to bring in fresh outside airflow.

Contact Premier Industries, Inc. based in Phoenix, AZ for excellent industrial, commercial, residential, and portable cooling solutions. We focus on designing, and manufacturing quality and efficient evaporative cooling solutions that meet the needs of our customers.

Categorised in: Portable Evaporative Coolers

This post was written by Mike Nicolini