Anyone use evaporative coolers in their homes?

[Oasis Maker]

I have both an evap system and air conditioner on my roof. Even though I've lived in this house for 6 years, this is my first time using the evap system. Evap systems work really well in hot/dry climates. As you can see by my Avatar, I live in AZ and we are just about ready to enter monsoon season which is pretty humid (by our no humidity standards).

My question is, how long do you hold out using your evap system if you are in a similar environment (or not)? Do you try and stretch it out deep into summer? I hear evap systems are pretty unbearable beyond July here and I'm getting a little taste of that today (108). Might have to climb up on the roof to insert the damper and make the switch to the air conditioner, but I sure like the idea of saving big bucks.

Scott G.

[High Desert]

We just got a new one today. Its one of the portable indoor types, works nice. We live in a similar climate but not with the sustained high temps you get. We've had them in the past and used them all summer, the added humidity combined with a couple of well positioned fans keeps life bearable even on the 100*+ days here. As for when, until it's pushing the 90s we feel it really isn't needed. And the reduced operating cost makes for a happier budget


Edit- just checked and we are at 11% humidty right now. THe swamp cooler is feeling nice

[Dan & Julie CO]

I am from Albuquerque and what I did during rainstorms is turn the water pump off so the pads are not over saturated. it seemed to help
when I lived in Tucson and it was 110 degrees and the afternoon monsoon
rolled in well it does get sticky. try it, see if it helps

[JenniferandPups]

We have a traveling "swamp cooler"... it's on wheels and rolls from room to room. It makes a substantial difference in the temperature of the room! We live in an old house, so no a/c... the swamp cooler helps a bunch. Everyone is always amazed at how cool it is inside.

We are in Colorado; it has been unseasonable cool and rainy this year, so we haven't even dug it out yet... but we will when it hits 90 or 100!

[ssrjim]

I have both an evap system and air conditioner on my roof. Even though I've lived in this house for 6 years, this is my first time using the evap system. Evap systems work really well in hot/dry climates. As you can see by my Avatar, I live in AZ and we are just about ready to enter monsoon season which is pretty humid (by our no humidity standards).

My question is, how long do you hold out using your evap system if you are in a similar environment (or not)? Do you try and stretch it out deep into summer? I hear evap systems are pretty unbearable beyond July here and I'm getting a little taste of that today (108). Might have to climb up on the roof to insert the damper and make the switch to the air conditioner, but I sure like the idea of saving big bucks.

Scott G.

It is easy to know when to switch. Just watch the news, I watch 15. They tell you when it is time to switch. Pretty much for the next month it will be A/C.

[Oasis Maker]

I am from Albuquerque and what I did during rainstorms is turn the water pump off so the pads are not over saturated. it seemed to help
when I lived in Tucson and it was 110 degrees and the afternoon monsoon
rolled in well it does get sticky. try it, see if it helps

I have a switch for "Cool" and "Vent". I am assuming "Vent" will turn off the water pump. I'll give it a try and experiment with it. Nights have still been very comfortable using the Evap, but during the day (today) at 109 degrees it's been a little sticky. Back in the old days all folks had in Phoenix were Evap (Swamp) coolers. But when you know relief is just a switch away with your air conditioner, I don't plan on empathizing with the past very much.

Scott G.

[Oasis Maker]

We have a traveling "swamp cooler"... it's on wheels and rolls from room to room. It makes a substantial difference in the temperature of the room! We live in an old house, so no a/c... the swamp cooler helps a bunch. Everyone is always amazed at how cool it is inside.

We are in Colorado; it has been unseasonable cool and rainy this year, so we haven't even dug it out yet... but we will when it hits 90 or 100!

Yeah, I love it too. Can't believe I didn't service mine and start using it years ago. Aside from the money I would have saved, I love the fact that I am not breathing in recycled air with an air conditioner. I think every 10 minutes the house is full of fresh air again. And aside from monsoon season, having moist air being blown through is very desirable and better for your skin, eyes, etc.

What I was really surprised at though is just how cold it "got" at night. Yow. The air flow through the vent is about 5 times more powerful than my AC too.

Scott G.

[Oasis Maker]

We just got a new one today. Its one of the portable indoor types, works nice. We live in a similar climate but not with the sustained high temps you get. We've had them in the past and used them all summer, the added humidity combined with a couple of well positioned fans keeps life bearable even on the 100*+ days here. As for when, until it's pushing the 90s we feel it really isn't needed. And the reduced operating cost makes for a happier budget


Edit- just checked and we are at 11% humidty right now. THe swamp cooler is feeling nice

Cool. (Pun intended). Since you've had these portable units in the past, what models are you highest on?

Scott

[Oasis Maker]

It is easy to know when to switch. Just watch the news, I watch 15. They tell you when it is time to switch. Pretty much for the next month it will be A/C.

Local news huh? Who da thunk it? Thanks for the tip. Now if I can just bear through the police scanner approach with the news and reporting every crime in the city to get to the Evaporative Cooler alert!

Scott G.

[emiller]

There are less and less evap coolers put on houses anymore with todays A/C systems. On our old house we did away with the cooler and replaced the A/C system which was made by Chrysler. The new A/C system costed about $4,000.00 and we saved that much in just a few years of use. Coolers take too much servicing and Phoenix metro area isn't as dry as it once was.
Scott usaully when the cooler stops being comfortable you switch to A/C.

[Oasis Maker]

There are less and less evap coolers put on houses anymore with todays A/C systems. On our old house we did away with the cooler and replaced the A/C system which was made by Chrysler. The new A/C system costed about $4,000.00 and we saved that much in just a few years of use. Coolers take too much servicing and Phoenix metro area isn't as dry as it once was.
Scott usaully when the cooler stops being comfortable you switch to A/C.

Yeah, just curious as to what other peoples experience is with evap systems Eddie. Interesting point about Phoenix not being as dry as it once was. Ironically, I think I am contributing to that by having a pool and sprinkler for landscaping. Speculation for the rise in humidity as compared to years ago is that it is more than just changing weather patterns but is also manmade.

One day I'll have a completely organic and sustainable solar house, but until then I'll just keep chipin away with what I inherited with this one. I still think a properly maintained evap system is much better for ones health though - better than breathing in recycled air. But having said that, I am on my way out to the garage to get the ladder ... I think today's the day the experiment ends and I switch back to my AC.

Scott G.

[chorizon]

Moms and Dads live in west Texas right next to Big Bend Nat'l Park. They run the water-cooler most of the time. In the middle of the day its been getting over 110, but it'll be 75 in the house. They actually turn the fan to Low because they say its too cold. They run AC in the spring when necessary. This is however, the middle of the Chihuahuan desert. No neighbors, no pools, no yard, etc...

[Senior Ninja]

Used to have a big four bedroom two story in Taft, CA (Desert) Also had A/C but hardly ever used it. We used evap coolers. They were Master Cools. Everyone who came in the house thought we had the A/C 0n! Master Cool used a pad that is a foot thick. They work great! The pads back then were a hundred dollars, but you could use them for ten years. Like any evap cooler, they work poorly in humidity. No evaporation takes place, therefor no cooling takes place.
File in the "for-what-it's-worth" department.

Steve

[Roly Nelson]

I too am thinking about an evap cooler, here in So Calif. Being alone in a 4 bedroom house, I now see no need to cool the whole thing. So, I have installed a window unit in my spare bedroom where my computer, TV and double bed is located. Let the rest of the house be hot, I'll hunker down in my little Man Cave and save a bunch on the electric bill. However, an evap cooler is a probability in the near future, if the cost of elect is still too high.
Roly

[High Desert]

We just got a new one today. Its one of the portable indoor types, works nice. We live in a similar climate but not with the sustained high temps you get. We've had them in the past and used them all summer, the added humidity combined with a couple of well positioned fans keeps life bearable even on the 100*+ days here. As for when, until it's pushing the 90s we feel it really isn't needed. And the reduced operating cost makes for a happier budget


Edit- just checked and we are at 11% humidty right now. THe swamp cooler is feeling nice

Cool. (Pun intended). Since you've had these portable units in the past, what models are you highest on?

Scott

sorry for the slow reply Scott. I don't recall the name of the last unit we had, but the one we're using now is a KenStar Turbocool Junior. Not a high end unit by any means but its been worth 15+ degrees relief inside as the temps have cleared the century mark here. Not as good as refrigerated air, but good and way cheaper. And my power meter isn't doing double time like with the AC
I do notice that it seems to loose efficiency around sundown when the humidty outside climbs a bit. But then we can open the windows usually anyway.