WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWAMP COOLERS AND TRADITIONAL HVAC?
Evaporative coolers, known as swamp coolers, are more common here than in most parts of the country, but there’s still some confusion about how they work. Most people are accustomed to a swamp cooler or a traditional central AC, so they’ve never really needed to think about the components involved in the cooling process. What’s the difference between swamp coolers and traditional HVAC?
HOW SWAMP COOLERS WORK
Swamp coolers work using evaporative cooling. The name swamp cooler isn’t exactly accurate. Evaporative cooling works so well in our area because it takes advantage of our typically dry conditions.
- A motor pumps water to a pad within the system.
- A motor also runs a fan that sucks in warm air and moves it over the pad.
- Water on the pad evaporates, a process that requires expending heat energy.
- Heat is removed from the air, effectively lowering the air’s temperature by about 10-15° as long as the air is dry enough for evaporation.
REFRIGERATED HVAC UNITS DON’T USE WATER
Central air conditioners work much differently. They typically use refrigeration, a process requiring a chemical called refrigerant to move throughout the system, which means more moving parts and more energy consumed. In brief, here is how a conventional central AC unit works.
- A blower fan sucks in air from the house and moves it over the evaporator coil, which cools down through refrigeration.
- Refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat from the air as it moves through that indoor coil. This is what allows the coil to cool.
- Refrigerant moves to the outdoor compressor, where it gains pressure and heat.
- Heat releases as refrigerant become liquid at the outdoor condenser coil. A large fan helps this heat to dissipate into the air.
- Refrigerant cycles back through to continue absorbing and releasing heat from the air.
THE PROS AND CONS
We live in an area where we can choose between the two. Swamp coolers are unavailable (or, at least, not recommended) in most parts of the US—anywhere without notoriously dry conditions—but that doesn’t mean they are always the best option in our area.
SWAMP COOLERS
Pros:
- Cheaper to install.
- Lower monthly costs.
- Relatively simple maintenance—may be completed by a homeowner.
Cons:
- Not effective on humid days—like during El Nino season.
- It may not lower the temperature to your liking (it only goes down about 10-15°.
- Maintenance can be complex for a homeowner, especially in the hot summer months.
CENTRAL AC
Pros:
- Customizable temperatures from a central thermostat.
- Reliable cooling, no matter the humidity.
- Modern units are highly efficient, costing less to run than they once did.
Cons:
- The major drawback is cost. Installation is more costly than any repairs, and you pay more per month since there is more than just a fan requiring electricity.
- It may not last as many years.
We have many requests to retrofit evaporative coolers with central AC, but the choice is ultimately personal. We hope we have helped answer the question:
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWAMP COOLERS AND TRADITIONAL HVAC?
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at 661-270-1961; Our technician will provide the appropriate recommendation for your home.AC Dave Heating & Air will help you decide the best unit for you & your family.
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