What is a Swamp Cooler? 

What is a Swamp Cooler?

In the hot Southwestern summers during the 1920's, people would often rest on screened-in "sleeping porches", and on especially hot nights, water-soaked sheets or blankets would be hung outside these screens with electric fans pulling the muggy night air through these moist cloths. Subsequently, residents were able to experience cooling comfort before the advent of modern air conditioners or cooling systems. While this process has become more refined, the above example reflects the technology of the modern swamp cooler.

If you live in a hot, arid climate, a swamp cooler is one of the best ways to stay cool in the sweltering heat and costs much less to operate than a standard air conditioner. Swamp coolers produce effective cooling and can reduce the ambient temperature by up to 20 degrees by combining the natural process of water evaporation within a simple air moving system. Therefore, they provide a low-cost, low technology alternative to standard refrigerated cooling.

How Does a Swamp Cooler Work?

Swamp coolers are relatively simple appliances, and we've all experienced the power of evaporative cooling at one point or another. The evaporative cooling principle can be likened to putting on a wet t-shirt and standing in front of a fan. If the climate is dry and the humidity is low, the cooling (and sometimes even chilling) effect will be instantaneous. On the other hand, in areas with high humidity levels, this process will only result in dampness on the skin and in the air. In addition, unlike air conditioners where you will need to close all doors and windows, an evaporative cooler will require adequate air flow and ventilation in order to evenly and effectively distribute the cool air through the home and expel warm, moist air through window openings.

There are typically two types of swamp coolers: direct and indirect. Direct evaporative cooling lowers the ambient temperature by changing water to vapor, and warm, dry air is transformed to cool, moist air, while indirect evaporative cooling involves some type of heat exchanger. Typically, swamp coolers used in residential or industrial settings utilize direct evaporation, and this usually involves an enclosed plastic or metal box with vented sides and a centrifugal fan, along with an electric motor and a water pump to moisten the evaporative cooling pads. These types of swamp coolers can include casters for portability, be mounted on the roof, or placed by the exterior walls or windows of a building. In order to cool, the swamp cooler's fan draws warm air through the unit's side vents and through the damp pads. Subsequently, air evaporates the water from the pads, and these are constantly re-dampened in order to continue the cooling process. These cooling pads can be constructed of materials such as excelsior, plastic, or melamine paper, and the pad's thickness plays a great part in a swamp cooler's cooling efficiency because of the increased surface area.

In addition to being able to providing reliable and cost-effecting cooling for homes, swamp coolers such those from Port-A-Cool are also perfect for industrial and commercial applications such as automotive garages, warehouses, and agricultural areas. As well, become swamp coolers use very little electricity and have a large cooling area, they are also suitable for outdoor use, such as athletic fields, concerts, and stadiums.

1. Cost-Effective - The estimated cost of operating a swamp cooler is 1/4 that of refrigerated air, and power consumption is only limited to the fan and water pump, as opposed to an air conditioner's compressor, pump, and blower.

2. Easy and Inexpensive to Install - The estimated cost for installing a swamp cooler can be 1/8 to 1/2 that of traditional air conditioners.

3. Improves Air Quality - Because swamp coolers require adequate ventilation, this constant and high volume airflow through a building dramatically reduces the age-of-air.

4. Acts as a Humidifier - Swamp coolers add moisture to the air and can keep you comfortable. As well, in dry areas, this much-needed moisture helps keep wood furniture and fabrics from warping and drying out.

5. Versatile - Swamp coolers can be used in a variety of situations such as homes, offices, or industrial areas - as long as the climate is dry.

See Swamp Coolers

Return to the Portable Cooling Guide