How to Find the Perfect Evaporative Cooler for You!

Evaporative coolers (also known as swamp coolers) are very popular when the temperatures start to increase, particularly because these units are extremely efficient in every way. Not only do they save you energy, but they also save you a lot of money. Did you know that an evaporative cooler uses only one-third of the energy used by an air conditioner? It costs less to purchase and install a swamp cooler than to purchase and install an air conditioner! However, there are just so many different models out there that it may become difficult to tell which one is best and which one is more efficient. Here are some tips that may be able to help you determine which evaporative cooler is best for you!

• The larger your home, the higher air flow rate you need. Simply take the cubic feet of the space you wish to cool and divide that number by two - the number you get is the CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating you need. For example, if you have a 2,000 square foot home and your ceilings are 9 feet high, then you'll need an evaporative cooler with an air flow of 9,000 CFM. You can always get a swamp cooler with a higher CFM rating, but don't go for anything smaller, or else the unit won't be as efficient!

• Determine how large you want the tank capacity to be. If you live in a hotter area, it is preferable to choose an evaporative cooler with a larger tank capacity. Swamp coolers require water to keep the cooling pads wet, so one can use anywhere from 3 to 15 gallons of water per day, depending on the size of the swamp cooler and the temperature. The NewAir AF-350, one of the most efficient evaporative coolers, offers a tank that carries about 20 liters, which amounts to about 5 gallons. For larger commercial areas, the Convair Mobile-Max 3 is great because it features a 26-gallon tank.

• A useful evaporative cooler features an efficient fan that saves energy as well. A good example of this is the Symphony Winter-XL. This unit has an 18-inch fan that only uses 200 watts - it uses less energy than a computer!

• Some swamp coolers have useful filters that make the process even more effective. Many times, the moisture pad can double as a filter. The NewAir AF-330, on the other hand, has a built in air-purifier. This feature is extremely handy for those who suffer from allergies or even asthma. This evaporative cooler's air purifier contains a HEPA filter, a carbon filter, and an ionizer - all of which remove 99.97% of pollutants from your air.

Though there are many different models and types of evaporative coolers, it actually isn't very difficult to determine which one is right for you once you understand which features you need and which options are better for your home.