We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Evaporated Cooler?

By Kate Monteith
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,378
Share

An evaporated cooler is an electric powered air cooler that is used for climate control in extremely arid regions. Sometimes known as a desert cooler or a swamp cooler, evaporative coolers work opposite of the refrigerated air conditioners found in humid areas. Rather than removing moisture from the air, an evaporated cooler actually pumps moisture into the air, causing a significant cooling effect.

In the arid areas of western U.S. and other low-humidity locations, evaporated coolers can be a familiar sight. Desert coolers can be installed atop the roof of a building, or fitted into an opening in a wall. One type of evaporated cooler offers direct access to the controls on the front of the unit. Others are designed to pump cool air through heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) ducts within a building, providing an efficient and unobtrusive method to cool hot, dry air. Refrigerated air conditioning, or forced air, is more often found in humid locales.

The mechanics of an evaporating cooler are fairly simple. A fan blows hot, outside air over a moist pad that rotates on a drum, creating a cooling effect. A tray of water at the base of the drum moistens the pad. The water is provided via a thin, flexible hose attached to a water source. The entire cooling unit is housed in a metal box with multiple vents to the outside air.

Water usage can sometimes be a consideration in the desert. On a typical summer day, from 3 to 15 gallons (11.3 to 56.8 liters) of water may be expelled by a desert cooler. The purchase price is approximately equal to air conditioners rated to cool a similar space. An evaporated cooler takes up roughly twice the size of a refrigerated air conditioner, but only uses about a sixth of the electricity.

Some air conditioners work best when the cooled area is sealed from outside air as tightly as possible, but an evaporated cooler requires windows to be cracked at least a couple of inches (5.8 cm) for optimum climate control. A breach in the interior environment allows hot air to flow out and be replaced by cool, moist air. However, as the humidity rises, the swamp cooler becomes less effective.

Evaporative coolers need routine maintenance in seasonal climates. When temperatures dip below freezing, an evaporated cooler must be flushed and covered with a fitted canvas drape to protect it. In the spring, it is reconditioned and reconnected for another hot season of evaporated air conditioning.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon73255 — On Mar 26, 2010

can anyone tell me how to make a desert cooler without a pump?

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-evaporated-cooler.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.