If you have an evaporative cooler or you plan to buy one then keep reading. Evaporative coolers are an eco-friendly way to survive the hot summer months. Though not as effective in already humid environments, they are ideal in dry conditions. Below are tips for improving the efficiency of your evaporative cooler. Making evaporative cooling work for you is the first step to a comfortable summer.
1. Measure the room
You must know the size of the room you’re cooling. If you don’t size your cooler properly, it will never meet your needs.
Measure the cubic feet of space you want to cool, and then divide that number by two. The
quotient will give you the CFM (cubic feet per minute) rating for the
proper-sized cooler.
For example, if you have a 1,500 sq. ft. home with 8 foot-high ceilings your formula would
look like this:
1,500 x 8 = 12,000 cubic feet
12,000/ 2 = 6,000 CFM needed
2. Regular Maintenance
Check to be sure the cooling pad is good condition, and there isn’t any mineral build-up or cracking that can cause the cooler to operate poorly. The filter should be cleaned once every two weeks with lukewarm water and mild detergent to avoid dust, dirt, mold, and mildew build-up,especially if it hasn’t been used for a long period. Clean the unit’s exterior periodically as needed with a damp cloth.
3. Managing humidity
For an evaporative cooler to reduce the ambient temperature in the room the relative humidity level must be low. Since the unit uses moisture to cool the air, you can’t appreciate the cooling affect when humidity levels are already high. So monitor the humidity in your home with a hygrometer.
4. Keep pads moist
For an evaporative cooler to be effective, the pads must be
moist. As air is blown through the pad and into the room, a dry pad won’t cool
the environment.
5. Keep a full water tank
It’s important to keep the tank full of water. An evaporative cooler uses water to reduce the temperature. Check the tank daily to be sure there is enough water for the unit to operate properly.
6. Prime it up
Let your air cooler run for about 15 minutes before turning on the blower motor. This will get the water flowing, and the pump primed enough
to keep the pads moist.
7. Storing it properly
When you’re finished using your evaporative cooler for the
season, simply wipe it clean, drain the water tank, clean the filter and other
components, and operate the fan-only function if available for about 30-60
minutes to completely dry the device before storing. If the unit doesn’t have a
fan-only option then be sure to wipe it dry and let it dry out before putting it
away for the season.
Basic cleanings and proper storage/shut down of the cooler
are primary factors in determining how effective and for how long your cooler
will operate.


















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