Evaporative Coolers

[oldogre]

I was surfing the web and came across the coolers, look promising, the website is www.swampy.net . I am considering the mw1 model, anyone heard or experienced these in action?

 

[Wabbit]

In general, swamp coolers work well if set up properly. No experience with this particular brand. However, when I get around to it, I will be making my own swamp cooler as I do not want to pay the prices you see on that site. If you search the forum here and google, you can get DIY plans and ideas on how to best utilize them.

 

[AltTransBikes]

No experience with that brand/type but plenty of experience with desert coolers having survived summers on a Coachella Valley ranch with no AC.

I like the fact they are extremely low on power draw and have no pumps........of course it remains to be seen how well they work but could be promising.

 

[sisterearth]

I have not used that particular one, but do have experience with swamp coolers in the desert too and they work real nice. A definite must have for the desert southwest! Peace!

 

[Spirituallifetime]

I haven't used these but have used potable 120v samp coolers. Portables don't seem to work as well, the problem is a swamp cooler needs draw air from the outside and push the air through a room and to the outside to actually cool a room. If it draows air from the room it dosnt push it out of the room so the room stays warm and gets humid! The portable swamp coolers will use about 5 gallons of water per day depending on how much it is used. The swamp coolers that are on the outside and push air inside through a room and out window on the other side of the room work good in dry areas.

 

[gramakittycat]

Go to you tube and search DIY air coolers. You will find a plethora of videos to make your own evaporative/swamp cooler a lot of different designs.I've been most impressed with the "5gall.orange bucket design or the one made with an ice chest . All are much cheaper and easier to make than the over priced commercial ones. They do only work well in low humidity areas ie New Mexico,Az. etc....

 

[AuricTech]

Have you looked at the TurboKOOL evaporative cooler?  Since it's a roof-mounted design, it is able to function as Spirituallifetime described above.

Note that, as gramakittycat mentioned, evaporative coolers are best suited for use in low-humidity areas.  If you live on the Gulf Coast, don't expect one to do much to cool things off....

 

[oldogre]

Wow that turbocool was a neat idea, but$$$$$  thats a lot of bucks.  I know I need something when I am traveling out west because my old Sadie girl has zero heat tolerance,  she is a border collie and chow mix and a double coat which I had to shave 2 weeks ago because she is hot already for her here in Pensacola Florida.

Here is a thought though, the filter media that they use in the swampy does not require a pump, maybe I can play around with duplicating idea and order replacement filters and make one from an old ice chest I have been saving.  Hum wheels turning in head... 

 

[LeeRevell]

Interesting concept, just not efficient for us Southeasters........ otherwise I'd likely have one.

 

[SoulRaven]

12v air conditioners are a good answer, they do not increase humidity.

 

[highdesertranger]

swamp coolers work good under 40% humidity, they work great with humidity under 20%. in fact under 10% they work better than ac. imo. only draw back is water usage. under 10% humidity that thing is going to suck up water like a whale out of water. highdesertranger

 

[cdiggy]

swamp coolers work good under 40% humidity, they work great with humidity under 20%. in fact under 10% they work better than ac. imo. only draw back is water usage. under 10% humidity that thing is going to suck up water like a whale out of water. highdesertranger

Man I have gotten more laughs out of your posts today then in about a week! Thanks for making me chuckle. I needed that today!

 

[ZoNiE]

It's called a "Swamp" cooler for a reason. They work in very low humidity, below 100*. Over that, they just add to the humidity...

 

[LeeRevell]

Also work by rapid evaporation, which simply won't work if the ambient air is already saturated - ie. sunny Florida..... I do have some spare coolers, and might make one for trips out west later.

 

[jimindenver]

After having a big swamp cooler on my last house for 12 years, I can tell you that everything in the house absorbs that moisture. Eventually you will start getting a slight musty smell.

 

[LeeRevell]

After having a big swamp cooler on my last house for 12 years, I can tell you that everything in the house absorbs that moisture. Eventually you will start getting a slight musty smell.

Hehehe......  I already get that.  Keeping leather from molding gets interesting during a rainy high summer!

 

[4GNomad]

I came across this one at Costco over the weekend...  Don't know the wattage of the fan, but it shot out quite a bit of cold air.  I like the Slimline design and the enclosure on it as well.

 

[compassrose]

A swamp cooler does not work when it rains in Roswell & In Socorro, NM. That is the only places I have actual experience with swamp coolers. I have air conditioners.

 

[speedgene]

I installed a TuboCool last spring in a 27' trailer. It will not cool the whole trailer but makes the sleeping area nice. Good enough for me. It has low battery draw, easy to care for.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

We don't have one and don't want one. We simply point the front bumper toward cooler territory and mosey right along.