Evaporative air coolers

[jtvang125]

Ok, my room is getting ridiculously hot these past few days. I have a few fans running but they're basically just blowing the hot air around. I've found three possible solutions in cooling my room.

1. Window air conditioners - I'm renting so I dont want to mess with the installatoin.
2. Portable air conditioners - Too expensive at $300+
3. Evaporative air coolers - Seems to be what I'm looking for but skeptical of its performance

Ok most likely I'm going with option 3 but for people who have used them, how well do they work? Would they cool a small bdrm enough to where I can atleast sleep comfortably?

 

[So]

Define 'rediculously hot'

You live in cali.

Come to LV. It was 117 today.

 

[kogase]

What is a good air condiiiiiiiiiiiiiitioner? Window air conditioner? A good one? I want less humidity. More cool. Help me out.

 

[eelw]

But what was the humidity in Las Vegas? I would assume the evaporative air cooler is just attempting to turn your room into a desert so you feel cooler.

 

[acemcmac]

live on a college campus with free power all summer

that'll fix your cooling problems...

 

[FrustratedUser]

What you are asking for is how a swamp cooler works right?

It basically blows air through a wet 'filter'. The evaporating water takes heat from the air ---> cool air.
You need LOW humidity for this system, other wise it doesn't work.

 

[B00ne]

Get a split portable one!! Of the portable ones those should be the best. However be prepared to spend some $$$ The cheapest Split ones here are around ?400-500, good ones, ?1000+

The portable ones withe the thick air hose are too inefficient for the temps you got there (and way too noisy). Room shouldnt be too big and good insulation helps alot.

do not get those water evaporaters, those are not air conditioners. If they actually manage too cool it wont be more than 0.1K. As a side effect the make the air more humid - making it feel even hotter. But If you want to feel like you live in the rainforest go ahead those are the way to go.

 

[Raincity]

I have a evap cooler and it works ok here in Vegas since we have low humidity untill the temp hits high 90's then it feels to muggy and I stop running it and switch to AC.

 

[Blayze]

My room has been really hot this week. I have 1 fan running all the time, sometimes 2. The humidity has been up this week making closing the door not a option.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: B00ne
Get a split portable one!! Of the portable ones those should be the best. However be prepared to spend some $$$ The cheapest Split ones here are around ?400-500, good ones, ?1000+

The portable ones withe the thick air hose are too inefficient for the temps you got there (and way too noisy). Room shouldnt be too big and good insulation helps alot.

do not get those water evaporaters, those are not air conditioners. If they actually manage too cool it wont be more than 0.1K. As a side effect the make the air more humid - making it feel even hotter. But If you want to feel like you live in the rainforest go ahead those are the way to go.

Swamp coolers work great in AZ and other DRY places, otherwise the result will be like you described.

 

[IronWing]

Here is a great animation showing how swamp coolers work. This comes in handy when desert rats have to explain it to the forest dwellers.

Swamp Cooler

 

[91TTZ]

You cali/desert guys don't know what heat is. I've been to Arizona when it was 105 degrees. Didn't bother me at all. As long as you have a bottle of water, you're fine. 105 degrees with 5% humidity is nothing. Come to New Jersey/Philly, the other day it was 92 degrees with 96% humidity. Sweating does nothing for you, it just soaks your clothes and drips off you.

 

[mordantmonkey]

yeah heat is nothing without humidity. high 90's with 80%+ humidity is just shatty. no relief, only massive amounts of sweat collecting in your clothes.

 

[Insane3D]

1. Window air conditioners - I'm renting so I dont want to mess with the installatoin.

WTF??!? What "installation"? You put it in the window, slide out the side baffles, and close the window down on top...then you plug it in and turn it on.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Swamp coolers work great in AZ and other DRY places, otherwise the result will be like you described.

Yep, here in Nor Cali it works wonders for our house. Temperature in our house doesn't get above ~82 or so and it can be 100+ outside.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
You cali/desert guys don't know what heat is. I've been to Arizona when it was 105 degrees. Didn't bother me at all. As long as you have a bottle of water, you're fine. 105 degrees with 5% humidity is nothing. Come to New Jersey/Philly, the other day it was 92 degrees with 96% humidity. Sweating does nothing for you, it just soaks your clothes and drips off you.

I know.
I used to live in Tucson AZ (loving it) but now I am in muggy-ass VA. 90/90 freaking blows. :thumbsdown:

 

[jtvang125]

Originally posted by: Insane3D

1. Window air conditioners - I'm renting so I dont want to mess with the installatoin.

WTF??!? What "installation"? You put it in the window, slide out the side baffles, and close the window down on top...then you plug it in and turn it on.

My windows open side to side and not up and down. The window will be wide open above the AC unit. There might be a kit to block the opening but it doesnt seem very secure. I have a lot of expensive equipment in my room (Dell 2405, PC, HT system..ect).

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: jtvang125

Originally posted by: Insane3D

1. Window air conditioners - I'm renting so I dont want to mess with the installatoin.

WTF??!? What "installation"? You put it in the window, slide out the side baffles, and close the window down on top...then you plug it in and turn it on.

My windows open side to side and not up and down. The window will be wide open above the AC unit. There might be a kit to block the opening but it doesnt seem very secure. I have a lot of expensive equipment in my room (Dell 2405, PC, HT system..ect).

Ahh...my bad. I can't put A/C 's on the first floor of my condo for that reason...all I have is a sliding door to the deck, a greenhouse window on the side, and a swing out type in front. I totally forgot about that..

 

[Zontor]

As said earlier, swamp [evaporative] coolers work best in low humidity. The "inside the room" type will sort of work until the humidity in the room goes up from running it....I'd go with an indoor AC unit (cheapest I've seen is at Pep Boys Auto Parts !) -- cost around $350.

Swamp coolers work best when there are other windows open in the room (they create a fair amount of positive air pressure) so the air can circulate and exchange.

 

[Carbo]

I live in south Florida. Could that be why my swamp cooler isn't working too effectively?? :Q

 

[zoiks]

I have one and it sucks. Some day one of my machines will short out with all the humidity in the air.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Carbo
I live in south Florida. Could that be why my swamp cooler isn't working too effectively?? :Q

No sh1t!

Swamp cooler in Fl is teh st00p1d!

 

[bwnv]

Originally posted by: eelw
But what was the humidity in Las Vegas? I would assume the evaporative air cooler is just attempting to turn your room into a desert so you feel cooler.

Yesterday was around 9% humidity. Today it's 108 and 19% humidity. Probably 'cause we have a few clouds.

<----- Also in vegas

Last week was mostly 117 to 123 depending on what area you live in