Swamp Cooler: What You Should Know About Evaporative Cooling

Published:

6/01/2022

Stuck trying to find a product that will keep you cool this, Summer? Contemplating between overhead fans, air conditioning, evaporative cooler, etc.? Here’s an Evaporative Cooler you should consider. Keep reading to see if it’s a good fit for you.

Table of Contents:

Pros & Cons to Swamp Coolers

Features of the VAL6 RKF 506-A

Benefits of the VAL6 RKF 506-A

Evaporative Cooler for Sale

Swamp Cooler: What You Should Know About Evaporative Cooling

What is a Swamp Cooler?

A Swamp Cooler is just another name for an Evaporative Cooling System. Swamp coolers are one of many options to choose from to keep cool during the summer months.

It’s believed the name swamp cooler originates from ancient Egypt. Back then they would hang wet blankets on the doorways or windows so that when the wind blew hot air through the blankets, it would create a cooler breeze. A swamp cooler uses a similar method.

How Do Swamp Coolers Work?

Swamp coolers work well in areas where the environment isn’t very humid because evaporative coolers add humidity/moisture to cool the air. Swamp coolers are inspired by but use a more advanced method nowadays compared to the ways of ancient Egyptians.

Instead of hot air blowing through wet blankets, dry air is sucked into the machine, a fan then pushes the air through wet cooling pads (the wet blankets) and creates a gentle cool breeze.

What is Evaporative Cooling?

Evaporative cooling uses the process of evaporating water (turning water from a liquid to a gas) to absorb the heat and release cool air in its place.

Evaporative Cooling Process

Evaporative cooling is very similar to the natural process of how our bodies cool off. Our bodies have an internal thermostat, the hypothalamus - an area in the brain - that regulates the body's temperature. If it rises or falls the hypothalamus triggers or signals the body to start sweating (the process of cooling off) or shivering (the process of warming up).

Our bodies generate sweat which starts in a liquid form sitting on the surface of our skin. The process then progresses to water molecules gaining energy and becoming active enough so that the chemical bonds (H2O) break. This results in H20 transforming into water vapor. As the bond breaks, heat is simultaneously removed from your skin cooling you off.

Tip: Wiping off drops of sweat prevents your body’s natural mechanism of cooling off to become ineffective.

How Does Evaporative Cooling Work?

In order for an evaporative cooling system to produce cool air, the air has to be constantly flowing through the machine and have a constant source of water to replace lost water.

Evaporative cooling systems can lose water in three different ways. The process of evaporation, blowdown, and drift.

When water evaporates, minerals are left behind. A build-up of minerals in a machine can cause scaling, corrosion, and/or contamination. The machine will remove the water in a process called blowdown.

Depending on the machine, water droplets can be blown out of the machine due to the fan circulating the air, this is referred to as drift. Some machines may be designed with drift eliminators to prevent water droplets from escaping.

Pros & Cons of Swamp Coolers

Evaporative cooling systems are among the best and most efficient methods used to stay cool. But, living in a humid climate, this option may not be the best choice. Here are some Pros & Cons of Swamp Coolers

Pros of Swamp Coolers

Improves air quality (can purify the air)
Cools the air
Increases humidity
Affordable option
Energy-efficient (cutting energy costs)
Use in various locations and settings
Easy installation
Low maintenance

Cons of Swamp Coolers

Extreme heat can impact performance
Not suited for humid climates (50% humidity or higher)
Yearly pad replacement
Filter changes (prevent the growth of mold and mildew)
Water supply (hose connection or manually refill water tank)

While evaporative coolers may not bode well in high humid climates, they are a great option for keeping cool during the summer. They are an affordable, energy-efficient, and cost-saving alternative to air conditioning units. If you are interested in a commercial-grade evaporative cooler, the VAL6 RKF 506-A is an affordable, high-powered, industrial-strength option.

Evaporative Cooler vs Air Conditioner

If you're looking to save money this year and in future summer months, it might be time to consider an evaporative cooler. This cooling method can save you money, is cheap, and offers an alternative to air conditioning.

Electricity in Texas can range from 12 cents per kWh to 19.9 cents per kWh. Water in Texas can range from $2.99 per 1000 gal to $3.04 per 1000 gal (North Texas Municipal Water District). Pricing will vary from household to household, and business to business depending on location, sq. ft., and usage.

Switching to an evaporative cooler will increase your water bill a little bit but will significantly reduce your electric bill. And evaporative cooling systems use a loop system rather than a single pass cooling system making them more efficient, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly.

A big difference between evaporative coolers and air conditioning is that air conditioning uses a chemical reaction while evaporative coolers use water. Fixed and variable costs are another big differentiator.

Evaporative coolers might be more expensive than an A/C/ unit, however, there are installation costs whereas an evaporative cooler doesn’t require that. Then you also have to consider the future costs of repair and maintenance an A/C unit requires. Evaporative coolers are low maintenance and user-friendly and any problems are most likely able to be fixed by the user.

Features of the VAL6 RKF 506-A

1. Automatic Swing Louver

150% more effective cooling compared to the previous model and covers a wider area.

2. One-Touch Switch to Control Air Volume

3 settings, Hi, Med, and Low so you can choose depending on your preference.

3. Mesh Guard

A safety feature to prevent possible injury.

4. Built-in Off Timer

Choose a shut-off time to cut costs and save energy.

5. 3 Water Supply Options

Supplying water made easier and more convenient for the user.

6. Simple and Easy Maintenance

The water tank is a quick connect for easy removal to clean. The cooling element is easy to clean and replace. No tool is needed, and the manufacturer recommends replacing the cooling element every 1 - 2 years.

Benefits of the VAL6 RKF 506-A

1. Adds Moisture to the Air

In areas with low humidity, the air quality can get uncomfortable. Moisture in the air can also help the body boost its perspiration rate.

2. Reduce CO2 Footprint

Using an RKF compared to a spot air conditioner 2 port type can save you on energy and costs. With an RKF you will see 85% of reduced energy and cost.

3. No Water Splash

The evaporative cooler is designed so that there is no water splash and minimizes unnecessary loss of water (designed with drift eliminators to prevent water droplets from escaping).

4. No Heat Exhaust

RKF evaporative cooler doesn’t emit any hot exhaust compared to spot coolers.

5. Eco Friendly

Compared to ambient temperatures, the RKF evaporative cooler delivers 5 degrees Celsius cooler air.

13 Benefits of the RKF Evaporative Cooler

Swamp Coolers (Evaporative Coolers) for Sale

Ready to purchase an evaporative cooler? The RKF is among the best industrial-grade swamp coolers. From its economic efficiency to cost savings, eco-friendly, exhaust-free, and low-noise features, it’s a great value.

If you want to see this machine in action and see and feel what it’s capable of, contact us to set up a time and place for a product demo. We would be more than happy to let you try it out and see if it is a good fit for you.

You can purchase an RKF at any one of our 3 locations (Dallas, Kilgore, and Odessa). Give us a call anytime, request a quote, or fill out our contact us form and one of our team members will be in touch.

Share this Article ↓

Evaporative Cooler vs. Air Conditioner - Advantages and Disadvantages

Swamp Cooler: What You Should Know About Evaporative Cooling

What is a Swamp Cooler?

How Do Swamp Coolers Work?