Air Conditioning & Swamp Cooler

15 years ago

Hi,

We had a 2700 s.f. home single-level home with which we added a 900 s.f. 'entertainment room' onto a 2nd floor. We have 2 separate A.C. controls- 1 for the 1st floor and 1 for the 2nd floor. We also have an Evaporative Air Cooler (aka Swamp Cooler)on the 1st floor that we have used as we like it better than the A.C. (and its cheaper to boot).

My question is this: Will it be cheaper if we continue to use the Swamp Cooler for the 1st floor (we keep a window open at the end of the 1st floor) and restrict the A.C. to only the 2nd floor? Or does using the Swamp Cooler negatively affect the A.C. enough that we would be better, economically, to use both A.C. for 1st and 2nd floor?

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Comments (2)

miken_2008
15 years ago
I can't imagine that using yout swamp cooler instead of an AC would not be cheaper unless you are in a very humid part of the country but the only way to tell would be to run it for a month one way and then try it with both ac on and factor your degree day cooling loads to make sure you are apples to apples and see

Here is a link that might be useful: Air Conditioning Repair made Easy
Vivi Luo
5 years ago
Important Feature Considerations for Window Swamp Cooler and Window AC
- Energy Efficiency
- Window evaporative air cooler is an energy efficient method of cooling a home. Compared to air conditioners, they have no chemical and use about 15%-35% of the electricity used by air conditioners. However, they do require a constant water supply. They may, therefore, prove not efficient in areas experiencing water restriction or drought. They are also not as effective as air conditioners when it comes to cooling the air in various weather conditions.
- Climate Considerations
  Window Swamp Coolers work best in hot and dry climatic conditions, such as in desert regions. This is because they function by adding moisture to the air making your home have a more comfortable feel. In humid regions, swamp coolers can only lead to excess humidity giving room to the growth of mold or mildew. Air conditioners are effective in almost all climatic conditions but they can also make the air dry. It, therefore, makes their use more effective in humid areas. Using air conditioners in dry climate could make the air too dry and might lead to eye and skin complications.
- Costs
  Window air conditioning gadgets cost somewhere between $345 – $1,190. They normally come complete with a DIY manual. On the other hand, window swamp coolers are priced between $400 – $1000. They require no professional help to install.
- CO2 Emissions
  Window mount swamp cooler tends to have reduced levels of CO2 and greenhouse gases emissions when compared to air conditioners. This is because swam coolers utilize the use of water to cool the air. Air conditioning units on the other hand use cooling or refrigerant chemical. When this chemical is converting into gas or liquid, it emits CO2 and greenhouse gases. This becomes harmful to the environment as well as the air we breathe.
- Noise
  Window AC tend to produce more noise compared to window evaporative cooler. The noise in air conditioners occurs when the condenser is working to convert the chemical into either gas or liquid.
- Installation
  Window unit swamp coolers will need no professional services to install in most situations. Window air conditioning units, on the other hand, might need the help of a professional or a detailed DIY manual.
- Maintenance
  Forwindow air cooler to function properly they require maintenance daily, monthly, and yearly. This also involves changing the pad when necessary and controlling the water. Most of the maintenance jobs are DIY. You can also do a professional yearly service of about $100. The swamp cooler units require more concentration in maintenance compare to air conditioners.
  Ait conditioners are meant to be serviced yearly. The yearly maintenance includes changing the filter, charging the chemicals, and cleaning. The cost to the yearly servicing is about $70 – $100. Air conditioners have parts that are prone to failure. These parts can lead to an additional yearly cost of about $250 and $ 2,000. It, therefore, makes them more expensive in terms of maintenance.
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Air Conditioning & Swamp Cooler

Comments (2)

miken_2008

Vivi Luo

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