What
types of evaporative coolers are there?
Evaporative
coolers range in size from small portable models to large ducted
models for residential and commercial/industrial applications.
Go to What is Evaporative Cooling?
to learn more about evaporative cooling and its benefits.
Can
evaporative coolers be used in different climates?
Evaporative
cooling is best suited for climates where the air is hot and
humidity is low. They may be a cost effective option in some
higher humidity areas. Use for spot cooling, garages, workshops,
garden centers, auto
shops, dog kennels, outdoor tents, horse stables,
exercise areas, industrial plants, commercial kitchens, farming
(i.e. poultry, hog, and dairy buildings), laundries, dry cleaners,
and greenhouses.
Which
is better - an evaporative cooler or an air conditioner?
That
all depends on you. Evaporative coolers provide continuous fresh,
cool air and are energy efficient to operate. Use an evaporative
cooler for whole house cooling or combine an evaporative cooler
with an air conditioning system.
How
do I size
a cooler?
Evaporative
coolers are sized based on the amount of airflow needed or CFM
(cubic feet per minute). There are two ways to size a cooler.
One, you can calculate the cubic feet of an area
by multiplying the length by the width by the height (L x W
x H). Once you've determined cubic feet, multiply that number
by an evaporative cooling climate factor for your area. Referring
to a specification chart for a particular type of cooler, you
can determine which model meets your needs. See Sizing
a Cooler.
Two,
determine the total square footage of your home referring to
a square foot sizing guide. Please note, however, square foot
ranges shown in any guide are based on ceiling heights of 8'
and other assumptions (i.e. desired room temperature and heat
loads, etc.). Square footage sizing guides are approximations
only. Since conditions vary from house to house, contact a salesperson
or contractor for additional information.
How
do evaporative coolers rid my house of indoor pollutants?
Evaporative
cooling constantly exchanges the air instead of re-circulating
it so stale, polluted inside air is replaced with fresh, filtered
outside air that has been cooled.
Do
evaporative coolers actually save energy?
An
evaporative cooler uses 70% less power than air conditioning.
The annualized energy savings make evaporative cooling a cost
effective alternative to air conditioning.
How
often should my cooler be serviced?
Regular
maintenance will extend the life of your cooler and help avoid
unnecessary problems associated with parts replacement. We recommend
servicing
your cooler three times throughout the year - at start-up, mid-season
and shutdown. Refer to your Owners Manual for the recommended
maintenance schedule for your cooler.
Is
it okay if I use soft water with my evaporative cooler?
No
Soft water may cause corrosion
decreasing the effective life of your cooler.
I
see scratches on my cooler. How can I get rid of them?
Should
a scratch or any bare metal appear on your cooler, sand the
area with steel wool to prepare the finish. Paint with standard
spray paint or touch up paint available from a dealer.
What
is a BLEED
OFF KIT ?
The
bleed-off
helps your cooler function at its optimum. By continuously eliminating
a small quantity of water from re-circulation, it reduces scale
build-up and dilutes mineral concentrations. Consult your Owners
Manual to determine the correct flow rate for your model.
You
can also use a POWER-CLEAN®
kit. This can reduce the amount of water used.
Is it important for my evaporative cooler to be level to operate
properly?
Yes.
When an evaporative cooler is mounted level, then the water
within the pan is set at the appropriate level for the pump
to operate efficiently. If the pump doesn't have enough water
to circulate, it will prevent the right amount of water from
reaching the pads and will possibly create dry streaks. This
would allow warm air to enter the evaporative cooler.
When
I turn the fan on, no air is discharged. Why?
It's
possible the electrical power to the unit has been disconnected.
Check fuses and/or circuit breaker. On portable or window coolers,
make sure the cord is plugged in.
My
evaporative cooler produces an unpleasant odor. What can I do?
Drain,
flush and clean the reservoir. Make sure the cooler has a bleed-off.
Clean or replace pads, if needed.
The
cooler doesn't seem to be cooling.
You
could have inadequate exhaust. For every 1,000 CFM of air delivery,
2 square feet of unrestricted air relief is needed. Check the
water distribution system to ensure there is adequate water
reaching the pads. Clean and/or replace the distribution system
if needed. Also, check the pads to make sure they aren't clogged.
If they are, clean and/or replace as needed.
I've
heard about relief air. What is it?
As
an evaporative cooler draws fresh outside air through the cooler
into the home, hot stale inside air is exhausted out of the
home. This is referred to as relief air. Generally speaking,
a good relief design exhausts slightly more air out of the home
than your cooler supplies.
How
many windows and doors must I leave open?
It's
all based on the unrestricted exhaust air openings your home
requires. For every 1,000 CFM of air delivery, allow 2 square
feet of unrestricted air relief through windows or doors.
Are
there other ways to exhaust air in my home?
Yes
VENTMATIC™
vents can be installed to exhaust air through your attic and
out the roof vents. Remember to provide 2 square feet of relief
for every 1,000 CFM of air delivery.
What
is VENTMATIC™
?
VENTMATIC™
is a brand name of ceiling vents that
allows for air exhaust through an attic. This also cools down
the attic temperature. When the cooler comes on, the air pressure
automatically opens the barometric dampers. When the cooler
turns off, the damper automatically closes.
How
many VENTMATIC™
vents should I install?
At
a minimum, install VENTMATIC™
vents in every major room. For maximum
cooling comfort, install one
VENTMATIC™
vent for every 500 CFM of air delivery.
How
can I direct cooled air into various rooms?
Direct
the air exhaust by changing the direction of the vents or opening
windows or doors in different rooms. Remember to allow a total
unrestricted area of relief of 2 square feet for every 1,000
CFMs.
Are
thermostats available for evaporative coolers?
Yes
Thermostats
PN
7619 are available for whole house
coolers.
What
can I expect the discharge air temperature to be from my evaporative
cooler?
That
depends on a number of factors. The discharge temperature is
determined by the temperature and relative humidity of incoming
air. To determine the temperature of the air leaving the cooler,
you will need to know the outside dry bulb temperature, the
current outside wet bulb temperature, and the evaporative efficiency
of the evaporative cooler (typically provided in product brochures
under Performance Data). This should provide a guide to approximate
discharge air temperatures.
What should I do if I won't be using my evaporative cooler for
a period of time?
Always
drain the water from the cooler and start with fresh water if
it has not been in operation for a week. If you are shutting
down the cooler for an extended amount of time or for the season,
drain the water and clean the cooler. Cover cooler after cleaning.
What
is a portable
evaporative cooler?
A
portable
evaporative cooler requires no installation or wiring and can
be used anywhere spot cooling is needed. Suited for residential
and commercial applications, use portable coolers to cool rooms,
offices, garages, workshops, garden centers, auto shops, dog
kennels, outdoor tents, horse stables, exercise areas, industrial
plants, commercial kitchens, farming (i.e. poultry, hog, and
dairy buildings), laundries, dry cleaners, and greenhouses.
Where
should I place a portable
cooler?
The
most important thing is to place a portable
evaporative cooler where there is plenty of fresh air. The best
position is adjacent to an open window or external door with
additional openings on the opposite side of the room for relief
air. This placement will provide the most cooling comfort.
How
often should I clean a portable evaporative cooler?
Empty
and replace the water reservoir at least once a week with fresh
clean water to reduce scale or mineral deposits from building
up on the pad. At a minimum, clean your cooler (water system
and filters) at least once during the season or more periodically
depending on usage. This will help maintain the high performance
of your cooler. Refer to your Owners Manual for required maintenance
and scheduling.
