While it may not seem like those of us living by the beach or in warmer climates have much to complain about, there is still a downside to living in sunny areas: it’s exhausting. After a long day down at the beach or park, it’s important to be able to return to a lovely, cool home where you can hide away from those sun rays. This is when we begin to worship air-cooling systems and wonder how we ever coped without them.
Contents
We have the so-called evaporative coolers which pump and circulate water from the units’ water tank in order to adequately saturate a cooling pad. Air is then drawn from outside of the unit via the fan and through the cooling pad. There are also the popular air conditioners which use a chemical (refrigerant) to absorb the heat, transfer the energy, and cool the air.
The question now is which one should you own or install in your home? The evaporative cooler vs air conditioner analysis provided below will help you determine which one is best.
Direct Comparison
1. Evaporative Cooler
- Climate: Dry and hot regions such as the South Western United States.
- Air Cooling Technique: Adds moisture to the air
- Efficient Operation: Enclosed or open environment.
- CO2 Emission: Extremely low
2. Air Conditioner
- Climate: Hot and Humid regions such as the Eastern United States
- Air Cooling Technique: Removes moisture from the air
- Efficient Operation: Enclosed environment
- CO2 Emission: Relatively high
A Detailed Breakdown
In order to provide a thorough comparison and discover which home cooling system is best for you, we’ll be comparing them across the three categories, namely environmental impact, air circulation, and running costs.
1. Environmental Impact
Firstly, let’s compare the environmental impact caused by running each system. For argument’s sake, we’ll be considering the product lines as a whole rather than specific units available.
- Evaporative Coolers
Evaporative coolers as a whole emit far less CO2 than most conventional air conditioners. That is because they utilize the evaporation technique rather than chemical transmission, which requires more energy to operate efficiently.
- Air Conditioners
While some traditional air conditioners can emit relatively low levels of CO2, they simply can’t compare to evaporative coolers without considerably compromising on their size and effectiveness.
Most Environmentally Friendly: Evaporative Coolers
Not only do these coolers emit a lower level of CO2 emissions but they also run quieter than most air conditioner units resulting in less noise pollution too.
2. Air Circulation
Next on our list is air circulation. Not only is it important for your cooling system to produce a higher quality of air but to also circulate the air at an effective rate.
- Evaporative Coolers
With regards to air quality alone, evaporative coolers are significantly superior to air conditioners. They work in open spaces, allowing fresh air to be passed through the system as opposed to air conditioners that recirculate the same air. They also add moisture to the air, so they won’t dry out your skin, eyes or throat.
- Air Conditioners
Typically larger units operating at a higher wattage, air conditioners have an advantage over evaporative coolers when it comes to cooling a space quickly. However, as they are moisture-removing devices, air quality does suffer in the process.
Best Air Circulation: It’s a Tie!
When considering air circulation, it’s important to think about the requirements of the unit as well as your personal preferences. While an evaporative cooler may produce better air quality, they don’t typically perform as well when cooling large open spaces.
3. Running Costs
Our final comparison is between the everyday running costs associated with using each air-cooling system.
- Evaporative Coolers
Evaporative cooler systems are simpler in construction as they only need enough energy to run the pump and fan. The simplicity of this unit means there is less to go wrong; therefore, lower service costs.
- Air Conditioners
With a fairly high installation price to start, air conditioners will also set you back more in the long run. Apart from the pump and fan seen in the evaporative systems, air conditioners also need condensers, compressors, and expansion valves to operate. This requires more power and will subsequently raise your maintenance bill.
Most Affordable Running Costs: Evaporative Coolers
With installation fees of evaporators costing up to six times less than air conditioners, as well as approximately 50% less in operational costs each month, it’s an easy choice between the two.
Final Recount
Let’s just have a quick recap of the final tally:
- Most Environmentally Friendly: Evaporative Coolers
- Best Air Circulation: Tie
- Most Affordable Running Costs: Evaporative Coolers
With a tie for best air circulation, depending upon the intended use of your cooling system, we see a score of 2-0 in favor of the evaporative coolers. Before making our final verdict, we have produced a list of the clear pros and cons of each system.
Pros and Cons
Evaporative Cooler
Pros:
- Low running costs
- Low carbon footprint
- Great air quality
Cons:
- Regular maintenance required to prevent internal mold growth
- Constant use can leave your entire home with a sticky warmth sensation
Air Conditioner
Pros:
- Typically higher output
- Works in any climate
- Great in a humid environment
Cons:
- Expensive
- High CO2 emissions
The Bottomline
When it comes to choosing between evaporative cooler vs air conditioner, the biggest defining factor in your purchase will depend on your environment. If you live in a hot and dry climate, an evaporative cooler will add moisture back into the air and make the environment more hospitable. In more humid settings, an air conditioner will remove moisture from the air to prevent you from feeling irritable.
Excluding the climate, evaporative coolers would be the clear winner for their money-saving efficiency and quiet operation. However, as climate is the main reason you buy a cooling system in the first place, our final verdict is a tie. Hence, buy a cooling system that is appropriate for the environment that you live in.