Description
It’s summertime and your mind probably instantly goes to thoughts of cooling off. But what type of cooling appliance should you go with?
Do you purchase an air cooler or air conditioner? While both air coolers and air conditioners will help you stay comfortable during the hot weather, they work in vastly different ways.
Here’s everything you need to know to decide between an air cooler vs air conditioner.
How Do They Work?
- Air cooler: Also known as an evaporative cooler or swamp cooler, this device sucks in warm air through wet pads. As air passes through the pads, it evaporates and helps cool down the air. The cooled air then fans back into the room. Air coolers are ideal for dry climates.
- Air conditioner: An AC unit sucks out hot air and blows out cool air. But how? Using refrigerant, your air conditioner absorbs heat from your room and dumps it outside. Cool, dry air is left behind and the cycle repeats. Air conditioners can cool any space, including humid environments.
Purchase Price and Installation Costs
Energy Consumption and Ongoing Operating Costs
Air coolers consume significantly less energy than traditional air conditioners. Expect most air coolers to use anywhere from 100-350 watts of power. Air conditioners can use anywhere from 500 to over 3,500 watts. That’s over ten times as much as an air cooler.
That energy use will add up over the course of a summer. Using your air conditioner can really jack up your monthly electric bill. While air conditioners are more expensive to use, they are often necessary if you live in a humid climate. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option for monthly cooling costs, air coolers are the way to go.
One thing to note is that while air coolers save you money on energy bills, they do require you to constantly refill the water reservoir. Larger, commercial air coolers can hook directly to water lines. Most personal air coolers will require you to refill it as the water evaporates.
Climate Considerations
Air coolers perform best in areas with dry climates and low humidity. Ideal climates for air cooler use are places like Arizona, Nevada, and even parts of Texas that experience dry heat in the summer. Because there is little humidity in the air, water can evaporate quicker to cool the air.
Air coolers are not effective in humid climates. If the air is already saturated with water, it takes longer to evaporate. As a result, the cooler will not be able to cool down the air as much. You’ll feel sticky and hot as an air cooler works in high humidity. If you live in a hot, humid city like Houston, Texas you’ll want to pass on the air cooler for summer.
Air conditioners can be used in any climate. In fact, air conditioners are better than air coolers in humid climates and air conditioners can even extract the humidity from the air. If you live in a humid area or experience severe heatwaves during summer, an air conditioner may be your best bet.
Portability
Air coolers are some of the most portable air conditioning units on the market. Most air coolers come equipped with wheels and handles so you can easily transport your cooler from room to room. Air coolers are great for people that rent or just don’t want to deal with installation.
There are also portable air conditioners, but even those need to vent hot air out of a window through a hose. Window AC units are not exactly portable and certainly don’t move with you if you relocate. Central AC systems are obviously installed into the home.
Air Purifying Capabilities
Air coolers add moisture to the air as they cool. If you live in a dry area, some added humidity may feel great. However, if not cleaned properly, air coolers can become a breeding ground for mold or bacteria on the pads or inside the water tank. The last thing you want is to cool your air while making you sick.
Air conditioners remove moisture from the air as they cool. Some people may find air conditioned air too dry, causing dry eyes or dry skin in some instances. However, most air conditioning units have filters which trap dust, pollen, and more.
Air Cooler or Air Conditioner: Which Should You Get?
Ultimately, the type of cooling system you use depends on you. If you live in a dry climate and want to save money while cooling off in the summer, grab an air cooler! They’re also great for portable use or if you only need to cool off in one room.
If you live in a humid climate or want to better regulate temperature and keep your space cooler regardless of outdoor temperatures, consider installing an air conditioner. You’ll spend more money upfront, but you also have more cooling options with AC units.
A lot of people choose to use both! You may want an air cooler for a spare room or home office that doesn’t see much use. Then use your air conditioner to cool off in commonly used areas. This allows you to save money while keeping your options open.
Air Cooler vs Air Conditioner in Same House Real-Life Experiment
Sarah recently bought a small home that only had room for two bedrooms and she lived in an area with moderate to high humidity since it was right on the coast. She initially opted for an air cooler instead of an air conditioner thinking she could save money on her electric bill.
The first couple days were okay with the air cooler because it seemed to help with cooling the room a bit. But then as the humidity built up in the house it felt less cool and more damp. The temperature didn’t really drop that much either and she had to keep filling up the water tank all day long.
This lasted about a month until she finally broke down and bought a small portable air conditioner for her bedroom. It made such a difference. Not only did the room cool down quickly but the humidity disappeared too. She was able to sleep comfortably all night and though her electric bill went up…it was worth it.
Now she runs:
- AC in bedroom at night
- Air cooler in spare room during the day (which doesn’t get used as much)
RESULT: She cut her energy costs from what it would have been running AC in every room
Morals of the story: Air coolers can be effective if you live in a dry area and don’t need powerful cooling. However, if you want to effectively cool your home and remove humidity ACs are the way to go.
Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(22)00042-0/fulltext
FAQs 1. Are air coolers as effective as air conditioners?
No. Air coolers can provide some mild cooling but they rely on the natural air being warm and dry to work. Air conditioners reduce temperatures by actively removing heat and humidity from the air.
2. Which uses less electricity: an air cooler or an air conditioner?
Air coolers use significantly less electricity than full air conditioners but that doesn’t mean they’ll provide enough cooling for your home.
3. Can I still use an air cooler in a humid area?
Yes, but it won’t be very effective. Air coolers rely on evaporation to provide their cooling effect. The higher the humidity the less evaporation will occur. This will not only decrease your cooling power but make the room feel sticky.
4. Do air conditioners dry out the air?
Air conditioners do remove humidity from the air as part of their normal operation.
5. Can I move my air cooler from room to room?
Most air coolers are designed to be portable and easy to move. No installation is required. Portable air conditioners can be moved from room to room as well but you’ll still need to vent the hot air out somewhere.
6. Air cooler or air conditioner?
Air cooler if you live in a dry climate and don’t need heavy duty air conditioning. Air conditioner if you want to stay comfortable during humid or very hot weather.