To cool, or not ‘too’ cool, that is the question… simply put, would you care for an Air Conditioner or an Evaporative Cooler to beat the heat? Where some would prefer the most trusted and reliable method of cooling, aka the Air Conditioners, others would opt for more natural and convenient Evaporative Coolers, with each group having their own fair share of reasons why they prefer one over the other.
So whether you are an Air Conditioner person or an Evaporative Cooler person, this piece will judge each one to determine their pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages, perks and losses. We will briefly analyse how each functions and make the final decision on the basis of the score. That’s right, it’s a competition to the end, and there will only be one winner, so let the match begin!
How Air Conditioners Work:
Long story short, Air Conditioners operate in a closed space by taking in the air from the enclosure and removing the heat and humidity from it. The air is filtered, passed over cold coils that chill it to the set temperature and re-release it into the space from where it was once taken. The whole process is a bit more technical than involves the use of chemical refrigerant, compressor, and condenser/evaporative coils, but the main principle stays the same. For the harsh and rugged environment of Australia, a great majority prefers Air Conditioners over any other method for cooling their homes.
How Evaporative Coolers Work:
Evaporative coolers or swamp coolers work on the principle of perspiration. Warm air is sucked in through fans that pressure it through cooling pads that are saturated with water. The heat is taken away by the water which evaporates and cold air is distributed via a fan. The cold air pushes out the hot air and fills the room or space with cool air. The process is more natural and isn’t confined to enclosed spaces. That’s why Melbourne has a preference for Evaporative Coolers, given how they are very convenient and easy to use.
Now that we have a brief idea of how both devices function, it’s time to compare them and see which one emerges victorious.
Economical:
Hands down, an Evaporative Cooler is far more economical than an Air Conditioner, seeing as it consumes significantly less energy. All it needs is the power to run a fan and a water pump, which if we compare to the energy required for running an Air Conditioner is highly cheap. Although we now have options like Inverter Air Conditioners, they are yet to catch up to Evaporative Coolers, so that’s one point for Evaporative Cooler.
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Temperature Control:
This is one area where Air Conditioners reign supreme. No matter much you increase the fan speed of an Evaporative Cooler, there is a limit to how much cooling they can provide for a given temperature. Then there are factors like relative humidity and ambient temperature which play a major role in determining the efficiency of Evaporative Coolers. Air Conditioner, on the other hand, is independent of these factors. Just turn it on, set it to your desired temperature, and in a matter of a few minutes, you will have cold air filling up the room which will be eventually brought to your desired temperature setting. That’s one point for Air Conditioner.
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Noise Generated:
The indoor unit of a split AC may be relatively quiet, in fact, almost silent, the outdoor unit on the other hand can be quite noisy. Compare that to the smooth and silent operation of an Evaporative Cooler, we have a clear winner. That’s another point and a total of two points for Evaporative Cooler.
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Water Dependency:
This is again where Air Conditioner comes to take the lead. An Evaporative cooler is dependent on a steady supply of water to perform its operation whereas an Air Conditioner is independent of any such need. All it needs is already confined in its operational mechanism and nothing from outside (besides electricity) is needed. That’s a tie of two for two, with two points for Air Conditioner.
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Maintenance:
This one’s a tie sadly. Where on one hand, Air Conditioner is in regular need of maintenance, an Evaporative cooler is also in similar need of regular maintenance seeing as how the evaporative system needs to be cleaned on regular basis or you can have a build-up of mould and bacteria, which can cause health-related complications. This puts both, Air Conditioner and Evaporative Cooler at three points each.
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Eco-Friendly:
An Evaporative Cooler is eco-friendly seeing as how it doesn’t release any pollutants like CFC into the atmosphere like Air Conditioner. This again puts Evaporative Cooler in lead with four points.
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Indoor Operation:
Given the harsh Australian outback climate, there’s no logical reasoning as to why would you want to open your windows in the first place. Yes, you may crave a blast of fresh air, but having hot and humid air attack your face isn’t something you would desire either. This is again where Air Conditioner outclasses Evaporative Cooler. If you want efficient operations indoor, Air Conditioner is the right choice, which gives it a point, bringing the total up to four.
Conclusion:
It would seem we are again at a tie. Both Air Conditioner and Evaporative Cooler finished with four points each. Now it becomes a matter of personal preference. If you live in a place with dry hot air and prefer outdoors or open space, opt for an evaporative Cooler, or if you prefer cold temperature within closed spaces, go for Air Conditioner. In our book, both are winners. At ComfyHome Heating & Cooling, we try to provide our valued customers with first-class products and unparalleled services, making sure that they stay comfortable and satisfied by opting for us.
