Evaporative coolers have been around since the Golden Age of the Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians used to hang wet pieces of woolen blankets in their windows or doorways in order for humid air to pass through and give off the cooler air. That is basically how evaporative coolers work.
Evaporative coolers (or often termed as Swamp coolers or Swamps) consist of a blower and damp pads where the evaporation takes place. Designated pumps keep the pads moist.
It is highly recommended to be used in areas with dry air or low humidity – as evaporative coolers work best in these weather conditions.
As the times have evolved, most of the evaporative coolers are encased in sleek and trendy designs, sizes and shapes so they can perfectly fit into homes or spaces that need the cooling. They are also mostly mobile and have remote controls for easy accessibility.
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Who needs an evaporative cooler and why
Evaporative coolers are easy to install and use. They have lower maintenance costs as well as considerably low utility expenses. They are also best for the environmentally-conscious market. Since evaporative coolers are more environment-friendly compared to a standard air conditioner. Air conditioners rely on ozone-depleting chemicals to work effectively.
There are portable evaporative coolers available in the market and they are well-suited for those who would want to give evaporative cooling a try, those who do not need to invest in a standard-sized evaporative cooler, those who are always on the go, and those who are on a budget.
There are actually a lot of different types of Evaporative air coolers available on the market, some of which are designed to fit different needs and conveniences.
Best Portable Evaporative Cooler Reviews in 2021 –
Compare The 6 Top Swamp Coolers
01. Honeywell CO60PM 125 Pt Portable Evaporative Air Cooler – Best outdoor portable evaporative cooler
This portable air cooler is packed with a powerful motor and a 16-inch fan blade and 3 side honeycomb to promote strong airflow. Its case is made with weather-resistant material so it’s also great for outdoor use
It has a 15.5-gallon water tank and a continuous water supply connection. Plus, it has an overflow protection system that can be very useful in cases of unattended operation.
The unit is 34 inches tall and 24 inches wide with an air throw of up to 12yards – which means it’s a convenient fit for personal cooling or cooling a space like an office, a bedroom, or workshop. It can even cool a patio since its case material is weather-resistant.
it is recommended for humidity levels that are 60% or less for best results. Do not expect this to work in larger rooms and do not expect this to lower temperature as quickly as air conditioners do.
It may need regular maintenance to prevent the pads from smelling all to the swamp cooler.
Drawbacks: Apart from the inconvenience of having to regularly check and clean the unit, cleaning also requires you to remove screws manually first, both at the back and the front – there’s no other way to it.
02. Whynter 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner
This unit is specifically eco-friendly; that is, it is designed to consume minimal energy with the use of ozone safe and lead free components.
The Whynter is an excellent option for those who want to cool air in a room within 300 square feet.
The said evaporative cooler can also easily be transported without lifting or carrying the unit due to its built-in multi-directional casters. It is highly useful for room to room usage at different times.
The Whynter portable air conditioner has 3 operational modes that include: fan, dehumidifier and cool. The fan setting circulates air in the room with four fan speeds to choose from, and the dehumidifier dehumidifies the air without cooling it.
Drawbacks: It is packed with auto-restart and safety features that reduce the risk of fire and electrical damage.
03. PoPortacool PAC2K482S 48-Inch Portable Evaporative Cooler
If you want a reliable air cooler at an affordable price, this is is a good model to begin with that will probably meet most of your cooling needs.
This unit can be pretty efficient for a portable evaporative cooler as it can cover up to 4,000 square feet. And it has the ability to lower temperature to 15-25 degrees.
It’s durable, rust-free and leak-proof. And it has an easy plug-and-use setup that does not require any installation.
It has oscillating functions that distribute cool air evenly.
Despite its powerful range, it does not generate too loud a sound. It is best for those who wish to opt for air conditioners but would have to reconsider especially if the house they are staying is not permanent.
Drawbacks: Like most of the evaporative coolers, they are not highly recommended for places with high humidity.
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04. Portacool PAC2K363S 36-Inch 9600 CFM Portable Evaporative Cooler
This cooler has 2500 Square Foot cooling capacity and can lower temperature to a 30degrees
Fahrenheit. It comes in three different operational power settings so you can adjust its airspeed according to your preference.
The Portacool Evaporative Air Cooler is weather-resistant, it can withstand different conditions. It’s perfect a good choice for those who also choose to use it outdoors.
It is built-in with a holding tank and allows water hose connection for convenience. This saves you time and effort from refilling.
Drawbacks: Conveniently, the unit does not need to be assembled when shipped. It Performs well and is quieter than expected for something that powerful. It means you can use it in your yard or workplace without worrying about excessive noise.
05. MasterCool MMBT14 Portable Evaporative Cooler
The MasterCool Portable Evaporative cooler was built and designed with craftsmen in mind, as it is ideal for patio spaces, the deck, garages, and workshops.
It features a 4way directional grille with adjustable vents and comes with analog controls to let you make adjustments as needed.
It does not use any chemicals found in air conditioning units, making it more environmentally friendly.
It features a convenient direct hose hookup, a 2-speed fan, and 4-way directional louvers to maximize performance. The device is also easy to maneuver with its built-in casters so you can simply drag or roll it to change its position. It has the perfect features to cool spaces without creating a lot of noise.
Drawbacks: Unfortunately, it does not allow manual water filling. One must use hose or water line to have its water tank filled.
06. Impco IPCSPM30 12″ Metal Mobile Evaporative Cooler ( 3,000 CFM)
Anyone who wants to cool a small to the large room should consider purchasing this unit. It has the efficiency and versatility that most people search for evaporative air coolers. The high-capacity cooler offers an environmentally friendly way to cool hot, dry rooms while filtering out airborne particles, helping eliminate any diseases one may get from dry air.
Like a lot of swamp coolers, this Impco model only consumes a small amount of energy. It’s considered an eco-friendly alternative to air conditioners. Despite its low energy consumptions, this unit can cool warm, arid rooms quickly.
Another added bonus to this unit is that it can double as a mobile side table with its top tool tray casing.
Drawbacks: Since the unit is designed to cool fairly large rooms, it has a powerful fan that creates enough noise that may be disturbing to a few of its owners.
Read How the evaporative cooling system works
How to buy the Best portable evaporative cooler
The climate where you live in
Evaporative air colors work by drawing hot air from the outside and passes the air through a series of wet filter pads and humidifying it. The cooled, moist air is then exhausted inside the house or room where it is used.
Owners can connect the air cooler to a water supply to keep it filled with ice, or they can add ice manually as the supply runs low.
The key to making evaporative air coolers work best is in places with hot dry air-air that is almost similar to desert areas.
Evaporative coolers are actually ineffective in warm, humid environments because the air is already heavily saturated with moisture.
The type, size, and mobility
If you need cooling in different specific places at different times – choose standard sized coolers with casters to move them from space to space. There are also coolers that work best for personal cooling such as the lightweight ones.
If you just needed to cool down a bedroom, office or any single contained space, consider going for coolers with higher CFMs.
There are also window coolers that can be conveniently used to cool a localized room or area. Window-mounted coolers often are ready for installation to be easily installed in vertical or horizontal windows.
The need for regular maintenance
Some units have disclaimers that state that when the evaporator first used there will be an odor that commonly exhausts within a few hours of being turned on. The odor will eventually fade away with regular and continued use.
Regular cleaning and the proper storage and usage of appliances are the main factors to determine their life expectancy and performance.
Thankfully, with evaporative coolers – they require little maintenance overall. The wiping of the device itself, changing of moisture pads, cleaning the pump and draining the water tank is the regular routines to keep your evaporative cooler working well.
Do regular check-ups with the unit as well in case of cracks and leakages that may further harm your coolers.
Don’t forget to ask for the availability of the specific type of cooling pads when purchasing. It also helps when the evaporative cooler has a built-in water line to simply be able to refill the tank without the hassle of going back and forth a water source to fill it up.
Check the video for the installation guide,
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Conclusion
It is important to note that evaporative coolers are not air conditioners. Although they cool as closely as AC’s do compare to electric fans.
They are, however, substitutes to air conditioning units. Evaporative coolers are inexpensive options to cooling a certain area, be it indoors or outdoors.
Think of it as two electric fans in one with a fair cooling factor. And possibly still have a cheaper energy consumption.
If you have ever been to rooms or spaces that have been cooled with an air conditioner for quite an extended period of time, you are familiar with its style and fatiguing effect on the environment.
An evaporator cooler doesn’t produce the same stale effect because it is continuously churning out the fresh breezes from the environment that many people find natural and invigorating.
People in humid areas will likely find that it adds too much moisture to the air, so it is always important to factor in the place you are going to use it.
If you’re not sure if evaporative coolers are the best options for where you are, you can always opt for the smaller and portable ones that are enough for personal cooling – they care the perfect types to go on for a test drive when it comes to investing for your home or workspace’s cooling appliance.
Don’t forget that they do need to be positioned near windows or open doors to also work best.
Portable evaporative coolers, specifically, are good options for a cost-effective way to keep specific spaces cool during the warm days.
A few people when being confronted with the option of having an expensive central air-conditioning system installed in their spaces often end up opting for purchasing several swamp coolers.
In the long run, they are ultimately pleased with the return on their investments in the form of heavily reduced energy costs.
Not to mention the mobility it often provides, meaning it can be used in many different rooms as one would opt to. Now, who doesn’t want the cooling factor while getting to save money, right?
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