They’re Not Air Con
Air coolers are not as powerful as air conditioners, but that’s not a bad thing! The truth is that, for regular everyday use around the home, you probably don’t need the icy blast of an aircon. They will keep you cool, but they’re excessive; they’re too big, too loud, and too expensive to buy and to run. You only really need one if you have a south-facing open-plan office or studio apartment that gets blisteringly hot.
For regular domestic use, or for use in a small office or shop floor, an air cooler is more than powerful enough. The power of evaporative cooling adds an extra chill to the air that makes them much more powerful than fans but for a fraction of the cost of aircon. This is because evaporative cooling is a simple process that cools the air without any need for fancy machinery – if you’d like to know more about it, check out our guide to evaporative cooling!
They’re Low Maintenance, Not No Maintenance
Air coolers are incredibly low maintenance, but that doesn’t mean they’re no maintenance! As they use a tank of water to cool the air, you will need to clean this tank out once every few months or so to prevent mould and limescale from building up. You may also have to clean the cooling pad that’s inside the unit – most quality air coolers let you remove this pad quite easily for cleaning. Apart from that, there’s nothing else you need to do with your air cooler – just pop it on and chill out!
Placement is Everything
As air coolers use a natural process to chill the air, they’re best placed by an open door or a window. This will enable them to work with your room’s natural airflow, so that cool air will circulate a little better. It also results in a more natural-feeling cool breeze rather than a harsh blast of air. You don’t have to do this, but it will help you cool a larger area, so it’s a good strategy for offices and large living rooms.
They Humidify the Air, and That’s Cool
You might think high humidity makes you warmer, but that’s not necessarily true. When there isn’t much of a breeze, humid air will retain heat and get stuffy – that much is true. However, when humid air keeps moving, this isn’t the case. Air coolers do humidify the air, but they also keep it moving constantly so it doesn’t get stale. This means you get all the benefits of humid air with none of the drawbacks! Humid air helps condition your skin, is proven to help you resist colds and airborne diseases, and can even prevent snoring.
You Can Make Them Warmer or Cooler
Not all air coolers need to be filled with water to function. When you don’t want that extra cooling power, you can simply use it as a plain old electric fan. All you have to do it make sure the water pumps aren’t turned on.
If you want some extra chill from your air cooler, look out for one that comes with free ice packs. These can be added to your water tank to lower the water temperature, giving you an extra cool breeze. They’re perfect for those stiflingly hot days!