Its hot! How effective is an air cooler as opposed to an air conditioner?

Question

Has anyone ever bought a portable air cooler? Are they any good, or should we just buy an air conditioner?

Answer 1

Last weekend I was in Currys.
The choice:
£200 for a small portable air-con unit, or
£50 for an air cooler

I figured it was worth risking £50...
it's an evaporative cooler. You put water (8 litres) and optionally frozen cool blocks (3 supplied) into the bottom of the device.
A 3 speed fan with an oscillating (left/right sweep) blows a very pleasant stream of cold air...

But it's not air-con.

On the plus side, that means I don't have to vent it to the outside (to get rid of the heat it would generate) - just as well, because I'd have to have all the doors & windows closed to get any benefit anyway....

On balance: worth the £50. I suspect that the portable air-con wouldn't be worth the £200 - I don't think I could persuade the rest of the family to keep all the doors & windows shut!

Answer 2

Are Air Coolers Effective

Answer 3

Air conditioning is far more effective than an air cooler. Air coolers use water, so humidify the air at the same time - this can cause condensation and breathing difficulties in some people. The air passes over/through the water so you have to keep topping it up too! Air conditioners cool and dry the air and, apart from the noise of the machine, are fantastic - you'll need to vent the hot air produced out through a small window.

Answer 4

I'm not sure where you live but here goes. Convection is a good alternative but requires a circulation path. If you are able to, let the hot air rise and vent. Open the windows to let cooler air inside. Forcefully removing the heat from the source is best. If you can open windows on either side of your room or house and put a fan where it diects the warm air outwards to see if this works. Preventing the sunlight from entering the windows is a good idea too because that's the heating source. Check out your PC, the fan directs hot air outwards while allowing cooler air to displace it via holes (else) in the case.

Answer 5

An air cooler technically uses a water coolent whereas an airconditioner uses either one of the chloro fluro carbons, ammonia (old tech) or an equivalent chemical which carries the heat out. ideally an airconditionar should also take care of humidity but the present day systems give out chilled (14-18 degree celsius) temp, dry air.
whereas the aircoolers also pass on cool air as well as cool water vapours.
the effectiveness of an air cooler reduces in a tropical area where the atmosphere is already is humid.

Answer 6

If you have refrigeration then keep your windows closed! If you have an evaporative cooler, that is, you have an unit on top of your house with a water line going up to it and some pads of some kind that get wet, then open your windows! You will need 1 sq. foot for every 100 sq. foot of house you have (1400 sq. ft of house = 14 sq. ft of window open.) It should be replacing all the air in your house every 15 minutes or so. Most people don't have enough windows open for this type of ac.

Answer 7

Air cooler can never beat airconditioners but since they're much cheaper, they'll do for hot summer days.

Besides, air-cooler's portable, so you can carry it with you from 1 room to another. Its electricity consumption is lower than good ol' airconditioner too.

Answer 8

I stayed at a hotel that had a 'heat pump'. This was supposed to remove the hot air. It didn't. Personally, it's air conditioner for me hands down.

Answer 9

I have never heard of an air cooler. Anything that cools you off while keeping your hydro bill down can't be bad.

Answer 10

air conditioner is your prayers answer