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Breezair®Frequently Asked Questions
How does an evaporative air cooler work?
A pump circulates water from a reservoir to a cooling pad, which in turn becomes very wet. A fan or blower draws warm air from outside through the wet pad. As it passes through the pad the air is cooled by evaporation. Please see our Facts about Evaporative Cooling page for more information. Breezair has the highest cooling performance of any similar air cooler.
What is the power consumption?
It varies from model to model, but by comparison with similar capacity refrigerated systems, evaporative air coolers use about 20% of the electrical energy. In comparative terms, if a refrigerated cooler costs $400 to run for a season, an evaporative cooler will cost around $80. Another significant difference is that most refrigerated installations only cool part of a building at a time, called zoning, whereas evaporative coolers typically cool the entire building - and still make the savings! Most people who have an evaporative cooler tend to run it more often than if they had a refrigerated cooler partially because they can afford to and partially because the cooled area does not become closed, dry and stuffy - why not enjoy the benefits of cool, healthy - affordable - fresh air more often?
For industrial applications, such as factories and warehouses, there are usually no other effective or affordable cooling options available to compare with. That doesn't mean the energy savings don't transfer - they do; on a much larger scale!
How much water does an evaporative air cooler use?
That depends on the temperature and relative humidity on the day, the speed at which the cooler is operating and the size of the cooler. Some Breezair coolers have an optional accessory, the Water Manager, which minimizes the amount of water consumed during the cooling process. Overall, water consumption is very low and there have never been any restrictions placed on evaporative cooler usage in severely drought affected areas of the world that we know of.
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How much maintenance does it need?
Very little. If you don't have the Water Manager option installed, then depending on the degree of pollution in the air (mainly dust and dirt) you may need to clean the water reservoir at the end of each season, more often in very dirty areas. If an Aspen fiber pad is fitted, it will need cleaning maybe once or twice a season depending on water quality - we recommend Aspen pads be replaced every 3 years, however many Aspen pads last much longer. Just take the pads out and gently hose them off. If ChillCel™ cellulose pads are fitted, similar maintenance is recommended to attain good life of 7 to 10 years. However, if you have the optional Water Manager, this maintenance is virtually eliminated and optimum pad life is automatically assured.
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How do I keep deposits from building up on my pads?
The build up of mineral & salt deposits on your pads are the single most detrimental factor to the cooling efficiency of your evaporative cooler. To prevent this from occurring, the water must be refreshed on a regular basis. This can be accomplished by a continuous bleed process (standard) or an electronically controlled process such as the Water Manager option.
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Does the filter media clean the air?
It most certainly does! As air moves through the tight spaces in the saturated pads, the water traps or dissolves practically all dust and many smaller particles such as pollens, both of which cause human discomfort. These particles remain trapped in the sump of the cooler and are flushed in due course. Keeping the filter pads clean helps this process greatly, but evaporative coolers by their very nature will always filter.
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Will the cooler work in high humidity areas?
Yes, but to a lesser extent. In high humidity conditions the amount of evaporation is reduced. The evaporation rate produces the cooling effect. When evaporation occurs, water is dissolved into the air as a vapor - you cannot see it, but it is there. When the air has a high humidity it already has large amounts of vapor, so a cooler cannot dissolve much more water and this reduces the amount of evaporation possible, hence cooling.
When it comes to industrial applications, there are many factors that make an evaporative cooler an ideal choice for spot cooling or cooling and ventilating large open spaces even in very humid environments. We have installations in tropical areas around the world, like Venezuela and Taiwan, to name a few. Remember, there is often no practical alternative to the massive cooling and ventilation ability of our industrial coolers in any climate.
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What is the maximum recommended humidity?
For best results, a maximum relative humidity at the hottest part of the day of about 70% is best. This will provide a minimum temperature reduction of between 8 and 10°F. In areas where humid days happen from time to time, great relief is often achieved by turning off the water pump (a standard feature of all Breezair coolers) and simply blowing fresh air - moving air always feels cooler than still air.
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How much will it reduce the temperature?
That depends on the temperature and humidity of the outside air. The chart towards the bottom of our Scientific Facts page shows how much the temperature can drop given a large range of conditions. For example, at a temperature of 90°F and a humidity of 40%, the air supply will be a very comfortable 73°F - a drop in temperature of 17 degrees.
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Does it increase the humidity in the air?
Yes, the humidity of the air inside will increase, but it will not be evident unless you restrict the air flow. Cooled areas must never be closed - leave a window and/or door open to enjoy the fresh cool air, and you will not notice the small increase in humidity. Remember, at lower temperatures humidity actually increases the feeling of coolness.
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Why must the room be left open?
Effective evaporation - which provides the cooling effect - requires a continuous, unrestricted flow of air. If the cooled air cannot escape, humidity may build up to uncomfortable levels and evaporation will decrease. For best results, always allow the air from the cooler to flow through the room. This ensures that you get a constant supply of fresh cool air and that the warm and stale air is pushed out.
If opening windows is not practical or causes a security risk, there are other methods that can be employed to vent the outgoing air into the roof cavity or another convenient space. Your friendly local Breezair dealer will be able to assist with suggestions specific to your needs.
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What models are available?
Please refer to our products area for more information
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