A wave of cool breeze in soaring temperatures feels like heaven on Earth. Air conditioners become a must-have in the summer months due to the sweltering heat, but this necessity comes at a cost – a spike in energy bills. With rising temperatures, this is the last thing you want to deal with.
Many Australians are considering evaporative cooling as an alternative to traditional cooling, but the question is: Is evaporative cooling expensive to run? To answer briefly, it is not. It is rather an attractive and cost-effective option compared to a traditional air conditioner system.
In this blog post, we will provide you with the full picture. We will discuss evaporative cooling and the cost of running it. Let’s get into it.
What Is Evaporative Cooling and How Does It Work?
Evaporative cooling, also known as adiabatic cooling, utilises the concept of water evaporation to cool down the temperature. It is a low-cost alternative to traditional air conditioning and is often ideal for regions with a dry climate. Evaporative cooling uses water as a refrigerant, allowing you to breathe cleaner and fresher air.
The concept of evaporative cooling is not new; its usage dates back to historic times. The ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome and Egypt used this method by hanging a wet mat in front of window openings to cool the hot air. Those wet mats from thousands of years ago were the earliest inventions, which have now transformed into evaporative coolers.
So, how do these evaporative coolers exactly work? Let’s understand step by step.
- A motor fan draws hot air from outside into the system.
- A built-in water pump circulates water from a reservoir to soak cooling pads.
- As the hot outdoor air passes through these wet pads, the water evaporates by absorbing heat from the air.
- As a result of this heat exchange, the air cools down and is blown back into the space.
Types of Evaporative Coolers
Direct Evaporative Coolers:
Direct coolers are the simplest and are widely used due to their cost-effectiveness. They take fresh outdoor air and pass it directly through wet cooling pads. These units blow the air back with just the right temperature, which results in a comfortable environment.
Indirect Evaporative Coolers:
Indirect evaporative coolers have a heat exchanger to cool the hot air without passing it through a wet medium. These units are ideal for environments where low humidity is a requirement.
How Much Does Evaporative Cooling Cost?
We consider two key factors when it comes to evaluating the cost of running an evaporative cooler: water and energy. Let’s break it down.
The primary factor is energy. According to estimates, the energy consumption of evaporative coolers is 90% less than that of traditional air conditioning systems. A standard evaporative cooler for a residential setting consumes approximately 0.3-0.9 kW per hour, while a central air conditioning system consumes about 1.5-4.0 kW per hour.
Sustainability Victoria compares the running costs of different cooling systems. We have summarised them in the table below. For a detailed comparison, click here.
Cooling Systems | Efficiency Rating | Annual Energy Cost |
Small House (100 sq. m.) | ||
Multi-split reverse-cycle air conditioner | 3.5 star | $57 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Standard | $19 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Inverter | $12 |
Medium House (160 sq. m.) | ||
Multi-split reverse-cycle air conditioner | 3.5 star | $90 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Standard | $30 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Inverter | $18 |
Large House (220 sq. m.) | ||
Multi-split reverse-cycle air conditioner | 3.5 star | $124 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Standard | $42 |
Ducted evaporative cooling | Inverter | $25 |
*Extracted from Sustainability Victoria website
Water is the real trade-off here, and many customers don’t consider it while purchasing. Evaporative coolers consume water to function. Estimates suggest that these units use about 15-25 litres of water to cool a whole house. Also, the amount of water consumed depends on the size of your unit, running duration, and the level of dryness. These coolers have higher water consumption in dry weather conditions to keep the pads wet.
Other Considerations: Maintenance and Installation
The cost evaluation goes beyond energy and water – the maintenance and installation services of evaporative coolers are also cheaper than those of air conditioning units. While an evaporative cooler installation for a whole house may cost around $5,000 (including ductwork), a traditional central air conditioning system might cost up to $12,000.
As far as maintenance costs are concerned, servicing evaporative coolers is simple. Technicians clean the reservoir, replace pads every three years, and winterise the unit. All of this costs up to $100 annually. On the other hand, air conditioning servicing is complex and comprehensive, so it costs more – approximately $400 annually.
Surrey Air is an expert in evaporative cooling installation and maintenance services. We ensure maximum efficiency for optimal comfort when the temperature rises. For more information about our services, visit our page.
Final Thoughts: Is Evaporative Cooling Expensive to Run?
The conclusion is that it is not. Evaporative cooling is a cost-effective alternative to beat the heat in summer. Switching to it from traditional air conditioning systems means significant energy savings. Even though it consumes water to function, it is not as costly as it seems. To get more information about evaporative cooling, get in touch with our HVAC experts.
