Buyers Guide - Evaporative Coolers

An evaporative cooler is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from typical air conditioning systems, which use vapour-compression or absorption refrigeration cycles.

Benefits of an Evaporative Cooler

• 100% fresh air: Evaporative process relies on airflow, with warm air passing through a cooling pad.
• Healthy moisture levels: Evaporative coolers use moisture to cool the air, they won't dry your skin, nose or eyes.
• Filtered air: As the air goes through the cooling pads, not only is it chilled but is also filtered from impurities.
• Water tank capacity: The bigger the water tank is, the more hours of cooling you can get before having to refill it.

Features may include:

• Ice tank for super cooled air flow.
• Three speeds - select the working speed most comfortable to you.
• 3 wind modes - allows you to choose different operating modes.
• Oscillation - share the cooling airflow
• Timer - set to automatically turn off.
• LCD display - displays current settings.
• Remote control - control your fan without having to get up.
• Perfect for medium to large sized rooms.

Portable Air Conditioners

A portable air conditioner not only delivers strong performance and large area coverage, but it also delivers precise cooling, dehumidifier capabilities, and clean, cool air during humid periods. 

Benefits of a PAC

• Ideal for large areas with strong performance
• Precise cooling though will require ducting for PACS. 
• Will provide clean air during humid periods
• Fresher air means a cleaner home

Before buying yours there are several things to consider first

Size: What is your room size? The size of the main room you will be using your portable air conditioner in will determine the cooling capacity you will need. As a rule of thumb 10m2 equals a 1kW recommended capacity. For example, if you have a 30m2 sized room then you would want a 3kW Portable air conditioner.

Noise: Portable air conditioners can be noisy as all the cooling and heating components are housed in the portable unit. Usually there is a decibel rating that can give you an indication of the noise level of the unit but if you are unsure ask your instore if you can test one. The noise can make sleeping next to one a bit of a challenge

Ducting: Portable air conditioners don't require difficult installations to be used but they will require external ducting for operation. Your portable air conditioner will need to be placed near a sash or sliding window suitable for the exhaust hose to appropriately duct

Cost:  They’re cheaper to buy than a heat pump (you can get one for as little as $400), so they might be an option for renters looking for a bit of relief from the heat and finding a fan just isn’t doing the job. 

Mobility: Look for a model with wheels as the units can be difficult to heft around the room.

HANDY HINT: Portable air conditioners are great to cool rooms between 0 to 40m2, and work better with rooms that are more closed off. Closing all doors, windows, and curtains to block any drafts will also dramatically improve the cooling efficiency of your portable air conditioner.

Features may include:

• Smart Home.
• Three speeds - select the working speed most comfortable to you.
• Oscillation - share the cooling airflow
• Timer - set to automatically turn off.
• LCD display - displays current settings.
• Remote control - control your fan without having to get up.
• Perfect for medium to large sized rooms.