Supercoolers: How They Work

Q: When is a swamp cooler not a swamp cooler?
A: When it's a SUPERCOOLER!

What is a "supercooler", you ask? Well, the principal is the same as a swamp cooler, but with much better results. Even though supercoolers are priced similarly to standard coolers, the architecture is much different and far superior. Developed originally for people who have allergies and cannot be breathing excessive pollution, the Cel-dek7 pads are much better at keeping pollution out of the building. That coupled with the fact the polymer cellulose construction of these pads is inorganic and doesn't promote the growth of molds and mildew, a major cause of allergies and breathing disorders. It can no longer be said that coolers are much more pollutant than central air conditioning. Fact is, everyone loves the air here in Colorado. Why not bring it in from the outside when it can be filtered and cooled all at the same time? With standard coolers, the pads will break down after just a few months and the air will turn hot along with all that nasty swamp smell. Supercooler pads last up to 10 years, and usually only need cleaning every few years. Also the Cel-dek7 pads are so much more efficient than "aspen pads" (almost 40% more efficient!), that they deliver cooler air than a standard cooler by as much as 10 degrees.

The second major difference between a supercooler and a swamp cooler is that a supercooler only brings air in one side. That's the side the pad is on. Since there is only one inlet, there is a much wider range of locations in which they can be installed. For example, supercoolers can be installed inside attics, provided the space is big enough. Because there is only one side that is actually exposed, this protects the cooler better, provides better ease of maintenance in many cases and eliminates the unsightly roof mount that is unacceptable in many covenant-controlled communities. Try that with a standard cooler and you really will have a swamp on your hands- one in your attic! Supercoolers are much lower in profile as well, so even if you do install it on your roof it's much easier to hide it.

Ever seen a swamp cooler after a few years of hard labor? Sort of resembles that old car you remember out on the back forty at grampa's farm, doesn't it? I think the phrase "Rode hard and put away wet" kind of sums it up. All joking aside, the problem with most standard coolers is that the pedestal the blower sits on is also the water pan, and it's made of metal. As I see it, no matter what you do with metal and water, they generally together create rust at a fairly high rate of speed. So a few years after you installed that lovely cooler on your roof it looks like that 1953 Buick hiding in the grass near the woodshed. Not so with supercoolers. Most of the supercoolers made have a tough plastic pan in them, so nothing metal inside the cooler ever touches water. They have separate wet and dry sections so the fan and motor stay dry and the pads stay wet. The separation of the two sections also creates a better sound insulator, so one of the questions I hear constantly is "Is this thing running?" That is, until the customer goes inside and feels the cool air. Then there's no doubt!

Okay, I know your last question. How do these supercoolers compare to air conditioning? Air conditioning is a great way to cool your home, but keep in mind that, in order to get the house as cool as an appropriately sized supercooler, you will need a really big air conditioner. Because Colorado is so dry, the climate isn't as conducive to air conditioning as places in the east. In fact, the design standard for Colorado is 75 degrees inside at 91 outside. That's only 16 degrees difference. I had a supercooler customer who told us that last year he dropped his house temperature 33 degrees! No kidding. Since it's generally very dry here in our state (we do live in a desert after all!), coolers can be very effective. And supercoolers are the most effective of all. Another problem is that many homes were built years ago before duct work was designed for central air volume. Many homes with central forced air heating systems have inadequate return upstairs, and that's where return is critical to remove the heat. I have heard many stories of people who spent lots of money on central air to retrofit an older system only to find that the upstairs is still unbearable. That can certainly be a letdown. Coolers usually start upstairs, so that's where the cool air originates, not in a basement. And what about the homes that have hot water heat? Out of luck? Nope. Supercoolers to the rescue again. Coolers use their own duct systems, so there's no problem there.

Our company has been installing both central air conditioning and supercoolers for many years, and I can safely say that, from a maintenance standpoint as well as cost of operation (coolers cost about one-fifth of what an air conditioner costs to operate), my happiest customers are those with supercoolers. We invite you to take the challenge and see why so many Coloradans are installing supercoolers today. Call us at (303) 546-0448 for a list of references or we will be glad to come to your home and discuss the options at your convenience. You can e-mail us at directdrive@attbi.com or visit www.evapcool.com for additional information. Be cooler. Be supercooler.