Ok, that is good to know Jag. Since w have never used one, we were a bit concerned about it. My boss at work states pretty much the same thing, keep the windows open after using it to get rid of the humidity. He has used them for years and not had any issues. This particular one is brand new, so I am sure the pads are good to go for now. Don't know how long they will last. I guess I will just have a chat with the landlady and find out how often she replaced them in the past.

 

Thing to remember is to install the Evap Cooler on the West side of the house, you want them in the afternoon sun to aid in evaporating the water, which makes for better cooling.

 

This one is installed in the middle of the house, right on top of the crown in the roof.

 

thats the way my trailhouse had it too!

 

Now that's interesting, I've never seen anyone go to that much trouble for a swapcooler. (Should be fine up there until the bottem rots out)

Curious, does the house have Central HVAC ducts in it?

 

No, it does not have central HVAC ducts in it. There is a big duct going from the swamp cooler to the ceiling which opens up in the hallway right outside the bedroom and bathroom doors. The duct is about 14-18 inches in diameter, and there is a grille covering it which directs the air in four different directions. On the outside of the house, you see this big square metal thing on the roof. When we first saw the house, I just assumed it was the central A/C unit.

However, after talking with the landlady, she tells me it has a swamp cooler, not an A/C. It has a on/off switch that looks like a light switch in the hall. There are no controls for it other than on/off. We were told to keep a window open when using it, However, I find it works better when we have every window and door in the house open. We have security screen doors for the front and side doors, and keep the wooden doors open and the security screen doors closed. Keeps the house pretty cool, and not too humid with the windows open.

If we only have one window open, then you can feel it get very humid after a short while, and you can hear the air rushing out the window, and if the blinds are closed, it looks like they are being pushed outside.



The house on the corner is ours. The house right behind us (to the right in the picture) is a carbon copy of ours. Both owned by the same person. We both have swamp coolers on the center of the roof.

 

Swamp cooler $500 central AC $5000 or more to retrofit on an old house.

So you know what the majority of the owners get.

 

not counting the electric bill either for central ac!

 

Mike, you make me wonder on the placement idea. I see what you are saying about helping the evaporation, but I am unconvinced that a person should try and put the cooler in a sunny spot. Mine drops the temp about 30* if it's a normal day with low humidity. If the air outside the cooler in the sun is 105*, then I would guess it would be about 75* inside. But if the cooler is in the shade and the air is about 100*, then I should see about 70* inside. Anybody else tried placing a cooler on the shade side of the house? Jag

 

Hey Jag, our original location (when I was growing up) of our swamp cooler was on the north side of the house, pretty much in a shaded area all day (with the eave overhang and such). It always felt like it was "blowing water" at you when turned on.

My Dad moved it (the cooler) to the front (west side) of the house, and it really started working great, plus the "water-blown-feeling" went away as well.

 

Mike, maybe it was blowing water on you! Last year, I put the new cooler pads in wrong and when the speed was on high, little droplets of water wear flying out The wife was not happy. Now, with Jim having his on the roof, I wonder how many years its been since the pads were changed out? As they calcify, the cooling effect goes away.

Good luck, Jim

Jag

 

In my case, the cooler was just serviced prior to us moving in. So, I assume they changed the pads when they serviced it. Since I am NOT going to climb on the roof and do the work myself, I will just ask her the next time I see her. Since three of our electrical outlets don't work, I need to talk to her anyway. And she told us her son-in-law will be here Wednesday to build us a shed, I can ask him about it too.

 

Good move up on the "casa"
More room to get about than your old apt.Any cooler is better than no cooler in the heat that you endure out there,good luck

Hanklin

 

congrazts on ur house

 

Thanks, we have been here two weeks already, and are loving it