"Ophelia" wrote:
>
>I hadn't heard of swamp coolers before but from what I read, they are very
>popular in various part of USA. If they work then I don't understand the
>put downs about it. We 'pays our money and takes our choice' as we are wont
>to say! My money, my choice!

With swamp coolers (evaporative coolers) there are positives and
negatives... they work okay in hot dry environments (like New Mexico)
but not in humid climates that are relatively cool (like the Pacific
Northwest). I don't recommend using a swamp cooler where
Julie lives, it not only won't operate efficiently but it will
generate a very unhealthful indoor environment, will cause wood rot
and rust but most importantly will generate the formation of
black mold. Evaporative coolers are good in a desert environment but
not in the PNW where Julie lives. Julie chose the cheap but very
unhealthful route, especially using a portable unit that cools only a
small area, while condensation accumulates inside the adjacent walls
and rooms. Also it is not recommended to use an evaporative cooler in
areas of hard water unless a water softener is employed, hard water
will further reduce the unit's efficiency so will greatly exacerbate
mold formation. When I lived in southern CA I rented so there were
times during the first two years I lived with a swamp cooler, they are
awful contraptions, the last three years I lived there I refused to
live with an evaporative cooler.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-i...amp-cooler.htm
http://www.air-n-water.com/troublesh...amp-cooler.htm