Swamp Coolers

[Shawn F.]

I have read a few threads here about cooling shops, etc with all sort of alternatives including swamp coolers. I am in need of A/C in my 3000 sq ft shop but not sure what to do since I do not have thousands to install a new unit. Currently there is a huge outside box unit which I assume houses the condenser, compressor, etc but inside has the square metal duct work on the ceiling and runs down the wall but then stops and it looks like the previous owner took out what I am assuming is a blower unit and cut all the wires and lines.
One thing I am looking into now is a swamp cooler. I played a band gig yesterday at a music venue and they were using 3 huge swamp coolers to cool the place. They did a decent job and I never thought about using them before until now. What are their pros and cons and does anyone have any better ideas without spending a fortune? Is there a way to use what I have now and install/hook up what I already have and put whatever was on the wall back into the duct? I am assuming what is missing is the blower unit...

Thanks for any info, suggestions or ideas!

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Swamp coolers work great in low humidity areas; would not give satisfactory cooling in NC.

 

[Shawn F.]

I read about that and was wondering what else I can do then. I am already washing cars inside so humidity will be high and I need an alternative to get rid of the humidity and A/C would have been perfect but seems like it may be way too expensive...

 

[930dreamer]

I use a swamp cooler in house #2 in Albuquerque, NM. In NC wouldn't work so well.

 

[Shawn F.]

Any alternatives here for A/C?

 

[lzenglish]

Pre-Cool with high CFM, in the Cool evening, or morning hours. Exaust with High CFM when it gets warm in the afternoon. And lastly, (Indirect Evap.Cooling), are the only other alternatives I can think of to replace DX, or Direct Expansion. Cooling. Either way you go, you will need a good supply and exaust fan system. Check in your local library for a book on "Evaporative Cooling".

Wayne

 

[steve308]

Some insurance companies WILL NOT insure a swamp cooler equiped home. Check before you invest. (Mold Concerns)

 

[Mmfh]

I ran a couple of swamp coolers at the last shop I had, they made a huge difference! This was a steel building and it usually got well over 100 inside during the summer. Just having the air moving helps a lot, but adding cool water to the mix was really nice.

If you find a couple of them cheap, might be worth it see what they will do?

 

[Falcon67]

Want to know swamp cooler work great at how much degree??

They work great in the desert - NM, AZ, NV, far west TX, etc. If the air is really dry, they can do the job. Get up in the 40%+ RH range, it's just a big fan, might as well turn the water off. If desperate, load the base with ice, but that runs into $$ pretty quick. A swamp cooler on full blast in Albuquerque will make you wear a jacket, one in Fort Worth in the summer will just grow mold and make you go to the mall.

 

[pop pop]

Get a knowledgable HVAC guy to stop by and first tell you what you have and what you are missing.

 

[Shawn F.]

A buddy and I are going to look into finding a packaged heat pump setup and going to look into installing it ourselves. He is a certified HVAC guy and said it can be done in a day if I help him out. We are going to look into a 3-4 ton unit. Supposedly what i have outside is the condenser and compressor, etc but the inside part and piping is what I really need and without it I can't even test the outside unit to see if it's any good so he recommended buying a whole new system.
I am still trying to find out about a backup system that may be easier/cheaper.

 

[gc427]

They work great in the desert - NM, AZ, NV, far west TX, etc. If the air is really dry, they can do the job. Get up in the 40%+ RH range, it's just a big fan, might as well turn the water off. If desperate, load the base with ice, but that runs into $$ pretty quick. A swamp cooler on full blast in Albuquerque will make you wear a jacket, one in Fort Worth in the summer will just grow mold and make you go to the mall.

That cracked me up but is very true.

To the OP, there is a lot of good advice being thrown your way here and if you are going to get some cooling in a cost effective manner you should follow the advice of your HVAC friend. If he's knowledgeable he will get you going in the right direction.

BTW, swamp coolers are a pain in the ****. They need fresh water constantly and pads changed on a regular basis. If you get enough swamp coolers to cool your shop sufficiently you will spend enough money to install a new a/c unit that will require much less maintenance. JMO

 

[Shawn F.]

Thanks for the suggestions and info guys. I am glad I didn't jump on getting a swamp cooler and plan on NOT getting one now. I will take the advice given here and go with a packaged heat pump type unit if I can find one. He said I could probably find a used unit that will still work just fine and last a while. I am only leasing the building for a year and may go into another year lease but after 2 years I will most likely outgrow this 3000 sq ft place and look for something bigger. I do not want to invest too much into it but at the same time I want to work in comfort and need a clean environment to detail cars. I do not like the bay doors open and people driving in the parking lot blowing dust and dirt into my shop on a vehicle that I am buffing. That and the pollen is ridiculous here. I like to keep the bay door closed as much as possible but when I do it seems to be hotter inside than outside.

 

[DIYKiah]

Swamp coolers are mainly found out west were there is very low humidity.. the water evaporates quickly cooling the air and in return cooling the home.

I live in North Carolina too, and it is definitely too humid in this part of the country for a swamp cooler to work... a swamp cooler in this area sounds like it would be a big wet mess!

 

[cruzn57]

I agree.
having lived in NC the humidity is brutal.
that said, you want to be hot and sticky?
or cool and sticky-er?
I dunno,

I turned on the cooler today ( in AZ)
outside was 90, inside was 68, so I turned it to low , and took a nap,

 

[cj7365]

Some insurance companies WILL NOT insure a swamp cooler equiped home. Check before you invest. (Mold Concerns)

Can you name the insurance companies that do not?

 

[burleymike]

Do you have groundwater available at a shallow depth?