Central Air, Swamp Cooler and Window Unit – How Do You Keep Cool?

Ever heard of a staycation? Even during the long summer, sometimes it’s nice to stay home and do nothing, with our families. Life can be so fast paced! Are you keeping cool in an efficient way, or is your home being overloaded? Have you noticed any leaks? Are you thinking about the best way to keep your home water damage free?

Not to put a damper on your summer, but here are some important reminders to keep in mind surrounding the wonderful technologies that keep us and our home cool.

How do you cool down your home?

Central Air

Central air conditioning is incredibly convenient. By setting a thermostat, you can keep your home consistently cool during the hot summer months. Usually, vents are located in each bedroom, main living areas, kitchens and bathrooms. This ensures no matter where you are in your home, you are comfortable temperature wise. If you have a smart thermostat, you may also be able to control the temperature of your air conditioning when you’re not home. You may have pets to consider or simply want to make sure the home is cooled down during an unusually hot day. Hot temperatures inside your home may facilitate mold growth due to the humidity.

One big drawback is central air systems can potentially experience mold, water and infestation damages due to moisture buildup and animals looking for a more comfortable environment to roam. Although central air conditioning doesn’t use water, it does cool air through the use of a refrigerant, which turns into a liquid during the cooling process. Consistent duct cleaning can catch and possibly prevent damages, before they become more costly.

Another drawback to central air systems is the cost for installation and maintenance. A lot of work has to be done to the structure of your home, and the cost of electricity right now is astronomical. Air conditioners use a ton of energy, which will really drive up your electric bill!

Swamp Cooler

These efficient and cost effective devices work well in certain conditions. Swamp coolers use evaporative cooling, so dry weather is the best time to use it. Heat is removed from the air, lowering the temperature inside your home by 10-15 degrees on average. For some, this can make a huge difference. It really depends on how cool you want to be. Swamp coolers also use typically 15-35% less on average power than a traditional air conditioning system.

Because swamp coolers have to access your water lines and water is being used as the cooling agent, there is a huge potential for water damage inside your home. The evaporative pads can also have a lot of buildup or become too saturated with water. It’s essential to watch the area where the swamp cooler has been installed. Make sure there’s no water on the floor or dripping down the walls. If you don’t yet know, find the location of your water shut off.

AC Window UnitsAir conditioning units that fit in your window, as a box unit or tubing, are a wonderful medium when it comes to cost and efficiency between these three house cooling options. While they do use quite a bit of energy, they cool mostly the room/area where the unit resides as opposed to the entire home. The temperature result is cooler than with the use of a swamp cooler. The AC process involves removing moisture from the indoor air because humid air holds more heat than dry air. Window units still involve the potential water and mold damage due to a condensation drain blockage, dirty air filters or punctured condensation pans.

Keep in mind this handy information all year round so you can reside in your home with ease!