Anyone got experience with Evaporitive Coolers?

[vr3.9]

The temperatures are staying above a 100 and I have a lot of work to do in the garage. I started thinking about using an evaporative cooler. I guess you can't just put one in and close the door or it will just get to humid. So any body tired one or use one?

[IPD]

a swamp cooler? they're great. in fact, i know a guy who has one on his hot-rod (it looks like a missile launcher...lol!)

they do need to be in an enclosed space, but with appropriate ventilation. leaving your garage door open will kill its effectiveness. the movie theatre in my hometown was cooled by swamp cooler, and it was always nice a chilly in the middle of july.

[CoreyB]

Wouldnt it rust up everything in the garage?

[UTRacerX9]

I feel your pain. Was doing some work on one of my cars last week and had to go towel off the sweat about every 15 min. I put a decent sized Tornado style fan in there and it helps, but I'm thinking a better solution would be to get one of those portable air conditioners. This one is good for 400 sq ft spaces (a two car garage.)

Amazon.com: Whynter Eco-Friendly 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, Platinum (ARC-12S): Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Whynter-Eco-Friendly-Portable-Conditioner-ARC-12S/dp/B0022MNFUG/ref=pd_sbs_la_1)

I'm sure you can find better pricing, this was just a quick search. It looks like you'll need about 12k btu's to cool the average garage.

[IPD]

imagine how trevor feels...

[vr3.9]

I feel your pain. Was doing some work on one of my cars last week and had to go towel off the sweat about every 15 min. I put a decent sized Tornado style fan in there and it helps, but I'm thinking a better solution would be to get one of those portable air conditioners. This one is good for 400 sq ft spaces (a two car garage.)

Amazon.com: Whynter Eco-Friendly 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner, Platinum (ARC-12S): Home & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Whynter-Eco-Friendly-Portable-Conditioner-ARC-12S/dp/B0022MNFUG/ref=pd_sbs_la_1)

I'm sure you can find better pricing, this was just a quick search. It looks like you'll need about 12k btu's to cool the average garage.

I don't want to use an AC. My electric bill is already through the roof. Plus AC like a more sealed insulated enivronment. Swamp coolers need some ventilaiton and move a lot more air.

[vr3.9]

I think I made up my mind. I'm going to go pick one of these up this afternoon. Reading the reviews makes me think I might just get 2 more and kiss my huge electric bills good bye. I like that it won't take up any room in the garage too. I'll let you guys know how it works. If it works anywhere near as well as they say I might start getting some things done.

Find a Bon-Aire Durango Window/Wall Evaporative Cooler - WEAC628 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/buy/building-materials/heating-venting-cooling/bonaire/durango-window-wall-evaporative-cooler-80536.html)

[AdamVR4]

Let us know how you like it. The only thing I don't love about my new house is that the garage faces west, so it's hotter than hell in the evening.

[DuTTch]

man I havent turned on the ac at all, 80 during the day 65 at night, lovely.

Hey my old paint guy in carrollton used a huge one in his garage and it does help some, not huge but some. hook up the garden hose and bang ready togo. Just enough to take the bite out of the heat.

[vr3.9]

man I havent turned on the ac at all, 80 during the day 65 at night, lovely.

Hey my old paint guy in carrollton used a huge one in his garage and it does help some, not huge but some. hook up the garden hose and bang ready togo. Just enough to take the bite out of the heat.


Yea, rub it in. You know you miss it.

Definetly a better solution in the desert or where humidity is real low. However, when we get stuck in these 100 degree stretches it's usually accompanied with lower humidity. At any rate an 80 degree breeze has to feel better than 100 degree one that just a fan would make.

[UTRacerX9]

Let us know how you like it. The only thing I don't love about my new house is that the garage faces west, so it's hotter than hell in the evening.

LOL I don't think it matters, mine faces north, still hot as hell.

I don't have any windows in my garage though, so if you have sun shining through, that's probably even hotter.

[vr3.9]

The one I wanted to get got sold before I could get there. Homedepot.com said there was one in Irving. There wasn't. Found a Champion Marquis on craigslist, older and in worse condition than I would like, but hey it's just for a garage and I need to do something. I need to get a good thermometer so I can make some less subjective comments. I do have an AC gauge I can stick in it though. I cut a whole through the garage wall and got it setup. I opened my attic about 1/2 way to work as exhaust vent. Hoping the air going up there will help cool the attic too. Maybe that will help the house. Anyway last night I tried it, starting with the garage being just below peel your skin off hot. In about 20 minutes you could definitely tell the difference. Is it like being in the house? no, but with the air moving around as much as it does and temps I would guess around 84 or 85 it's definitely comfortable enough to work with out sweating all over everything. This morning with cooler temps and higher humidity, 65% it still puts out air @ 78 degrees. I am going to run it all day and see how it goes.

[IPD]

glad to hear it. again, they can't make it as cold or cool as quickly as a modern high-tech A/C unit, but they do work. if a little something is all you need, then it's just the ticket. :)

[DuTTch]

Its almost winter Mike

[vr3.9]

glad to hear it. again, they can't make it as cold or cool as quickly as a modern high-tech A/C unit, but they do work. if a little something is all you need, then it's just the ticket. :)

It actually makes it cool much quicker than AC. It cools the air coming out to about 79 and replaces all the air in the room fairly quickly. I would say reaches it's full cooling in 15 or 20 minutes. If I go from the house to the garage it doesn't feel so great. But if I go from out side into the garage it feels awesome. Today is more humid than it has been and being outside is just unbearable. However, I will be working in the garage no problem. So far I'm going to say it was definitely worth doing.

[IPD]

you should be watching the world cup finals. :p