Air Conditioning vs evaporative cooling

[peternorth]

Bought a new house around 5 months ago, now looking at some form of cooling.

I've always lived in houses with a/c so Ive never experienced evaporative cooling. I'm looking to get some advice on which I should be installing. I've spoken to a few mates about it, one is a staunch supporter of evap. cooling.

I know it depends on house size, what you want to cool etc also. If I were to go a/c the master bedroom and one living area would be the priority.

Here's a rough idea of my house atm:

2 storey
3 bedrooms all upstairs
1 kitchen/eating area (can be enclosed)
1 lounge/tv room (not enclosed thus cooling would dissipate into foyer/stairwell

 

[Lach72]

Evap can be carp when it's humid.
Almost makes it worse.

 

[campbell]

When we lived in Vic we had evap.Which was adequate due to the low humidity.
Family down there have them as well, its pleasant but not chilled.
Up here in Qld, we have our whole house airconditioned, and I wouldn't have it any other way.I would recommend split inverted aircons.Get in someone who can give you a quote for the whole house.

I suppose it depends on what type of comfort and your needs actually are.

Good luck.

 

[Pessimistic]

We are to put a snd floor on ou house so A/C will become almost neccesary as the heat can rise and gather upstairs.

Ive tried to plan for good natural ventilation but there will be days when it gets unbearable.

Evaporative is appealling as it seems cheaper to buy and run. BUT

I reckon we might use it for 20 days a year max - more if you count the upper floor. a hell of a waste capital wise but while running costs are higher for refrigerated, if its not on that much it won't make much difference.

In fact in pure economic terms it is a waste to have it at all in melbourne. But the hot days are such a shock compared to the cooler weather otherwise you need it to stay sane.

If I spend $10,000 to install a system and use it 20 days a year for 10 years it would have cost me $50 each day plus running costs thats pretty steep

 

[year of the roo]

Is the house brick or weatherboard? Brick houses are able to stay fairly cool, although if you have bedrooms upstairs they will need an a/c regardless of what the walls are made of.

I wouldn't bother with evaporative cooling.

 

[peternorth]

Is the house brick or weatherboard? Brick houses are able to stay fairly cool, although if you have bedrooms upstairs they will need an a/c regardless of what the walls are made of.

I wouldn't bother with evaporative cooling.

ah yes its brick veneer

 

[nicky]

Bought a new house around 5 months ago, now looking at some form of cooling.

I've always lived in houses with a/c so Ive never experienced evaporative cooling. I'm looking to get some advice on which I should be installing. I've spoken to a few mates about it, one is a staunch supporter of evap. cooling.

I know it depends on house size, what you want to cool etc also. If I were to go a/c the master bedroom and one living area would be the priority.

Here's a rough idea of my house atm:

2 storey
3 bedrooms all upstairs
1 kitchen/eating area (can be enclosed)
1 lounge/tv room (not enclosed thus cooling would dissipate into foyer/stairwell

definitely get an evaporative cooling system. My dad installed that and he has a 6 bedroom double story house which is kept very cool. There are no curtains downstairs so the sun is shining in and the house is still kept very cool.

The system is on the roof and when its on you have to keep the windows open (as opposed to keeping them closed with an air conditioner), so the house stays fresh. Not only that but its alot cheaper enery wise than keeping a big house cool with air conditioning.

This is a no brainer, get an evaporative cooling system.

 

[de_LICA_ish18]

A/C for me. Evaporative Cooling is nowhere near as effective in hot weather.

People who think Evaportive Cooling is better have probably never lived in an Air Conditioned house before and don't realise how inferior it is.

 

[Borry]

Air Conditioning.

Don't have to re-fill it up with water regularly.

 

[Fletchers Girl]

Air Conditioning.

Don't have to re-fill it up with water regularly.

It's not as if you have to climb up on the roof and do it yourself, the system is designed to automatically do it.

I have evap in my house and wouldn't want anything else! It is awesome you can either just have the fan on and have a light breeze circulationg or you can turn on the pump so it cools the house.

With the hot days/nights we have been having here lately, it has been a god send, you can sleep through the night and not be frozen like an AC will do.

If it is humid one of the biggest mistakes people make is closing their windows and doors, and the person above me somewhere is right that will make it uncomfortable, but that's why they tell you to have windows and doors open.

I also heard it's better especially if you're asthmatic.

 

[dreamkillers]

They don't even bother selling evaporative's in most shops up here in the Top End as they are pretty much useless in real humidity/tropical weather.

A split system refridgerated a/c set to around 24C is pretty much perfect for up here and can generally be bought for under $500......then just need an electrician mate to install.

 

[Borry]

It's not as if you have to climb up on the roof and do it yourself, the system is designed to automatically do it.

Sorry, I still have a portable one at home (which has not been used for a while now) and it had to be refilled, maybe I'm a bit behind the times on what they do.

 

[campbell]

I just got home from work , to my refridgerated house.No comparision to evaporative. I know I can sleep comfortably, as its nice and chilled.

This heat and humidty of summer sucks, but airconditioning makes it bearable.

 

[Pessimistic]

Helpful guy at origin shop helped me out.

We will add a second floor at home where all the bedrooms will be.

Ground floor already has ducted heating.

He said get ducted evap cooling for upstairs only. then see how well it works.

If there are still 'hotspots' downstairs put a cheap split system in that room.

For the heating just keep the ducted downstairs. not worth piping it upstairs as its not bearable whan sleeping. put a few cheap electric panels in which are cheapsih to run

 

[utility]

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone have first-hand experience with heat pumps? I'd be interested to hear experiences of those with zero (or near zero) operating cost heating/cooling systems.

 

[vealesy]

i work in the industry in WA.
Your best bet is to go to a company that will look at plans and actually go out to your house.
the amount of people who buy something that doesnt have the correct requirements for what they want and then complain about how its a waste of money is ludacris.
get it done professionally or you will pay in the long run.
air ocnditioning is one of those trades that isnt recognised by unions, therefore there are a lot of cowboys who can go do a '6 week' course to install systems but only know bare basics.
i love these blokes coz all their systems go to ********e in a few years and then we come in and do it properly.
and the customers stay with us for years.
You will get what you pay for.

Australia would be ROTTEN without us.

 

[peternorth]

i work in the industry in WA.
Your best bet is to go to a company that will look at plans and actually go out to your house.
the amount of people who buy something that doesnt have the correct requirements for what they want and then complain about how its a waste of money is ludacris.
get it done professionally or you will pay in the long run.
air ocnditioning is one of those trades that isnt recognised by unions, therefore there are a lot of cowboys who can go do a '6 week' course to install systems but only know bare basics.
i love these blokes coz all their systems go to ********e in a few years and then we come in and do it properly.
and the customers stay with us for years.
You will get what you pay for.

Australia would be ROTTEN without us.

yep i got someone in to look through the house and give his opinion etc. also have another company lined up.

it is very reassuring to know that anyone installing a/c could be a complete novice.

 

[R00StaR]

As an ex-refrigeration mechanic id go air con every time provided the budget allowed for it.

For the cost of a split system to do 1 or 2 rooms you could evap cool the whole house, so for many people it comes down to budget. If possible spend a bit more and get a/c throughout, you wont be sorry.

Vealesy is spot on, its very important to have the units sized and designed for your home correctly. Get a few quotes, ask questions and don’t necessarily go for the cheapest.

 

[de_LICA_ish18]

Vealesy is spot on, its very important to have the units sized and designed for your home correctly. Get a few quotes, ask questions and don’t necessarily go for the cheapest.

Yep thats what I did. I got an air con specialist to come in. I told them exactly what areas I wanted to cool. They told me what size split systems I needed, exactly where it should be placed and what brands to stay away from.

The installation is expensive but its worth it.

 

[eastaugh36]

I hate evaporative cooling. Don't you have to leave a window open? I mean, who wants to do that on a hot day????? When you get to high 30s and into the 40s it s**** itself, the carpets go all moist. Normal airconditioning for me!

 

[Korn]

How cool can an evaporative cooling system go to? Say it's 40 degrees outside, what temperature does it go down to inside the house if the evaporative Cooling is ON?

 

[apollo_creed]

Where I live it really cools down the whole house, not sure how much maybe 23? 24? if you're anywhere near directly under a vent though it's like a cool fan.

Works pretty well.

Doesn't get humid here in Adelaide and it suits our house best. We still have normal air conditioning as well.