Just saw this evaporative cooler on clearance at bunnings Greenacre NSW. Seems alright for the price but haven't tried yet ( posting from the store). Best ring your store to check stock. At least 2 more in stock at Bunnings Greenacre at the time of posting.
Model AEC019
In general not much more than a powerful fan. It's just a fan & water pump (usually powered by the fan). Pump takes water from lower reservoir to top of mesh, water evaporates, air is sucked through moist mesh to produce cooling.
Only suited to hot low humidity areas as evaporating water cools air but raises humidity. Were common in rural South Australia etc. Feels cooler when in front of fan, but air feels sticky afterwards in humid areas.
Often this type of unit can build up mold. Older units are thrown out due to smell, gurgling noise of water, leaks, and the humid air produced. (I used to strip similar units down to convert to fan only use.)
Add a flake or two of calcium or sodium hypochlorite. I stress a flake or two is enough.
If you have a pool or spa at your residence you may already have these as they are what pool shockers are made from.
So will that clean it out and not damage the internals?
I got one off gumtree for free and i think i know now why its free :/
I had a look and cant seem to see any screws to open it so i can give it a clean.
Any tips for cleaning it or does Diji1 have the best idea with the flake stuff
I've never cleaned one up to use as evaporative cooler - it's too humid already to use one in Brisbane.
Issues with these needing cleaning:
Scale build up from minerals in water supply (blocks pipes & pump)
Mold, smell etc on mesh - health worry
I still have one in use (in hot garage, used as strong fan) - a Convair Classic, scrounged over 10 years ago (worked well but reservoir leaks). Fans are usually well made so last.
Google model for maintenance instructions & how to open.
If scale has built up you will probably need to at least give the pipes a bit of a tap to loosen debris (ie need to open unit). Scale builds up over time & amount depends on minerals in water where unit is used. A descaling solution can be used. From my experience, most pipes are plastic.
Sodium hypochlorite is frequently used as a disinfectant or a bleaching agent. As suggested it should maintain a healthy wet environment.
Otherwise, diluted mild disinfectant on mesh (& probably added to whole water system) should deal with mold & smell. Rinse the system out with clean water. The manufacturer may disagree with that suggestion, but lacking pool chemicals that is what I did.
@Infidel:
Well im not sure how i would rinse it out afterwards, maybe just leave it on in a well ventilated area on high and run it through a few liters then after drain the water from the plug in the bottom??
Mines the convair award 2000
I did some googling but i think mine is too old.
Guess it would be pretty similar with what i can/cant use with the things
@Hirolol:
Rinsing just means emptying disinfectant water & replacing with fresh water & running, then repeat.
Convair units often came with plastic key to remove rear mesh panel. A large flat blade screw driver could equally separate rear panel. Usually is slid under front section from rear until pops apart, but may differ with models. (I'm recalling process from 10 years back, so may not be accurate.)
Do you have the manual or download of it. Should show how to remove rear.
I take it the 2000 was the year it was introduced.
From Choice's "Home cooling overview, Keep your home cool without blowing the budget":
Evaporative coolers
These work differently to refrigerative air conditioners: a fan draws warm air from the outside through a series of wet filter pads. The air's heat evaporates the water, cooling and humidifying the air, which is then blown into the house.
The higher the outside humidity, the less efficiently evaporative coolers work, so they're mainly suited for hot, dry climates; they're also relatively cheap to run.
Although that comment is about whole of house system, it also applies to a unit like this.
I'm trying to figure this out myself. Can't find it written anywhere on the machine itself. The manual on Arlec's website also doesn't say anything.
http://www.arlec.com.au/wp-content/files/AEC019.pdf
Manual does give noise level of under 69dB. A vacuum cleaner is commonly 70dB. This type of cooler relies on moving a large amount of air. So it's loud (at maximum setting), unlike most air conditioning.
Mayne I am KICKING meself right now. Bought a 10L yesterday for $105 off Tatbay :| … this looks waaay better.
Price is sensational!
My friend bought this and maybe he wasn't using it properly but I feel it is no better than a fan. I would strongly advise against it. Waste of money.
Depends on your climate - only good for hot dry conditions. Hopeless for humid areas, as I commented. The last thing you need on a hot humid day is increased humidity! It's basic physics.
That's true. But i think the other problem is even in ideal conditions I feel the "temperature" lowering effect is small and it just ends up working as a fan.
TBH I am surprised these things keep selling because I've never seen one work well.
FWIW - my friend bought an Arlec. Although I know people including myself who have tried other brands across the years and they have all been equally ineffective.
OK
/End rant
Rant away - I agree ;-)
These are used effectively in hot dry areas of Australia. But most of us don't live in those areas. Having sat in front of one in rural South Australia with the temperature at a dry 46c, I can tell you they work far better than a fan.
The only increased cooling effect over a fan blowing across your already moist skin, is that it adds more moisture to evaporate. But if the air is already saturated, it just makes things worse. Evaporation, and consequent cooling effect, can't occur to any effective extent.
Fans in hot countries sometimes have a water mist added. It does cool you down, but you are also wet :-( But that's at the extreme end of evaporative cooling.
How much electricity to these things guzzle?