ARTICLES

HOW COULD AIR CONDITIONER MISTERS WORK FOR YOUR PROPERTY?

NOV 09, 2018

ARE A/C MISTER SYSTEMS EFFECTIVE IN COOLING YOUR PROPERTY?

There’s no doubt about it – the harsh, dry Arizona heat can be brutal on air conditioning systems, which is why it’s so important to schedule regular maintenance each year before the summer heat hits, and again at the end of the summer season.

Air conditioning uses vapor compression or absorption refrigeration to cool the air, and it can suck down a lot of power while doing it. Regular maintenance is a critical factor in extending the life of expensive air conditioning systems. But are there other ways to extend the life of A/C systems? Absolutely.

EXTENDING THE LIFE OF YOUR A/C UNIT USING SWAMP COOLERS

During the early months of spring going into summer, many households stay cool through the use of evaporative coolers, or as they’re more commonly known: swamp coolers.

The benefits of evaporative cooling drop off as humidity rises and monsoon season approaches, so swamp coolers are often supplemented by traditional A/C. Using evaporative cooling helps lower energy costs of cooling with the benefit of adding more moisture in the air. Given the cost of electricity in the state, and of buying a new air conditioning system, every little bit helps!

CONSIDER THE USE OF AIR CONDITIONER MISTERS

We’re all familiar with misting systems as virtually every outdoor patio, restaurant or bar in Arizona has them to help cool people down while sitting outdoors.

Evaporative cooling is a natural and more cost effective way of cooling in dryer climates. Water absorbs a good deal of heat as it evaporates, dropping the temperature of the air. The earliest forms of evaporative coolers were used in ancient Egypt and Persia. “Windcatchers” mounted on the rooftops caught the wind and channeled it to pass over a subterranean water reservoir known as a qanat. The cooler air would then be channeled into the building. Effective, and ingenious! Today, most modern Iranians use powered evaporative coolers to stay cool in the arid desert climate.

It’s no surprise that there are all kinds of companies and products out there claiming to extend the life of air conditioning systems. We often get questions about air conditioner misters – most specifically, do A/C mister systems really work?

ENERGY SAVER OR HOAX?

There are a number of products on the market touting the benefits of cooling your A/C condenser by using an a/c misting system.

So basically, the idea is that cooling the cooler will help you stay cooler and lower your bills. Nice concept, but one we strongly advise you to avoid. Here are two good reasons why: internal system corrosion and mineral build up.

PROS AND CONS OF AN A/C MISTER SYSTEM

Prolonged exposure to water over time is going to cause corrosion of the condenser fins. The condenser unit will have to work harder to cool, which means it’s working LESS efficiently. So by trying to save money, you’d be slowly destroying the integrity of the condenser, which will in turn put additional stress on the compressor – the heart of the A/C unit – and the compressor will in turn run HOT. Running hot is a sure fire way to kill the compressor and land yourself a big fat A/C replacement bill.

TRUST IN YOUR PROFESSIONALS

Stick with the advice of the Comfort Heroes: Change your air filters regularly – make it a date you can stick to like the first of each month. Have regular maintenance performed on the system before summer heat sets in, and then post summer maintenance. Your HVAC professional can clean the outdoor and indoor coils and the blower wheel to help keep things running smoothly and efficiently.