Pros and Cons of Evaporative Cooling in Melbourne
When it starts to heat up, quality cooling is all you can think of.
Summer is looming, so it’s best to have your cooling setup ready to fight those heat waves.
Evaporative cooling is one of the best ways to stay cool while being cost-effective and energy efficient.
But is it actually a good system?
And is it worth investing in for your home, given the other air conditioning options out there.
Well, we’ll provide the full breakdown of all the advantages and disadvantages of evaporative coolers in Melbourne.
Melbourne is a city with a particularly interesting climate that keeps everyone on their toes, so you’ll find Melbourne specific information in this guide.
Key Takeaways
- Works best in Melbourne’s dry summer heat, giving that fresh, natural breeze through the house.
- Costs way less to run than standard air con and doesn’t chew through power.
- Needs water and open windows to keep air moving, so expect a small bump in the water bill.
- Ideal for single-storey homes in the drier suburbs, but not the best pick for humid or coastal areas.
Contents
What Is Evaporative Cooling?
Evaporative cooling’s pretty simple when you think about it.
Warm dry air gets pulled in from outside and pushed through pads soaked in water.
As the air passes through, the water starts to evaporate and that process pulls the heat right out of the air.
What you’re left with is a cool, fresh breeze flowing through the house instead of that heavy, hot air.
The only catch is you generally need to have windows and doors open to allow the air to escape, this will prevent the sticky humid feeling.
Pros of Evaporative Cooling in Melbourne
Evaporative coolers provide that much needed relief to the Melbourne heat, but are they powerful and suited for Melbourne’s weather?
Definitely, evaporative systems can be a powerful whole-home cooling system that is cost-effective to install and run year-round.
Energy Efficiency and Lower Running Costs
It’s no secret that evaporative coolers are extremely energy-efficient and cheaper to run.
Our customers always thank us for installing evaporative cooling due to the cost savings alone.
Studies show evaporative systems use up to 70% less electricity for the same output.
This is due to it being a simpler system.
With fewer complex components and a simple, more efficient cooling method using natural evaporation.
You don’t need unnecessary financial pressures, that’s why evap coolers remain a popular choice for Melbourne families.
Suited to Melbourne’s Hot, Dry Summers
Melbourne’s summer has been described as hot and dry, which means it’s perfect for evaporative cooling.
It’s important to note that evaporative coolers are extremely effective when humidity is lower than 50%.
When the air is low in moisture, the system is able to absorb more water through the cooling pads, making for a cool environment.
So understanding your climate is crucial.
With that said, Melbourne is a hotbed for evaporative cooling due to this reason.
Walk around your neighbourhood, you’ll notice countless air coolers on roofs.
Eco-Friendly Cooling Without Refrigerants
It’s true that evaporative cooling doesn’t use refrigerants which makes it better for the environment.
The eco-friendly technology in the evaporative cooler means that you breathe the freshest possible air while using significantly less energy.
Instead of using compressors and other typical air conditioning tech, these evaporative coolers give you straightforward cooling without the environmental detriment.
Affordable Installation and Maintenance
Out of the popular air conditioning choices for Melbourne homes, evaporative cooling reigns supreme when it comes to installation and maintenance cost.
While the cost varies due to home size and design constraints, as well as whether you want a ducted version of an evaporative cooler, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the final price.
How much does it cost to install evaporative cooling?
This will ultimately depend on the brand, and cooling capacity.
To find out the best size for your air conditioner, check out our air conditioning size calculator.
As we mentioned earlier, the simpler components and straightforward cooling method mean that maintenance is generally free from problems saving you repair costs.
In all cases, you’re saving versus regular air conditioning units.
Health Benefits from Added Moisture
These systems draw in fresh outside air and filter out the contaminants, namely dust, allergens and pathogens before circulating it indoors.
Many air con systems dry out the air quickly causing stuffiness and irritation for the nose, throat, and eyes.
Evaporative coolers add moisture to the air which is super beneficial for individuals that have respiratory issues such as asthma.
Many describe evaporative systems as a more pleasant, natural and calming way to stay cool.
Cons of Evaporative Cooling in Melbourne
Evaporative coolers have many pros but there are some obvious cons that you may or may not be affected by.
High Water Consumption and Rising Bills
Now, we did discuss that it uses electricity, however, evaporative coolers are thirsty coolers and need water.
Does this mean you’re going to see a massive rise in your water bill?
Not necessarily, poorly maintained evaporative systems can overuse water leading to excessive water bills.
Make sure that you get an evaporative cooling service every year or so, to ensure the system is running efficiently and not burning your wallet.
Limited Cooling on Humid Days
It’s well known that evaporative coolers struggle to cool when humidity hits over 50%.
This is because the air cooler cannot reliably add moisture to the air, essentially mitigating the performance of the system.
If you’re living in a high humidity region of Australia then this option is much less feasible and other options such as split system, or ducted air conditioning are going to be more suitable.
If that is the case you can check out our comparison between split systems and ducted air conditioning.
Being in Melbourne, you’re going to be just fine.
Requires Open Windows (Noise, Security, Allergens)
This one is more of an inconvenience than anything else.
You will need to leave internal doors open as well as windows.
This could mean one window and one door open per area, which should do the trick.
And they don’t need to be wide open, we’re talking windows that are slightly ajar.
Less Precise Temperature Control
Since evap coolers don’t use refrigerant, they can’t achieve the pinpoint temperature control you see in ducted and split system air conditioners.
Evaporative units rely heavily on the outdoor humidity, but when they provide cooling it’s a beautiful cooling feeling.
Is Evaporative Cooling Right for Your Melbourne Home?
Evaporative cooling is not for everyone, as there are specific environments, and situations that are better than others.
Who it suits
Evaporative cooling suits:
- Single-storey homes
Single-storey homes allow for simpler air flow and less hassle when it comes to installation.
- Drier suburbs
If you live in a drier suburb of Melbourne then evaporative cooling is for you.
- Families that want cheaper bills
Evaporative cooling is cheaper to run compared to other forms of air conditioning.
Who it doesn’t
Evaporative cooling doesn’t suit:
- People who live in apartments
When you don’t have control over your home then it can compromise the cooling effect within your apartment.
- Those with specific allergies
Proper maintenance helps, but some allergies don’t mix well with evap systems. This includes pollen, mould spores, and dust mites.
Getting Started with Evaporative Cooling?
It’s obvious that the advantages of evaporative cooling outweigh the disadvantages, especially for those living in Melbourne.
Thomas Air Conditioning is a leading provider in evaporative cooling installation, service, and repair.
Our team of fully licenced air conditioning technicians can determine the best system for Melbourne’s hot summers.
For installation and service in the Bayside and greater Melbourne area, reach out on (03) 9553 3993.