air cooler versus conditioner

Katykat

Anyone got an air cooler? How are they different from a conditioner? I know air conditioners have to have a flue that goes on an outside wall, and we dont have an outside wall that is convenient, so thought about an air cooler ( need it for work). Also, I think the running costs are less, or am I mistaken

Phil_L_2

Air conditioning units will heat, cool and modify the relative humidity of the air. An air cooler only cools the air.

Any cooling equipment you install needs a way of discharging the heat generated. We need some more details of the use to which it is going to be put but I would think that the environment which you have described will need a rather more elaborate solution than you are suggesting.

Avoriaz

If by air cooler you mean a device that blows air through some sort of damp membrane or grill and purports to be like air conditioning, they are an expensive waste of money. They are little better than an ordinary £10 fan and cost about £70.

An air conditioner will actively chill the air, in much the same way that a fridge chills your food, and they do need to be vented to extract the heat. They will cost maybe a few hundred pounds but they do work effectively if noisily.

Katykat

thanks guys, it seems an air cooler will not be sufficient. I assist with minor operations in a GP surgery. The room was not originally built to accomodate this and it is not acceptable to open a window whilst in use, so we have been using ordinary fans. However, I am of a "delicate" age and experiencing lots of "tropical moments". This make me very uncomfortable to work, but is not sufficient for the NHS to install at great expense an air conditioning unit. Methinks i will just have get more fans

Avoriaz

Hi Katykat, having seen Mrs A struggle with hot flushes for a few years you have my sympathy for the “tropical moments”. Something us men don’t have to go through in our middle years.

I’m not sure air conditioning would be much help to you. Mrs A would be sweatily hot one minute and cold the next.

Phil_L_2

If you are working in this environment you would be very ill advised using any unapproved equipment. I think Infection Control will have some choice comments.

tjdj

hi i have both, the air cooler we have to put ice blocks in them but not very good at all.
now on to the conditioner brill they are around £200 up for a mobile one you can put a pipe through any open window which comes with it best nights sleep through the summer i ever get my wife sleeps under the quilt in summer
and it keeps the whole house cool.
i have had mine for 4 yrs now best money i have ever spent, hope this helps.
regards
TJ

Katykat

Thanks phil, every piece of equipment is PAT tested anyway, so its all above board. I dont think the expenses will run to air conditioning, so I'll put up & shut up. Must say though, air Con seems very inviting for home, I am just imagineing those humid nights last summer , but isn't it defeating the purpose if you open a window to put the hose through?

kaya

air con is extremely bad if your a green person, and uses a shed load of electric, and strips all of the moisture from the air, an air cooler is way less efficient at cooling a room but does not have the heat discharge problems associated with air con or the enviromental issues, it adds humidity to the air but you can use it in front of an window and cool fresh air, with air con you need the windows shut an sit in the same recycled air, air conditioning is an enviromentalists nightmare

tjdj

you need to vent the warm air to the outside you only need to open a small window slightly it like if you have a fire in your house in the winter you must have vents to the outside but does your room get cold no,works the same but other way round.
great if you sufer from breathing probs like my wife clears all c**p out of the air.
as for the enviroment so are tv's cars and most other things but hey there here to stay but thats onther day.
TJ