Ah, it’s that time of the year again! Summers are here, and as with each passing year, along with consistently rising temperatures, one also sees an increased electricity bill amount.
Naturally so, considering how surviving summers in a nation such as ours is unimaginable without an air conditioner. Air conditioners, however, are heavy on the pocket, both to buy and maintain, and have intricate, extensive, and often complex maintenance regimes. On the other hand is the humble ceiling fan, which, unfortunately, though cheap and easy to maintain, just doesn’t cut our cooling requirements on its own anymore.
This is where air coolers come in. These budget-friendly appliances, in addition to being cheap to purchase, are also extremely easy to maintain and do an effective job of keeping you cool and comfortable. However, as with any air conditioner or ceiling fan, if not used right and maintained regularly, air coolers also may not do an effective job of cooling your home. Worry not, though, if you’re wondering how to ensure maximum cooling from your air cooler and in the process, maximum bang for your buck, we’ve got just the tips for you. Read on.
Ensure adequate ventilation in your room
We all are no strangers to being scolded to keep the doors and windows shut when the air conditioner is being used in our houses. However, air coolers don’t work on quite the same principle. Quite the contrary, they work best in well-ventilated rooms. Ideally, one should also leave the rear side of the cooler exposed to a window, door, or corridor. Having said that though, it is also a good idea to ensure exclusive airflow from the cooler. That is to say, closing any source of ventilation or point where air can escape from towards the front side of the cooler.
Use air coolers with in-built humidity control
Air coolers add moisture to the air to cool the room. However, excessive humidity caused due to a lack of ventilation can also counteract the cooling process and therefore must be kept in check. To ensure the same, the best way is to purchase a cooler with an in-built humidity control setting.
Placement of the cooler
Air coolers use the principle of evaporative cooling to cool the air. This refers to the process of pulling in hot, dry air and passing it through a wet pad or filter. As and when the air passes through the wick, with the latter absorbing all the moisture, the heat energy from the air is used to evaporate the water, as a result of which the air gets cooled. The cool air which leaves the cooler is then circulated back into the room. Now, you may be wondering why we’re telling you all this. The simple answer is: the more your cooler is able to pull in hot air, the faster the evaporation, and the faster the cooling. Therefore, your cooler must be placed close to a window such that it receives a constant flow of fresh air. Furthermore, its placement must also be made in a way such that the maximum amount of air it throws reaches you, keeping you cool and comfortable.
Add ice cubes to the ice chamber/water tank
Here’s a fun fact. Most air coolers allow you to add ice to their water tanks, and some even have a dedicated, in-built ice chamber. The cooling pads become way cooler when you add ice to the cooler, aiding further reducing the temperature of your rooms by throwing out even colder air than the cooler would usually.
Adequate water levels
Always ensure your cooler’s water tank has enough water in it. The more the water, the longer lasting the cooling is. In addition to aiding cooling, maintaining an appropriate water level in the cooler also helps in extending its longevity, as operating it without water in it can cause serious damage to the unit.
