Air Cooler Vs Air Conditioner: What's The Difference?

In the hot summer months, coming home to a cool space where you can relax without constantly sweating is a welcome reprieve. If you find you're not able to keep your home cool, an air cooler or an air conditioner might be just what you need. Before you make a purchase, you have to figure out which is the best option is best for keeping your home at a tolerable temperature. Though they sound the same, these two appliances work in different ways. Air coolers rely on humidity and airflow, while air conditioners remove heat and humidity from the home and move it outside.

To start, you need to know the key differences between the two. First, consider the machine itself.  Air coolers, also known as evaporative or swamp coolers, are pretty simple. They are essentially fans with water or ice packs built in. For example, some use a filter somewhat shaped like a honeycomb that a fan blows over, and it stays damp with water drawn from a reservoir that needs to be filled on occasion.

On the other hand, air conditioners, commonly called AC, are much more complicated machines. They use a refrigerant gas, condensers, and compressors to cool down a room while pushing hot air and humidity out of the home through exhaust vents. There are small units that sit in a window and operate as a single device, but many of the bigger ones, including central air conditioning and wall units, are larger and have a condenser unit operating on the exterior of the home. 

Now that you understand the basics, you need to know their purposes. Air coolers essentially use evaporation to increase humidity,  helping lower the temperature, making the air feel cooler, even if the actual temperature doesn't drop much. Having more moisture in the air also reduces static electricity, keeps skin moist, and benefits your respiratory health. Humidity shouldn't be too high, though, around 30 to 50 percent, which is why it is best to use an air cooler in a room with a lot of ventilation. Since most air coolers are more like fans than air conditioners, make sure you avoid the biggest mistakeswhen cooling down your room with a fan.

Air conditioners are designed to lower indoor temperatures, thanks to their powerful components. While air coolers can only lower the temperature by a few degrees, air conditioners are designed to drop and regulate the temperature significantly. To get maximum effectiveness, they require rooms to be fully enclosed. Unlike air coolers, AC units generally can't be easily moved. There are technically some "portable" air conditioners, like the Amazon find that helps you beat the summer heat, but their portability is still limited by their weight and the fact that their hoses must vent outside through a window or a door. 

As for which one is best, that depends on where you live. Because it works by increasing the humidity, an air cooler is best for very dry climates. They don't drop the temperature much but are good at staving off the worst of the heat.  Because these are not significantly more complicated than fans, they don't require a lot of energy and can help you save money. which is why you can consider it an air conditioner alternative worth trying in a small room. According to Portacool, they may cost just $1 per day to use, though that will depend on your unit and utility costs. 

It sounds like a great option, but it's not ideal for everyone. If you live somewhere very hot and humid, an air conditioner will do a better job of cooling down your home. If your space lacks good ventilation, such as an apartment with minimal windows or in a basement, an air conditioner will be a better choice than an air cooler. While air coolers may run out of water in the middle of the night or while you're away from home, air conditioners can be programmed to power on and don't need to be topped off throughout the day.