Choosing whether to invest in an air cooler or an air conditioner can be a confusing decision. The difference between them isn’t always understood so this article aims to break down the basics so that you can make an informed decision based on your needs.
What is an Air Conditioner?
Firstly, as it says in the name, air conditioners condition the air in the room. They do this by drawing in heat from the air, cool it down with refrigerant gas and releasing it as cooler air. The heat they withdraw from the air is expelled through an exhaust hose – keeping your room at a refreshing, set temperature.
What is an Air Cooler?
Air coolers do not make use of refrigerant gases. Instead, they suck in warm air that passes over a wet curtain, the warm air evaporates the water on the curtain and an internal fan sends the cooled air around the room.
What Difference Does it Make to Me?
Air conditioners will make your room a lot cooler. An air conditioning unit can easily lower the room temperature by 10°C or more whereas an air cooler may only drop the temperature by 2-3°C. You are able to set a select target temperature for air conditioners whereas air coolers will simply lower the currently room temperature by a few degrees Celsius.
An air cooler is a lot lighter than an air conditioning unit (air coolers typically weigh between 5-10kg whereas air conditioners can weigh anywhere from 20kg upwards).
Air conditioners will cool your room down a lot quicker and often have a dehumidifying option (which saves you buying an additional dehumidifier if you require one) but they can be noisier and cost more to buy.
Air coolers use less energy which makes them cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly. They are also better for use in drier locations as they humidify the room that they are in.
So, What Shall I Buy?
If you live or work in a hot, dry climate then an air cooler will be the right choice for you. However, air coolers work best when placed in a room with an open door or window so that fresh air can circulate. If you cannot keep a window or door open, an air cooler may not be the right way to go.
If you need to cool a larger room, an air conditioner may prove a better purchase. It is recommended that for rooms 15 to 18m2, you should opt for a 8000BTU air conditioning unit and for rooms 20 to 25m2, you should go for a 12,000BTU unit.
It is also worth noting that air conditioning units will need to be near a vent or window so if this isn’t possible, go with an air cooler. As stated earlier, air coolers are also cheaper to buy as well as being cheaper to run so if you’re on a tighter budget, an air cooler will be a better choice.
As air conditioners work best with no open windows or doors, they can be known for drying out skin and eyes. They can also negatively affect people with asthma and allergies as the same dry air is circulating around the room over and over.
Conclusion
Whichever option you go for, the investment is almost guaranteed to make your home or workspace a more enjoyable place to be. Just use this handy guide to be certain that you’re making the right choice when making your purchase.
