Close
to Home
EVAPORATIVE COOLER
On scorching hot summer days there's a simple, inexpensive way to cool down the house– if the humidity is low. In the hotter, drier areas of the United States, many homes have evaporative coolers or "swamp boxes" on their roofs. They have been given this nickname because of the damp smell that they put out. This smell comes from the wet pads in the sides of the cooler. People in areas with high humidity must use air conditioners to keep cool. These cool like a refrigerator, have a lot more parts, and use more electricity.
This is how they work: The spider pours water down into the pads. As the fan pulls air through the water-soaked pads, some of the water evaporates. When the water evaporates, it absorbs heat and cools the air that's forced into the house by the fan. The drier and hotter the air, the more the water evaporates, and the cooler the house gets.
WITH ADULT ASSISTANCE: If there are coolers on homes where you live, offer to help next time the pads need to be replaced. You’ll get a look inside when the frames that hold the pads are removed.
