Evaporative vs Refrigerated cooling systems
Keeping it cool with the right air conditioning system for your home
Both evaporative and refrigerated cooling systems are powerful air conditioners that can make your home more comfortable so it can be challenging to decide which system is right for your family. With continued rising temperatures and changing weather patterns in Melbourne, it has never been more important to have the best AC possible!We spoke with Henley Energy Consultant Mike Evans about evaporative cooling versus refrigerated air conditioning so you can make an informed choice about staying cool when mother nature turns the heat up.
Staying cool with evaporative cooling systems
Evaporative cooling works by drawing warm air from the outside in. The warm air gets cooled as it passes through moistened pads and then flows back into the home. Evaporative cooling uses fresh air and is not recirculated.
Many people choose portable evaporative coolers to cool smaller spaces but these can be cumbersome to use and are not as effective as central ducted systems. These cool the entire house but require multiple open windows and doors to work.
Mike adds, “If you have allergies to pollens, portable evaporative coolers may not be helpful. You do need to have airflow through the home for this system to work, so doors and windows would be open. This is important, as otherwise, the rooms can feel moist or potentially sticky, creating a more humid feel.”
What to keep in mind with evaporative cooling systems
Mike explains that evaporative cooling can feel different to the typical air conditioning we experience in other places.
“Evaporative cooling will not provide the super cold air you would expect from your car air conditioner. As it works using natural air, the weather conditions can play a part in how effective the system will be.”
“Evaporative cooling systems work best where it's hot and dry and are good for dry days up to 30 degrees but struggle in higher temperatures.”
“Windows needs to remain open so you're not trapping the cool air in one space. Extremely hot days in Melbourne generally come with a northerly wind so it’s not practical to open the house to allow airflow,” explains Mike.
Refrigerated air conditioning systems
What is refrigerated cooling?
Unlike evaporative cooling systems, refrigerated air conditioners provide cooler temperatures inside, regardless of the weather conditions outside.
“Refrigerated cooling works by removing the hot air and cooling air with gases which flow back through the home. The air recirculates, so it's important the ducts and filters remain clean. This can be good if you are prone to irritants, as nothing external is entering the space. All windows and doors should be kept closed with refrigerated cooling,” Mike says.
Another benefit of refrigerated cooling units over evaporative cooling units is the cooling process remains the same no matter what the outside environment is like, making refrigerated cooling suitable for both dry climates and humid climates.
Refrigerated cooling systems can also provide you with some climate control within your home, as Mike explains.
“The beauty of refrigerated cooling is that it can be zoned to work and accommodate different areas of your family home. Adding zoning can significantly reduce running costs by allowing you to cool only the areas you are using. Depending on the unit you purchase, reverse cycle refrigerated systems are available which can both heat and cool the home. So, one system that does it all may be good value in the long run, despite a larger upfront cost.”
Running costs and other considerations
Evaporative cooling is easily the cheaper option and can be up to 50 per cent cheaper to install and more than seven times cheaper to run.
Standard refrigerated cooling gives a better result but comes with higher running costs. Installing multiple zones and solar panels can reduce these running costs by using renewable energy to power your cooling system. By generating your own solar power you can save more by pre-heating or pre-cooling your home during times of good solar gain.
Budget is always an important factor but remember, these air conditioner systems are focused on cooling an entire home. If you spend most of the day in one room, pedestal or ceiling fans can be a better option for cooling a small area, unless your air conditioning system includes zoning to cool only the rooms you're using.
Does evaporative cooling use gas or electricity? And what about indoor air quality?
When looking at evaporative air conditioning vs refrigerated, a common question often asked is whether evaporative and refrigerated systems run off gas or electricity and the energy efficiency of such units.
Mike explains: “In terms of environmental factors, both systems use electricity but evaporative also uses water. Evaporative uses far less electricity, as the cooling process is more natural. Refrigerated works in two processes – removing hot air and filtering/cooling air. Healthy Homes are becoming the norm with sustainability and the environment becoming a more prominent issue. Evaporative cooling is considered a healthy way to cool air, as it mimics a natural process and uses less energy to achieve this.”
Maintenance
“A well maintained unit will run better and more efficiently. Keep the vents, ducts and filters clean. Usually the supplier can offer services to check over the systems to ensure they are running properly, which may be beneficial to do every few years,” said Mike.
A final word
When it comes to deciding on evaporative cooling vs refrigerated cooling for your home, there are many factors to consider, such as energy costs, air quality, outside air temperatures and general climate conditions in your area.
“To find the best solution for you, you will need to consider the area you live in, in terms of climate and also the way you like the cool to feel. Some people enjoy the very chilled refrigerated air, whereas if you are simply looking for relief from the heat but don't want to turn into an icicle, an evaporative system can do the job,” Mike suggests.
