Should I Buy a Portable Evaporative Cooler? 

Determining the right cooling solution for your space is an important decision. Portable evaporative coolers harness the scientific process of evaporation to deliver cold air to your space. This process is highly effective, enabling you to lower the air temperature by as much as 30°F. In addition, it provides a much more eco-friendly solution than air conditioning.  

Yet depending on your climate and cooling goals, an evaporative cooler may or may not be the best fit. Use our checklist to help you choose the right cooling solution for your space. 

1. Do I live in the right climate for a portable evaporative cooler? 

Evaporative cooling systems perform best in hot, dry climates where humidity is low. This is because the cooling process relies on water evaporation to reduce ambient temperatures. When humidity is high, water can’t evaporate as efficiently, which may reduce performance. 

However, thanks to advanced engineering and innovative evaporative media, our portable evap coolers like those in the Portacool APEX™ Series can still deliver cooling relief in moderately humid environments. At Portacool, we manufacture our portable evaporative coolers in Center, Texas. We use our coolers to keep our employees comfortable and safe all summer long, and we consistently achieve excellent cooling results even though our factory is in a humid climate. 

2. Do I have access to an outdoor air source? 

Portable evaporative coolers are an effective cooling solution anywhere there’s access to an outdoor air source. Evaporative coolers require a constant stream of fresh air to work properly. That’s why they’re often used in industrial settings, outdoor spaces, and semi-enclosed environments where traditional HVAC systems are inefficient or cost prohibitive. 

Portacool portable evaporative coolers are commonly used to cool: 

• Warehouses and manufacturing plants 

• Outdoor patios 

• Automotive shops 

• Sports facilities 

• Restaurants and hotels 

• Pet care or animal facilities 

3. Will my evaporative cooler work with my AC?  

Yes. There are certain times when evaporative coolers make sense as a supplement to your air conditioning system, and other instances when you’d be better off replacing your existing air conditioning system with an evaporative cooler. 

If you’re considering a cooling solution for your home, evaporative coolers provide an excellent supplement to your home air conditioning system. It makes sense to use AC for rooms that don’t have access to a constant supply of outdoor air, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms.  

Meanwhile, evaporative coolers can be a more effective solution for areas such as backyard patios or home workshops which aren’t easily cooled by air conditioning. By using both of these cooling methods together, you can achieve the best cooling results for your home. 

4. When is evaporative cooling better than air conditioning? 

Due to the process of evaporative cooling, portable coolers can perform better than air conditioners in certain environments: 

• Industrial facilities, auto garages, aviation hangars, prisons, and other facilities where there are open bay doors  

• Outdoor spaces like patios, restaurant spaces, football fields, etc. 

• When you only need to cool specific areas of your space 

• Industrial buildings looking to reduce energy costs and environmental impact 

If you’re looking to install a cooling system for the first time, you’ll get the best results by focusing on evaporative coolers instead of spending thousands of dollars to set up an air conditioning system that won’t effectively deliver your desired results. 

5. How much will my evaporative cooler increase my energy bill? 

Evaporative coolers from Portacool are among the most energy-efficient cooling products on the market, only using around 264 kilowatt-hours and costing just over $1 per day on average to operate. Operating costs are so low because portable coolers only use a fan to draw air from the outside and pump water to cover evaporative media. 

6. What is the environmental impact of using an evaporative cooler? 

If you’re looking for an environmentally sustainable cooling solution, evaporative coolers are your best option. Evaporation is an eco-friendly process that can cool any space with an outside air source using only water and minimal electricity. No chemicals or refrigerants are needed to achieve the cool, comfortable environment you desire. With a smaller carbon footprint than traditional HVAC systems, evaporative cooling is an environmentally conscious choice for facilities looking to meet sustainability goals. 

7. How do I choose the right size evaporative cooler? 

It’s important to choose the right size evaporative cooler for the amount of space you need to cool. An evaporative cooler that is too small for your space will need to work very hard to deliver your desired results, and this will waste energy. Evaporative coolers that are too large for your space may result in ambient temperatures that are too cold to maintain a comfortable environment. 

The cooling power of a portable evaporative cooler is measured in CFMs (cubic feet per minute). This figure reflects the amount of cool, fresh air that gets cycled through your space each minute. To determine the CFMs needed to cool your space, use the following formula: 

Square footage x Ceiling height (in feet) ÷ 2 = Required CFM 

For example, if you are trying to cool a 500 square foot room with 10-foot ceilings, you’ll perform the following calculation: 

500 x 10 / 2 = 2,500 CFM 

Portacool APEX™ Series evaporative coolers come in a wide range of sizes, ensuring you can find the right solution for your specific space. You can also mix and match different models to provide more effective results in larger spaces. 

8. What features should I look for in a portable evaporative cooler? 

Every portable evaporative cooler manufacturer offers slightly different features. Some items that you will want on your evaporative cooler include: 

• Wifi connectivity – Portable coolers that sync via smartphone apps make it easy to control your climate, keep up with maintenance, and more from anywhere with a wifi connection. That’s why all APEX coolers are equipped with CoolSync™ Technology.  

• Hose connector – Some portable evaporative coolers allow you to hook up a hose, which allows you to run your evaporative cooler all day without worrying about the water running out. 

• Automatic low water shutoff – When the reservoir runs out of water, the pump will shut off automatically, preventing the evaporative cooler from getting damaged. 

• Water level indicator – This feature will let you know when enough water has been placed in the reservoir, reducing the risk of flooding the floor due to overfilling the tank. 

• Wheels – One of the greatest benefits of a portable evaporative cooler is that you can move it to the exact place where you need cooling.  

9. How much maintenance do portable evaporative coolers need? 

If you want to keep your portable evap cooler running properly, prevent breakdowns and prolong its lifespan, you should plan on spending a little time performing regular maintenance.  

• Daily maintenance looks like turning off the pump 15 minutes before turning off the fan to allow your evaporative media to dry out 

• Monthly maintenance involves draining the water reservoir and cleaning the evaporative media.  

• Winter storage means draining the cooler, cleaning the evaporative media and reservoir, drying everything out, and covering your cooler to protect it from dust and dirt. 

10. Is it easy to find replacement parts for an evaporative cooler?

When researching evaporative cooler brands, look into how easy it will be to get replacement parts. At Portacool, we make purchasing replacement parts very easy. You can find any parts you need on our online store as well as with our retail partners. 

11. Do I need a warranty on my portable evaporative cooler?

Choose a brand that offers top-notch customer support to ensure you’ll receive the help you need should an issue arise. Similarly, purchasing an evaporative cooler that offers robust warranty services will give you peace of mind that you’re buying a quality product that will deliver the results you need for years to come. 

At Portacool, we offer best-in-class warranties, technical support, and USA based live customer service to ensure you enjoy an amazing experience with your new evaporative cooler. 

Choose Portacool for reliable, customized cooling  

Portacool has been the industry leader in portable evaporative cooling technology since 1990. You’ll enjoy highly efficient cooling with a wide range of models to ensure we’re able to address any application you may have. All Portacool evaporative coolers are manufactured in the USA at our Center, Texas facility. Available in all 50 states and around the world, you can find the right cooling solution for your needs, when you need it.