HydroTek™ evaporative media: The science behind superior cooling performance

Have you ever walked by a river or lake and noticed a sudden, refreshing drop in air temperature? That’s evaporative cooling at work. To recreate this natural cooling process in your home or workspace, evaporative coolers use water, fans, and specially designed evaporative media.  

In this article, we’ll dive into the science of evaporative cooling media and explore the tech behind the best media on the market—Portacool’s HydroTek™ evaporative media.  

What is evaporative media? 

Evaporative media, also known as evaporative cooling pads, are the key component of an evaporative air cooler. The removable, corrugated media absorbs water and cools hot air as it passes through an evaporative cooler like the Portacool APEX™ Series.  

How do evaporative cooling pads work?  

Evaporative cooling pads are installed on one side of a swamp cooler, with a fan on the other side. With the right evaporative media, an evap cooler can make a space up to 30°F cooler.  

Evaporative cooling in 3 simple steps 

1. A water distributor saturates the evaporative media with water.  
2. Hot air passes through the wet media.  
3. A fan circulates the newly cooled air around a room or open space.

What’s the best evaporative cooling media?  

Evaporative cooler brands typically design a custom cooling pad for each cooler. From generic brands to market leaders like Portacool, pads can vary based on size, materials, quality, and longevity.  

How to find the best evaporative media for your cooler: 

• Choose media that’s easy to install and maintain.  
• Look for anti-mold and mildew properties to help keep your media clean. 
• Pick media that is specifically designed for your cooler to maintain efficiency.  

For the best in evaporative media, consider Portacool’s HydroTek™ evaporative cooling media, designed for both residential and industrial evaporative cooler applications. 

Why should I choose HydroTek™ evaporative media? 

HydroTek™ evaporative cooling media deliver unparalleled cooling and better air quality with less maintenance. 

• Designed for maximum cooling: HydroTek™ is engineered with an expanded surface area comprised of unique 15-degree and 45-degree flute angles. Our innovative design improves airflow and velocity, increasing cooling efficiency.  
• State of the art materials: HydroTek™ media is made with reinforced cellulose fibers and specialty resins, leading to enhanced water absorption and optimized cooling for both small and large swamp coolers. 
• Durable edge-coat for peak performance: Our HydroTek™ evaporative media is coated in a special edge coat, which repels algae and guards against UV damage. This coat keeps your media clean and enhances durability in the toughest environments. 
• Higher quality means lower maintenance: HydroTek™ evaporative media’s design reduces debris accumulation, preventing clogging and ensuring optimal performance. With regular care and maintenance, our evaporative media can last up to 5 years before needing a replacement.  

Evaporative cooling pad maintenance  

Protect your investment and get the most out of your portable evaporative cooler, season after season. With regular maintenance, you can keep your portable evap cooler and media clean and running smoothly. Additionally, you can follow these Do’s and Dont’s to maximize the longevity of your evaporative media.  

Do’s 

• Check that your evaporative media is evenly wetted. Avoid dry streaks.  
• Allow your media to completely dry every 24 hours. Portacool APEX Series coolers automatically dry the media as part of their shutdown cycles.  
• Keep your evaporative media clean and remove mold, mildew, and lime deposits.  
• Use household bleach to remove mold, mildew, or algae. 
• Treat your water if you notice any scale deposits. Use household white vinegar to remove any lime deposits on your evaporative media.  

Don’ts  

• Don’t use chemicals that are harmful to the evaporative media or the environment. 
• Don’t put your cooling pad in direct sunlight.   
• Don’t miss monthly maintenance cycles.     

Choose HydroTek™ evaporative media for long-lasting cooling 

For powerful cooling that protects your family, employees, or animals, trust the experts at Portacool. Cheap cooling pads wear down and need frequent replacement. HydroTek™ evaporative media delivers superior performance for industrial, commercial, and residential evaporative coolers, saving you thousands in replacement costs. 

Unlock long-lasting cooling. Contact your local Portacool dealer to upgrade or replace your current evaporative cooler pads with HydroTek™.