Will Using a Dehumidifier Help Me Run a Swamp Cooler?

As we have previously written about, you can use a swamp cooler in a humid environment, but at sustained high levels of humidity, the appliance might not work as efficiently as it would in a less humid environment.

One of the methods that’s commonly employed to get more out of a swamp cooler is to open up windows or doors to create cross-drafts to allow moist air to escape and prevent the indoor air from reaching its saturation point before it’s sufficiently cooled. This can certainly work in some circumstances, but in very high-humidity situations, it might not be sufficient.

A common question we get from clients is whether or not they can get around this by using a dehumidifier to help prevent the air from reaching its saturation point.

Here’s what you should know.

What about using a dehumidifier?

It’s true that you can use a dehumidifier in Tampa, FL as a workaround to be able to get better operation out of your swamp cooler in a humid environment. It is important to note, though, that using these two appliances in conjunction with each other will still not provide you with nearly the same cooling power or efficiency as using a standard air conditioner would in the same environmental circumstances.

But if you already have a swamp cooler installed and want to boost its cooling power, then you can run a dehumidifier, even in the same room as the swamp cooler. If you’re dealing with high outdoor humidity, you can run the combination with your doors and windows closed, which will allow the dehumidifier to operate with greater efficiency.

If the dehumidifier is able to remove more moisture from the air than the swamp cooler adds to the air, this means you’ll reduce the humidity in your home and increase the cooling from the swamp cooler. You may need to read up on the specifications of each of your models to learn more about their effect on indoor humidity to know whether or not this will be the case.

You should also consider, though, that using a dehumidifier in Tampa, FL will increase your power usage, and therefore add to the amount of money you can expect to pay on your monthly utilities. Most 30-pint dehumidifiers use approximately 300 watts of energy, and larger, 70-pint units can use up to 700 watts, in addition to the couple hundred watts you can expect your swamp cooler to use. Still, this results in significantly less power usage than what you’d see out of a standard air conditioner.

If you’re planning on sticking with a swamp cooler and adding a dehumidifier to help mitigate your humidity problems in Tampa, FL, we’d encourage you to connect with an HVAC contractor first so you can get a better understanding of the potential issues you’ll face and the best steps you can take to help save you power and money. For more information, please feel free to contact Kenny’s Air Conditioning & Heating Services, Inc. today.

Categorised in: Dehumidifiers