A Lesson in Swamp Coolers

Ok, do any of you dear people have a clue what I mean when I say "Swamp Cooler"? How about "Evaporative Cooling System"?


Never fear~ I shall inform you today.


Here in the desert (by the way, the way I remember the difference between "desert" and "dessert" is that dessert is so good it deserves 2 "s's".) That was free, by the way.


As I was saying, here in the desert there is little to NO humidity (duh). And so, someone loooong ago came up with this idea of cooling your house with cold, moist air. Growing up in Albuquerque it was something I never even thought about. In fact, all I can remember is the big vent in the hallway. I don't ever remember being hot, unless I was outside. Well, "back then" the air was almost NEVER humid here, so swamp coolers worked great. They're super cheap to run, and although they look ridiculous sitting on your roof, they really did keep your house cool.


Ok, fast forward to 2008...this is Jarrod's and my first Summer in a house with a swamp cooler. In our other house in Rio Rancho, it was fancy-schmancy, and had Central A/C. Yeah, we paid out the wazoo for it, but life was good. The first week or so that we used this swamp cooler I was like, "Cool. This works great! What's the big diff? And it costs a fraction of what central air costs. Yippee!"

Well, you see, as soon as the air outside gets above, oh say, 20% humidity (and I know all of you people in the Midwest and South are laughing hysterically right now), the swamp cooler will refuse to blow cold air into your home. Instead, you get this warmish, wet air that invades your living area, and you spend the remainder of the day #1-sweating like when we lived in Arkansas, or #2-sitting under a fan as still as can be to avoid breaking a sweat.


...Guess which option I've chosen for these July and August days?!?


Not to mention the fact that my hormones have taken a turn for the worse the past two months.

I've added a picture of this contraption on our roof. I won't even begin to explain how it works, although if you REALLY want to know, ask Jarrod. He sold them at Home Depot way back when. And don't forget to ask him what "pooky" is.