Are evaporative air coolers safe to use? Do they increase the risk of Legionnaire’s disease? Are they suitable for harsh industrial environments such as the steel industry? And how noisy are they?
This post answers the most common questions about evaporative air coolers to help you understand their benefits and operation.
Do evaporative air coolers increase the risk of infection or health issues?
No, quite the opposite. A common misconception is that the slight humidity increase from evaporative air coolers encourages the growth of viruses, bacteria, or mould. However, our air freshener units come equipped with UV lamps that purify the air by eliminating airborne pathogens and particles, ensuring a healthy environment.
Beyond health safety, evaporative air coolers are celebrated for providing fresh, clean, and filtered air while using significantly less energy than traditional air conditioning. They also avoid harmful CFC gases, making them an eco-friendly cooling option.
Can evaporative air coolers be used in environments where humidity must be controlled, such as steel manufacturing?
Although evaporative air coolers work by evaporating water into steam, not liquid droplets, they do cause a slight increase in humidity – typically between 2% and 5%, depending on the environment.
To minimise humidity increase, there’s a few things you can do:
- Increase ventilation by opening doors and windows to increase airflow.
- Monitor temperature and humidity closely using the cooler’s integrated control panel.
Since spot cooling targets specific areas, the overall humidity in large spaces usually remains low. Additionally, powerful units actively expel warm, humid air outside, preventing excess moisture accumulation.
Is there an increased risk of Legionella from using evaporative air coolers?
Legionella bacteria thrive in stagnant hot water systems. Our evaporative air coolers feature UV lamps that treat 100% of the water passing over the cooling panels, effectively eliminating Legionella risks.
Moreover, these coolers do not produce water aerosols, which are the primary transmission method for Legionella. Instead, water is vaporised or converted to steam, making the infection risk very low, and comparable to that of conventional air conditioning systems.
Are evaporative air coolers noisy?
In most industrial, logistics, and production settings, evaporative air coolers produce noise levels lower than the ambient working environment. With a noise level around 66 dB, they offer powerful cooling without significant sound disturbance.
Many units come with adjustable speed controls, allowing you to lower fan speed and noise if needed. Generally, smaller and more compact coolers generate less noise.
How can I adjust the airflow of evaporative air coolers?
To ensure comfort, the airflow direction and intensity can be customised. Most coolers feature adjustable louvers to control airflow direction and speed controls to modulate the airflow intensity, helping you avoid discomfort caused by direct air streams.
Why invest in evaporative air coolers for workplace comfort?
Evaporative cooling solutions have low installation, operating, and ownership costs, making them a highly cost-effective option. More importantly, maintaining a comfortable temperature reduces heat stress, improving worker safety and boosting productivity. Comfortable employees focus better and work more efficiently.
How do I maintain and prepare evaporative air coolers for seasonal storage?
If your workspace is dusty or dirty, its recommended to increase the cleaning frequency. We recommend emptying the water tank monthly during use and cleaning it with clear water.
At the end of the cooling season, winterize your evaporative air coolers by following these steps:
- Drain all water from the unit.
- Rinse the cooler thoroughly with clean water.
- Run the cooler with clean water, adding white vinegar if necessary.
- Completely drain remaining water.
- Operate the unit for at least 6 hours without water to dry the cooling panels and internal components.
Panels generally do not require replacement if stored dry after winterisation.
Have More Questions?
If you need further information about evaporative air coolers or assistance with your cooling project, don’t hesitate to contact McCarthy Hire. Our team is ready to provide expert advice and support tailored to your needs.
Call us on 01604 635333 or email us at [email protected].