Can air coolers be used in enclosed rooms?

To understand whether air coolers are suitable for use in enclosed rooms, it's important to first understand how they work. Unlike traditional compressor-based air conditioners, air coolers use the physical principle of evaporation to cool the air.

• Inhaling hot air: An air cooler draws hot air from the room into the unit.
  
  
• Evaporation: The hot air flows over a damp curtain (also known as a wet pad). The water evaporates, absorbing heat from the air, causing the air temperature to drop.
  
  
• Exhaling cool, humid air: The cooled and humidified air is blown out by a fan into the room, achieving the desired cooling effect.
  
  

Challenges of using air coolers in enclosed rooms

Based on the working principle of air coolers, using them in completely enclosed rooms presents several challenges that can affect their cooling efficiency:

• Increased humidity: An air cooler cools the room through evaporation, which means it continuously releases water vapor into the room, increasing the humidity. In an enclosed room, the humidity quickly saturates, making the air feel stuffy and even more uncomfortable than if it were cooled, commonly known as "the more you blow, the more humid it gets."
  
  
• Reduced Cooling Efficiency: When indoor humidity reaches a certain level, the evaporation rate of water will slow significantly, or even stop. At this point, the cooling effect of an air cooler will also be significantly reduced. Unlike air conditioners, air coolers cannot remove heat to the outside, but can only circulate hot, humid air inside the room.
  
  
• Air Quality: Confined spaces are not conducive to air circulation and ventilation. Prolonged use of an air cooler can cause a decrease in indoor oxygen levels and stale air.
  

For optimal results: Ventilation is key!

So, the answer is: air coolers are not suitable for use in completely enclosed rooms.

For optimal cooling performance, ventilation is crucial. The correct way to use an air cooler is to create an environment with adequate ventilation or convection:

• Open doors and windows: When using an air cooler, always open one or more windows or doors to ensure adequate air circulation.
  
  
• Exhausting Humid Air: Open windows allow the hot, humid air generated by the air cooler to escape while letting in fresh air. This continuously reduces indoor humidity and maintains efficient evaporative cooling.
  
  
• Create convection: Ideally, place the air cooler opposite a window or near an air inlet, and keep the outlet window or door open to create a convection path for continuous airflow, dissipating moisture and heat.
  
  

Air coolers are excellent for local or ambient cooling, particularly in spaces requiring ventilation, such as open-plan offices, workshops, outdoor areas, or indoor spaces where fresh air is essential.

If you're looking for cooling in a confined room, a traditional air conditioner (which circulates refrigerant and removes heat outdoors) may be a more suitable option. However, if you already have an air cooler, remember that maintaining good ventilation is key to ensuring the air cooler's efficient operation, preventing excessive indoor humidity, and achieving a comfortable cooling experience.