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Hey, anyone in CO use swamp coolers for house cooling? I hear mixed results, but do see them heavily offered at places like Lowes and Big R. Trying to see if they're worth it. I fully understand that AC is superior, but a whole house AC unit is financially out of my range right now, and the portable units we have fried an outlet last year from overuse.

Hey, anyone in CO use swamp coolers for house cooling? I hear mixed results, but do see them heavily offered at places like Lowes and Big R. Trying to see if they're worth it. I fully understand that AC is superior, but a whole house AC unit is financially out of my range right now, and the portable units we have fried an outlet last year from overuse.

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[–] • 4 pts

They are thr second best to AC in dry heat, if you have humid heat, suicide is the only option.

[–] • 3 pts

Well hell, I guess most of us here in Tx need to go all Jonestown then.

[–] • 2 pts

Nah, we're pretty damn dry, monsoon storms aside

[–] • 2 pts

Then give it a go. Get one that has freezer ice pack to cool the water.

[–] • 2 pts

Got a used portable unit. Fingers crossed.

[–] • 2 pts

They work pretty good in non humid environments.

[–] • 2 pts

will they take the edge off a 100 day?

[–] • 2 pts

I have seen them used in Tx, which isnt the best place for them. Yes it will even take the edge off here but the humidity is just to great here. Your plug didnt fry just because of the air conditioner though, something else was at play.

[–] • 2 pts

Yes, you're right. I had it daisy chained to a 10 gauge extension cord

[–] • 1 pt

Mini Split systems have gotten pretty affordable and easy to install yourself.

Look up - MRCOOL DIY

Takes less than a day to install as long as you have the necessary power available.

[+] [deleted] • 1 pt
[–] • 1 pt

I know someone in the Denver metro that uses one. I would rather have AC but I am from a much colder climate which I intend to return to soon. Too many commies in CO.

[–] • 1 pt

Too many commies

fucking true that....

[–] • 1 pt

Well, Most have said it works well enough for them. Worst case, get a window or portable unit for when its not working well enough for you. In that case you will only really be cooling down a small-ish area but if its the bedroom so you get a good night sleep then its worth it.

Plus, the "mini-splits" are popular. I dont know anyone with them but I know several people that are thinking about installing them.

[–] • 1 pt

Do you really need air conditioning in Colorado? I'm not being sarcastic, I just have no idea what summer is like in Colorado.

[–] • 1 pt

The portion I'm in, yeah. you have about 2-3 months of pretty damn hot. BUT, it's generally dry. Rest of the year is comfy to downright cold. Like today was almost 70, but tomorrow will be down in the 30s

[+] [deleted] • 1 pt
[–] • 1 pt

I visited some friends in Denver in late summer/early fall 2020, it was quite nice there, climate wise, but they did mention that it snowed a week after I left. That seems insane to me.

[–] • 1 pt

Tell me about it. Wednesday we got 6 inches of snow. Schools, government, etc. all closed for the day. 75% of it was melted by noon that day. Next day it didn't even look like it had snowed

[–] • 1 pt

I have family in CO that have a swamp cooler. It does the trick well enough for all but about 2 weeks or so.

They're all smug about not needing an A/C, but all of the commercial establishments have A/C from my observations.

[–] • 0 pt

Not looking for smug. Just looking to remain cool while not starting a fire lol

[–] • 1 pt

I don't know what a legit swamp cooler costs, but the design is simple.. you should be able to make some DIY portable coolers for ~$30.

[–] • 0 pt

Bought a used refurb unit for under 100

[–] • 1 pt

I use two of them here in the dry southwest. Maintenance every season on them kinda sucks because of our hard water makes cleaning them and changing the pads a bit of a chore. Aside from that they work great even when temps are in the 100's

[–] • 0 pt

How do they compare with AC? My area of CO is about as dry as most of the SW, so it's a good comparison. Do you use them indoors?

[–] • 1 pt

Ours knock indoor temps down about 15-20 degrees on a 100 degree day. I don't remember their btu rating tho. One is a rooftop and have another in a window.