Yes, you can leave an evaporative cooler running 24/7. Evaporative coolers rely on low-power fans that can run for long periods of time without an issue. While it's a good idea to switch the system off every now and then, you can use your evaporative cooler during extended stretches of hot weather.
If you run it all day the effectiveness goes down, as the day goes on you can end up heating up the house. The most efficient way to do it is run it at night to make it really cold, and turn it off. If the system flushes the water periodically that will make continual running more capable.
Swamp coolers are still a great method to augment regular air conditioning at a minimal cost. They perform admirably in our arid heat and consume significantly less energy than that an air conditioning system. They operate better when the heat is far less than 100°F (38°C) and the moisture is less than around 27%.
Air conditioners generally use two to four times more electricity than swamp coolers. For a typical 2,000-square-foot Tucson residence, the electricity used by a swamp cooler can be as low as 250 kilowatt-hours in an average month, while an air conditioner consumes about 850 kilowatt-hours.
2. Add Ice or Cold Water to the Water Tank Even though it might seem to you that hot water evaporates faster being near the boiling point, it's not true. Cold water is more effective in a swamp cooler and the hotter the water gets, the lower the performance.
Yes, the fan and pump motors are separate systems. You can run one without the other with no damage to the product. That said, however, you will not receive the same degree of cooling by only running the fan.
A swamp cooler works better in the shade.
Can You Leave Evaporative Cooling on 24/7? Yes, you can leave an evaporative cooler running 24/7.
62 kWh to run (at $0.13 per kWh cost me $0.08 cents per hour to run). So depending on the speed, if I ran the swamp cooler 24 hours per day, my cost would be between $1.08-1.92 per day in electricity. Shifting to air conditioning, if you look at the graph above, you can see spikes in the usage.
Cost to run and efficiency
Electricity: A swamp cooler uses 60% to 80% less electricity than a standard AC unit, meaning big savings on electricity costs.
The motor in your swamp cooler is set to run at or below a specific voltage, preferably below. If too much voltage is put to the motor, it can overheat. Too much voltage can cause damage to internal wiring and circuitry.
If the pads are not soaked enough, the cooler will not be able to produce cold air. In case the air your cooler is blowing out is not cool enough, its evaporative pads may have become clogged with debris and scale. Also, check if there are clogs in the tubes since such issues can keep the pads from getting wet.
Evaporative coolers are more efficient when there is a bigger temperature difference between the water and the outside air, so running it in the middle of the day will have the biggest impact. Start running the cooler early in the morning if you're expecting it to be a hot day.
Opening windows ensures proper ventilation when using an evaporative cooling system.
In a like manner, an evaporative cooler uses indoor heat to evaporate indoor moisture. Many swamp coolers work well in temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but they aren't much use when the weather becomes significantly hotter. This is especially true during times of high humidity.
You need to have the pump on while running the cooler, to keep water running through the unit.
The average life expectancy of a swamp cooler is 15 to 20 years depending on how well it has been maintained and the quality of your water. Very hard water will calcify the components of the swamp cooler making it wear out faster.
Evaporative coolers cost about half as much to install as central air conditioners and use about one-quarter as much energy. However, they require a supply of water and need more frequent maintenance than refrigerated air conditioners.
Studies have shown residential evaporative coolers may pull outdoor air pollutants into the home or contribute to elevated levels of indoor bioaerosols that may be harmful to health.
Swamp coolers will grow mold if not properly maintained. Mold potentially will blow throughout the residence. Unit may eventually leak.
Routinely clean and fill your evaporative cooler water tank
Change the water in the standalone and window units once a week using the drain plug in the bottom of the unit.
Instead of running your cooler during the day, you can try running your cooler at night to maximize cooling power. Running your cooler at night ensures that the air delivered will be colder and have less pollen.
Do Not Use Ice. The use of ice in addition to water can slow down the process of evaporation, and make it take much longer for cool air to come out. The water actually needs to be heated up in order for it to evaporate, and the use of ice will prevent this from happening quickly.
As shown below, the best place to put an air cooler is near an open window. The cooler can then efficiently draw in fresh air and circulate it in the room before exiting via another window.