Swamp cooler out, thermostat says 93º

S

Scara

Joined
Jun 21, 2014
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So my swamp cooler stopped working on Thursday right as it was getting really hot. I've submitted the maintenance request, but in the meantime it is hot! My thermostat reads 93º right now, and I have windows open, the fan running, and I've even rigged a primitive swamp cooler out of a trashcan filled with cool water and a box fan pointed at it. I've also been tossing ice into the water as fast as I can make it, and I've got two milk jugs filled with salt water in the freezer that will go in once they're frozen solid. I think I'll also fill a big bowl with water and freeze it and toss that in as well. Finally, I have a towel part way in the water to soak up some water to evaporate off quicker in hopes of making it all work better. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be doing a ton. So now I sit around with the "swamp cooler" blowing at me while I wear as little clothes as possible.
 
Not fun - A/C going out in the Summer is no joke. Here in Central Texas it is not optional. Good luck keeping cool....
 
Owwww! That stinks! Sounds like its time for a swim.
Open your refrigerator door and fabricate you a room from cardboard and duct tape big enough for a lawn chair. Cut two holes in it big enough so you can see the TV. Kick back and enjoy. Reach back for an occasional beer and your set:thumbup: Put you a doggie door on one side in case you have to go to the bog!
 
austexjg said:
Not fun - A/C going out in the Summer is no joke. Here in Central Texas it is not optional. Good luck keeping cool....
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I'm from Houston, been there. Also gone camping in Central Texas in the summer. Now I'm in something of a desert.

ndoghouse, I've been making sure the landlord gets reminded nearly daily. I have hope that it will be fixed soon. If it isn't, I can always point out that they are legally liable and currently out of code.
 
Sorry to hear that. But remember, people lived for centuries w/o AC. Everytime I went to US it seemed to me some people were overdoing it, I was expecting to see penguins running through the office. Then, going out from the building, of course the weather seemed unbearable...
 
I grew up in a semi-tropical (misses tropical by 3" of rainfall annual average), common 100°F+ and 100% humidity, yard grass hot and steamy to feet with mud oozing between toes, mosquitoes large enough to bit through clothes and they came at you as a wasp...and no AC except maybe a grocery store or movie theater advertising "ICE COLD AIR!" with a neon sign at night in blue, tossing and turning each soaked night with low of 90 hoping for some hint of breeze through screen...also much work in desert and jungle climes in hooches....and my normal day at work still involves a large open shed about 100yds across and stuffed with noise and airplanes baking in sun along with whichever break area has shade at that time .....i will take desert any day....hang in there, drink lotsa water until back teeth are floating, and thank the Lord at least your sweat can evaporate....
 
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Cooler is running again, for now. Temperature is down to 78º at the thermostat. I'm hoping it continues running, because my improvised cooler wasn't accomplishing much.
 
Funny you should mention that temp...down here, new AC unit and 1887 house means if i ever hope the AC ever shuts off at all the entire summer, it needs to be set above 78.....just now only into full dark, set at 75, it is losing at 77 indoors....and only 100 today and only 90 at 10pm local....wait until real heat gets here....
 
mtngunr said:
Funny you should mention that temp...down here, new AC unit and 1887 house means if i ever hope the AC ever shuts off at all the entire summer, it needs to be set above 78.....just now only into full dark, set at 75, it is losing at 77 indoors....and only 100 today and only 90 at 10pm local....wait until real heat gets here....
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Sounds like my place. Mine was built in 1897, and at some point someone turned part of the attic into an apartment. There used to be an AC unit, but it was so expensive that they took it out and replaced it with a swamp cooler.
 
Ah.

Our air conditioner died Saturday morning, just got it running again today.
Must be something going around.

I can sympathize.
Good luck on it.
Denis
 
A swamp cooler cools by exploiting the energy required for the phase change of water between liquid and gas. I don't think adding ice will help a lot, and may hinder effectiveness by slowing evaporation.

If you have low humidity, you can get the swamp cooler effect by filling a spray bottle with water, and spraying down the clothing you are wearing. Sitting in front of a fan with the wet clothes will speed the evaporative process.
 
Uggggh! Houston is hell without A/C. Im from Port Arthur so much the same....
 
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Howard Wallace said:
A swamp cooler cools by exploiting the energy required for the phase change of water between liquid and gas. I don't think adding ice will help a lot, and may hinder effectiveness by slowing evaporation.

If you have low humidity, you can get the swamp cooler effect by filling a spray bottle with water, and spraying down the clothing you are wearing. Sitting in front of a fan with the wet clothes will speed the evaporative process.
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I've been wondering about that. It may be that the ice is making it act more like a not very effective cooling tower in the old style instead of a swamp cooler.
 
Well color me crushed I thought Ndog knew everybody and everybody knew him.
 
You'd said you were from Port Arthur, thought you might know Steve Young there. :)
Denis
 
DPris said:
You'd said you were from Port Arthur, thought you might know Steve Young there. :)
Denis
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Oh! Sorry. Thought you meant Pennsylvania? Nope still dont know him? I knew a phiiiiiiil Young. Buddy of mine back in the seventies.
 
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