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If you are from the America’s South, you may already be
familiar with the swamp cooler, a low-power and low-cost
alternative to air conditioners. But did you know that it’s
easy to use indoor wall fountains to cool your home, using
the same principles?
How Swamp Coolers Work
A swamp cooler works by forcing air past a high surface area
of water. The water evaporates, and in the process of
evaporation it uses up some of the heat energy in the air,
effectively cooling it. High-performance swamp coolers can
drop the temperature of air several degrees in seconds. A
swamp cooler is most effective in air that’s relatively low
in humidity, so a maximum amount of water can evaporate into
it.
Cooling with Indoor Wall Fountains
You can harness the same effect by keeping fans near your
indoor wall fountains. Blowing fresh, dry air across them is
the best way to activate their cooling effect. You can use
air from a bare corner of the room, or simply turn up your
ceiling fan to create circulation. No matter how you do it,
the important thing is to be sure that air is constantly
moving across the water surface.
While the result will not be as forceful as the effect of a
dedicated swamp cooling system, it will be noticeable.
You’ve certainly noticed the sudden chill in the air near a
large municipal fountain or waterfall; these don’t even have
air circulators trained onto them. By positioning your fans
properly, you can dramatically magnify the cooling effect of
your indoor wall fountains.
You should locate your fountain cooling system where it will
not receive too much extra heat; putting your fountains in
sunlight, for instance, will just make them less efficient
coolers.
The Best Indoor Wall Fountains for Cooling
If you’re selecting a wall fountain with cooling in mind,
choose one with a high surface area that is easy to refill.
Wall-style fountains, where water flows down a decorative
surface, are particularly effective. Fountains where a
narrow stream drops into a pool are less desirable for this
strategy, since the water is exposed to very little air.
Light-colored fountain materials reflect light and heat, so
they are good for this application. Water that is already
warm when it hits the air will absorb less heat energy, so
it’s important to choose a fountain that will keep it cool.
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