Both can make hot spaces more comfortable—but they cool air in very different ways. Compare how each system works, where each fits and what to consider before choosing.
Evaporative coolers and refrigerated air conditioners both cool air, but the technology—and the way you use the space—is different.
Direct evaporative cooling uses water evaporation and high-volume fresh-air movement. Refrigerated air conditioning uses a refrigeration cycle to remove heat and moisture from air.
Neither approach is automatically right for every application. Climate, humidity, ventilation, temperature requirements, building design and mobility all matter.
The biggest distinction is how each system removes heat and how the surrounding space needs to operate.
| Consideration | Evaporative Cooling | Refrigerated A/C |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling Method | Water evaporation absorbs heat from incoming air. | A refrigeration cycle transfers heat from the conditioned space. |
| Airflow | Designed around continuous fresh-air movement. | Commonly conditions and recirculates air within a more enclosed space. |
| Humidity | Adds moisture to the incoming airstream. | Removes moisture as part of the cooling process. |
| Ventilation | Needs a path for fresh air to enter and air to exit. | Typically performs best in a more controlled building envelope. |
| Climate | Cooling potential is strongly affected by temperature and humidity. | Can maintain controlled temperatures across a broader range of outdoor humidity conditions when properly designed. |
| Portability | Portable systems such as Cool Boss can be moved between work zones. | Central and many commercial systems are permanently installed. |
| Best Fit | Open or well-ventilated spaces where fresh-air cooling is practical. | Enclosed spaces requiring controlled temperature and humidity. |
Understanding what each system is designed to do makes it easier to decide which approach fits the application.
A direct evaporative cooler draws warm air through water-saturated media. Evaporation absorbs heat before a fan moves the cooler air into the workspace.
Air conditioning uses a refrigeration cycle to absorb indoor heat and transfer it elsewhere while also removing moisture from the conditioned air.
Direct evaporative cooling works best when the system can continually draw in outside air and move it through the space.
Water circulates over evaporative media while a fan pulls warm air through it. Some of the water evaporates, absorbing heat from the incoming air before that air is directed into the workspace.
Because the process adds moisture, the air should have a path out of the building or work area. Open doors, windows and other ventilation can be part of the cooling strategy rather than something that must be sealed off.
Refrigerated air conditioning is designed to control temperature—and typically humidity—within a defined space.
Instead of relying on water evaporation, A/C uses refrigerant, a compressor and heat exchangers to move heat from one place to another. Moisture condenses out of the air as it passes across the cooling coil.
That makes refrigerated A/C useful when a facility needs a specific indoor temperature, humidity control or cooling that is less dependent on outdoor humidity.
Outdoor conditions have a direct effect on the amount of cooling available from evaporation.
Drier air generally has more capacity to accept additional water vapor, creating greater potential for evaporative cooling.
As relative humidity rises, the air has less capacity to accept additional moisture and evaporative cooling potential decreases.
If maintaining a particular indoor temperature or humidity level is critical, refrigerated air conditioning may be the more appropriate technology.
Cooling cost depends on equipment size, climate, runtime, utility rates, installation and the amount of space being conditioned.
Direct evaporative coolers use fans, pumps and water circulation rather than a compressor-driven refrigeration cycle. Refrigerated A/C uses compressors and other refrigeration components to provide controlled cooling.
Instead of relying on a universal dollars-per-day estimate, compare the rated electrical requirements, water use, installation requirements and expected operating hours of the actual equipment being considered.
Start with the environment and what you actually need the cooling system to accomplish.
Local temperature and relative humidity help determine the potential effectiveness of direct evaporative cooling.
Evaporative cooling benefits from fresh-air access and exhaust paths, while A/C generally benefits from a controlled envelope.
A/C is designed for controlled indoor temperatures. Evaporative cooling performance varies with ambient conditions.
Portable evaporative coolers can be positioned closer to changing work zones instead of conditioning an entire building.
Evaporative cooling and air conditioning solve different cooling problems.
If you're working with an open or well-ventilated space and want portable, high-volume fresh-air cooling, a direct evaporative cooler may be a practical option.
If you need a tightly controlled indoor temperature, humidity removal or cooling that is less dependent on ambient humidity, refrigerated air conditioning may be the better fit for that application.
For Cool Boss, the focus is portable direct evaporative cooling for workspaces where airflow, mobility and fresh-air exchange make sense.
Compare Cool Boss evaporative air coolers, features and specifications to find the model that fits your application.
There are two ways to cool off industrial spaces (three, if you include standard ceiling/floor fans). You can either get an evaporative air cooler, sometimes known as a swamp cooler, or an air conditioning system. There are certain benefits and drawbacks to each, and your choice depends on where you live and how much space you have to cover. The upfront cost of each cooling device is the same: about $1,000 minimum for high-quality industrial-size units. (Smaller, home-use-only units cost around $350.) This means the true cost of the unit, regardless of what you pay upfront, is actually measurable by how much you spend over time. Think: a fuel-efficient car that gets 50 mpg is actually less expensive than a car with the same sticker price that only gets 20 mpg. Even if you find a “good deal” on the upfront cost of an A/C unit, you’re all but certain to spend thousands of dollars more to use it over time. We’ll examine both cooling methods to help you better understand and plan for your needs.
If you’re familiar with HVAC, you know about centrifugal blowers. These blowers aren’t swamp coolers or evaporative air coolers of any kind. Rather, they just blow air really hard, so it can go really far. They’re used to move air long distances through complex duct systems. They’re also susceptible to wear and tear more than axial fans, which is why the Cool Boss swamp cooler uses an “old-fashioned” axial blade rather than a squirrel cage. The fan on our air cooler is extremely durable, as is the single-piece, weather-resistant and thoroughly enjoyable polyurethane chassis.
Portable air coolers are ideal solutions for cooling off huge spaces, such as auto shops, warehouses, machine shops and other industrial spaces with high ceilings and/or massive square footage. Their low operating costs make them preferable over expensive air conditioning units; typical electrical consumption with a swamp cooler comes out to approximately one dollar per day. Many of these units, such as Cool Boss, are portable and can be moved to various locations around the shop.
Evaporative coolers work by drawing in hot air from outside, so they need direct access to an outdoor air source, preferably an open doorway. (Mounted units may be fixed on a window ledge like some A/C units.) Powerful 30” diameter fan blades push chilled air at great enough force to effectively cool a 2,500 sq. ft. area. If that’s not enough, multiple units can be added to increase both cooling power and effective range of use.
Because they constantly pull in fresh, dry air and cool it by pumping water through an evaporative media pad, portable swamp coolers never recycle the same dusty air over and over. A/C units also feature dust filters, but these clog quickly and often require expensive service and maintenance.
The only real downside to air coolers is that the amount of available cooling is limited by the environment. Humid or cooler days will make it harder to cool your shop, and air conditioners can obviously reach lower temperatures—at a higher price.
Air conditioning has revolutionized the way we live. It’s strange to think that just a few decades ago, air conditioning was a novel concept just being introduced into homes. It’s allowed us to densely populate regions that were previously rural and sparse. At the same time, modern A/C requires chemicals, coolants and a hefty amount of electricity to keep running. They also break semi-regularly and require expensive maintenance, especially when dealing with heavy-duty, industrial HVAC units. If the ducts to your building are old or inefficient, 50% of your cooling power or more can be lost, which means an even more expensive electric bill.
Industrial work spaces simply aren’t meant for air conditioning, so many are outfitted with large overhead fans. Unfortunately, these fans may just provide a hot, recycled breeze, which is why evaporative air coolers are often the preferred choice for non-A/C cooling. Still, if it’s pure cold temperatures you need, only true air conditioning can provide it. Air coolers can provide a lower-temperature breeze, but A/C can actually decrease the ambient temperature of a room. They recycle cooled air and remove humidity through a connected duct. This makes them desirable for indoor locations in the Eastern and Southeastern parts of the U.S., which are often too humid to let you maximize the potential of an indoor swamp cooler.