A/C vs swamp/evap cooling (Tucson: houses, new construction, school)

[artdiva]

Greetings, y'all. My husband & I will be moving to Tuscon in August for a couple of years while he attends grad school at U of A. As Texans, we're no strangers to intense long-term and muggy heat (95-115 highs/75-85 lows May through Oct) but we're accustomed to air conditioning, which cools and provides much-needed dehumidification. I've never visited the Southwest to experience the "dry" heat I hear so much about, so I have no way of knowing how effectively swamp/evaporative coolers work compared to A/C. I'm willing to pay extra in rent/bills for comfort, I'm just looking for an honest comparison from anyone who's lived in high heat + humidity AND hot + dry desert climates. Thanks!
P.S. Our ideal indoor temperature range in hot weather is 70-75 degrees.

[Daniel_T]

We have a swamp cooler and let me tell you, it's NOT like having an A/C. Swamp coolers aren't really that great when it get's humid. They work OK when it's hot outside but when you mix the two elements together, it sure does suck. My house ever year around monsoon time(Late June-Late August) is constantly hot and humid/ because the swamp cooler is cooling it down. Even the repairman said that's how a swamp cooler is. I would invest in a place with A/C if I were you. Nothin like sitting in a house when it's 106 and the humidity is pushing 70% and you can't cool down!! Just my opinion.
Daniel

[potranco]

Let me help you out a little. It may be a "dry heat" but it does not matter when it is 110 degress everyday and everynight from June thru August. If you come a across a place to live that is only cooled by a swamp cooler, turn right around and walk out. Unless you are going to live in a cave a swamp cooler can only lower the temperature at the most by about 15 - 20 degrees. So you do the the math.

The humidity is about 20 percent most of the time.

And when a dust storm and sudden rain storm hits the humidity will skyrocket to around 80 percent or more.

A/C is the only way to beat the heat, unless you have a pool.

Here is a chart.

Evaporative Cooling

[sierraAZ]

Some people consider swamp coolers OK, but I'm with everybody else on the thread on this one.

[Mi_Mom]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Some people consider swamp coolers OK, but I'm with everybody else on the thread on this one.

I agree with the above as well. Many people like to have dual cooling, saving the A/C for the humid moments. And supposedly the swamp coolers use less electricity than an A/C, hence the like for using them in the dryer months.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by artdiva

Greetings, y'all. My husband & I will be moving to Tuscon in August for a couple of years while he attends grad school at U of A. As Texans, we're no strangers to intense long-term and muggy heat (95-115 highs/75-85 lows May through Oct) but we're accustomed to air conditioning, which cools and provides much-needed dehumidification. I've never visited the Southwest to experience the "dry" heat I hear so much about, so I have no way of knowing how effectively swamp/evaporative coolers work compared to A/C. I'm willing to pay extra in rent/bills for comfort, I'm just looking for an honest comparison from anyone who's lived in high heat + humidity AND hot + dry desert climates. Thanks!
P.S. Our ideal indoor temperature range in hot weather is 70-75 degrees.

Maybe I'm a little "out of step" on this one, Artdiva . . . but I love my Swamp Cooler.

I would never be without the real A/C for the humid period here (July, August and September) but for the other nine months, there's nothing better than the fresh air (with or without the water) afforded by a Swamp Cooler.

Bottom line . . . Dual Cooling is the best way to go here in Southern Arizona but most new construction will only have a/c due to the additional costs involved with two systems.

[Ponderosa]

I lived through several Tucson summers with a swamp cooler. It was OK most of the time, and on the couple days it wasn't - well you just lived with it. People today have really gone soft. They tolerate no discomfort in their lives.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Maybe I'm a little "out of step" on this one, Artdiva . . . but I love my Swamp Cooler.

I would never be without the real A/C for the humid period here (July, August and September) but for the other nine months, there's nothing better than the fresh air (with or without the water) afforded by a Swamp Cooler.

Bottom line . . . Dual Cooling is the best way to go here in Southern Arizona but most new construction will only have a/c due to the additional costs involved with two systems.

Might be... I've never had one. My opinion is only based on being in a few houses with swamp coolers in summer.

[Daniel_T]

swamp coolers do work well just not in June, July, and August.

[michael krotchie]

I'm with most other people on this thread, not having AC during monsoon can be less than pleasant sometimes. That being said, if you don't mind swamp coolers and can stick out some uncomfortable days, it might not be a big deal!

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I lived through several Tucson summers with a swamp cooler. It was OK most of the time, and on the couple days it wasn't - well you just lived with it. People today have really gone soft. They tolerate no discomfort in their lives.

Just because we can tolerate things doesn't mean we should have to endure them if we don't want to.