Air Cooler Water Management - Use, Fill, Drain Water & Reduce Humidity

Summers are rough. Especially in some parts of India, the temperature increases to 45 to 50°C. Therefore, many of us use air coolers to get relief from summer heat. Air coolers are both comfortable and cost-effective while fighting rising temperatures.

While air conditioners consume a lot of electricity, one can easily fill the water in the air cooler and use it cost-effectively. We can use air coolers without water also. The easy process of removing water makes air coolers less complicated. When people use an air cooler with water, they find it very easy to use and less demanding for maintenance. Therefore, in scorching summer, air coolers are effective.

This article will help you understand various ways of using an air cooler with and without water and how you can optimize its use through your small efforts.

Air Cooler Water Management - Guide To Using, Filling, Draining, And Reducing Humidity

How do evaporative air coolers work?

An evaporative air cooling system is based on the principle of evaporation and automation to reduce the air temperature in your room. The machine has a fan, cooling pads, a water reservoir, and a water pump. While the fan is responsible for airflow inside the room, the water pump circulates water from the water tank towards the cooling pad, where it spreads and gets soaked.

At the same time, the fan drives the hot air from the room through the cooling pad. At this moment, the moisture content on the cooling pad is exposed to high airflow. The hot air transfers the latent heat into the water molecules to reach their boiling point. As a result, the water gradually vaporizes until the saturation level of humidity. Thus, the lower the humidity, the more effective the evaporative air cooler is.

Variations of fan speeds, oscillation, and remote controls are some useful features of the best air coolers. Working an air cooler is a pretty energy-efficient process, and it won’t cost you a huge electricity bill as air conditioners do. However, as this system depends on the evaporation process, you will not get the same cooling effect in high and low-humidity areas.

Can we use an air cooler without water?

We can definitely use an air cooler without water. However, if you want to use the air cooler without water, it will only circulate hot air. As the device works on the evaporation process, it won’t be able to cool down your room in the absence of water.

So, if you want to use your air cooler without water, it will work but won’t be very effective in reducing the room temperature. In this situation, you can also use a tower fan, an alternative to an air cooler. When the evaporative cooler is out of the water, the water pump automatically shuts off, maintaining a safe operating condition.

honeycomb cooling pads on air cooler won't be effective if you use it without water

How to fill the water in the air cooler?

To fill the water in the air cooler, first, you need to check whether the tank is already filled up or not. If the tank is loaded with water for more than one month, you should drain it.
Next, arrange a sufficient quantity of water according to the volume of the water tank.
Find the cover or port of the water tank and open it. If it has a wide opening, pour the water directly from a mug or bottle. If the port has a narrow opening, use a funnel and fill the water inside.
You can also add some chilling agents or ice blocks to the water for better cooling.
Most evaporative air coolers come with a water level indicator to check water availability inside the water tank. You can fill the water to your desired level and close the tank cover.
Next, power up the air cooler and get a comfortable experience with the cold breeze.

parts of air cooler including water filling port and water level indicator

Is borewell water compatible with the air cooler?

While distilled water and RO water are the best options to fill water in the air cooler, borewell water can be problematic sometimes. Borewell water often contains heavy metals like iron, calcium, and magnesium, making the water hard with a high TDS value.

If you use borewell water with a TDS beyond 400 ppm, a noticeable deposition of minerals can be seen at the end of the pump, water tank, cooling pad, and pipelines. Therefore, check the TDS range, use a TDS meter, and measure the concentration of heavy minerals in the borewell water. If it is beyond 400 ppm, you need to purify the borewell water or use water from other sources. We recommend using RO water that can be easily availed from the water purifier at your home.

using tds meter to measure water hardness in ppm

Can salt water be used in the air cooler?

Saltwater contains sodium chloride and some other salts in large quantities, making it incompatible with air coolers. If you fill the air cooler water tank with salt water, the dissolved salts will be deposited all over the device’s internal components.

This salt is corrosive in nature which will slowly cause damage to the machine’s structure. It can cause malfunction of the fan, water pump, and ultimately failure of the air cooler. Besides, saltwater requires a higher amount of latent heat to vaporize, which is not easy to attain. With lower efficiency, the power consumption also increases. Therefore, never use salt water in an air cooler.

How to reduce humidity in the room with an air cooler?

The best option to reduce humidity during air cooling is to use an air cooler with an inbuilt humidity controller. Crompton Optimus Desert Air Cooler is one such machine with 65 liters of capacity. Along with a humidity control system, it comes with an auto drain function.
To reduce humidity in the air cooler, you should ensure adequate ventilation in the room. As long as fresh air recirculates, the humidity level won’t be saturated.
You can add charcoal briquettes inside the air cooler chamber to absorb the excess moisture generated during evaporation.
You should avoid drying wet clothes in the room as they increase the humidity, and the machine would not be able to cool down the temperature.
Take care of any water leakage that persists from the air cooler. The air cooler should be maintained periodically, and its cleanliness would definitely help to manage humidity.
Last but not least, to improve the air cooler’s performance, you should add some ice cubes to the water tank that suppresses the effect of high humidity.

How to remove/drain water from the air cooler?

First, ensure the air cooler is turned off from the power supply to ensure safety.
After that, find the draining port, usually located at the bottom of the air cooler. A plug is fitted on the port, which you need to pull down with your hand.
As soon as you unplug the port, the water will drain out of the air cooler. Follow the next step if you find it difficult to move the plug.
Remove the back panel of the air cooler. Find the draining port and push the jammed plug from the top to remove it.
After draining all the water, you should brush out the internal parts of the air cooler. You can also use a soft cloth and sponge to sweep the inside of the machine. As a result, your air cooler will be free of slime and bad smells. Soaking the water tank with vinegar and water solution would also help with cleaning and maintenance.

Air coolers are more cost-effective than AC for your household to get relief from the summer heat. The air coolers with humidity controllers are most helpful for humid climates. However, you need to know how to manage water inside the air cooler in different situations (filling, draining, and maintaining quality). This article explains that exactly. If you have any further queries, let us know in the comments.

Air Cooler Water Management – Everything You Need To Know