An evaporative cooler is more economical than a portable air conditioner and cools better than a fan. If you need something to keep you cool in summer, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, then evaporative coolers are the way to go.
With so many models available it can be a bit confusing about which one to choose, so we’ve listed the best products on the market and given you a brief buyer’s guide so you know what to look for.
Here are the best evaporative coolers in Australia:
1. Dimplex 7L Evaporative Cooler (Top Pick)
This evaporative cooler from Dimplex has a 7-litre capacity and can cool a room up to 30 square metres. Operating the unit is easy as it comes with a handy remote control.
There are four speed settings, so you can adjust the fan to your liking, and there are also four operating modes depending on whether you want the machine to maintain a constant humidity, or sleep, or just run continuously.
The unit does a pretty good job of cooling a room.
Not only does the Dimplex cooler evaporate water to cool down the air, but it also uses a filter to clean the air in your home of dust particles and allergens. It’s one of the best air coolers that’s easy to use and does the job.
What We Like:
- Four speeds
- Four operating modes
- Remote control
- Filters dust particles
What We Don’t Like:
- A little noisy
2. Honeywell Evaporative Air Cooler
The Honeywell evaporative cooler is a beast. It has a powerful motor that pumps a lot of air and 48-litre water tank. It also has a connector for continuous water supply if needed.
You can leave this running all day; it has built-in overflow protection so it doesn’t need to be attended. It is on the noisy side, but it only uses 140W of power compared to an AC that uses 11,500W so you can see the attraction.
This unit can cool a space that is up to 1800 cubic metres, which is more than most living rooms, and it is good for semi-outdoor areas too.
The price is a little high, but overall, it’s one of the best evaporative coolers and you’ll be glad to have it in summer.
What We Like:
- 48-litre capacity
- Can take continuous water supply
- Powerful motor
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
3. 65W 7L Evaporative Air Cooler (Best Value)
This is a great value 7 litre model. It comes under the brand names Devanti or Yescom and is available on Ebay and Amazon. It is energy efficient at only 65W, and it has three different operating modes with a 7-hour timer.
It’s a great little cooler and very portable; it’s perfect for small rooms. Operation is simple and it comes with a remote control so you can set it from across the room and then forget about it as it runs through its cycle.
It may be a little noisy if you want to sleep in the same room, but other than that it’s great value and works very well.
What We Like:
- Energy efficient
- Portable
- 7-hour timer
What We Don’t Like:
- A little noisy
4. DeLonghi Evaporative Cooler
This DeLonghi evaporative cooler is a lot quieter than other air coolers, which makes it ideal to run in your bedroom on hot summer nights.
It has a 4.5-litre tank, which is on the small side, but it does a great job at cooling a room. It has 3 speed settings and the controls are quite simple, but it also comes with a remote control so you can turn it on and off from a distance.
This unit is simple and reliable with a sleek design; It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, instead, it just works as intended.
What We Like:
- Quiet
- Powerful
- Simple design
What We Don’t Like:
- Small water tank
5. Target Evaporative Cooler
This evaporative air cooler from Target is a good budget model. It costs nearly a third of what the big-name brands cost but still does an OK job of cooling.
It does sacrifice some performance, and there is nothing outstanding here, but it is more than adequate to cool a small room.
It has an 8-litre capacity and can be rolled around on castors so you can easily move it to any room in the house. If you’re looking for something cheap then this is the one to go for.
What We Like:
- Inexpensive
- Cools effectively
What We Don’t Like:
- No outstanding features
6. Bunnings Evaporative Cooler
The Arlec 3 In 1 is a convenient budget evaporative cooler available at Bunnings Warehouse.
It has a tank capacity of 6 Litres and features 3 fan settings, a programmable timer, and remote control. This is a wallet-friendly option suitable for cooling small spaces.
One other handy feature is the wheels on the base of the unit that allows it to be rolled between rooms.
What We Like:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- 3 fan settings
- Remote control
What We Don’t Like:
- Power specifications not available
7. Kmart Evaporative Cooler
Kmart has been a go-to for many Australians seeking a quick and easy solution to their cooling needs. Their most popular model, the Anko 10 Litre Evaporative Cooler, was a good budget option that was able to cool in moderate conditions.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Kmart do not stock any portable air conditioners.
Evaporative Cooler Buyers Guide
Air conditioning versus Evaporative air cooler
An evaporative air cooler is not a replacement for an air conditioner. Air conditioners use compressors and refrigeration to cool air and pump it into your house. Evaporative air coolers are, basically, big fans that also have water circulating through the interior so that it will evaporate as the fan blows air over it. As the water evaporates, it pulls heat energy out of the atmosphere, creating a flow of cool air.
An evaporative cooler will lower the temperature in a room far more effectively than a pedestal fan, but they can’t compete with air conditioners. You can expect one to lower the room temperature by about 10 degrees celsius.
Benefits
The advantages that an evaporative air cooler has is that they are inexpensive and portable. You can pick up a portable evaporative cooler far cheaper than an air conditioner, and if you just want to cool one room, this can be a much better choice for some people.
Evaporative coolers also require little to no maintenance and you don’t need a technician to install it, unlike air conditioners. Most units have wheels and can just be moved around from room to room by hand.
RELATED:
- Tower Fan Reviews
- The Best Split System Air Conditioner
- The Best Air Purifier
- The Best Humidifier
- The Best Dehumidifier
Size
To get the most out of your evaporative cooler, make sure to get one that has enough airflow for the room you plan to use it in. Most units come with a rating that lets you know how many cubic metres it is made for. This may also be a number followed by the letters CFM, which stands for cubic feet per minute.
To work out the CFM, take the floor size in square feet and multiply it by the ceiling height, then divide by 2. For example, a 50 square foot room with a ceiling height of 10 feet, would be (50 x 10)/2= 250 CFM.
Ventilation
An evaporative air cooler works best where the air is very dry so they need good ventilation. The unit will add moisture to the air as it brings the temperature down, but if it continues to recycle the humid air, it becomes less effective. For this reason, evaporative cooling requires you to keep a window or door open to ensure a steady supply of dry air. Some units come with an air hose that you can feed out a window.
Evaporative Cooler FAQs
A portable evaporative air cooler will lower the temperature in a room more effectively than a pedestal fan. A fan cools by pushing air around, while evaporative cooling uses evaporation to suck heat energy out of the air as well as moving it around. They also add moisture to the air so have the benefit of humidifying the air when used in very dry climates.
An evaporative air cooler is a large fan that has water circulating through it. The fan blows air over a moist filter, causing evaporation, which lowers the temperature.
