Adiabatic air coolers FAQ

Do evaporative air coolers increase the risk of legionellosis ? And can I use it if I work in the steel industry ? Is it noisy ?

This article gives our answers to the most frequently asked questions about evaporative cooling.

Do evaporative coolers increase the risk of infections and other health problems ?

No, quite the opposite! This question is commonly based on the incorrect assumption that evaporative coolers may cause a slight increase in humidity, but also increase the risk of viral, bacterial and fungal growth. All OberA evaporative coolers are equipped with pre-filters and a UV lamp which treat the air to remove particles that facilitate the movement of viruses and bacteria.

The positive effects of using evaporation are in fact well established. Not only does evaporative cooling provide clean, fresh, filtered air, it also consumes significantly less energy and is easier to maintain. It does not require the use of harmful CFC gases – unlike many air conditioners.

I work with steel products, so I don’t want humidity in my work environment as I want to avoid any risk of corrosion. Does this mean I can’t use evaporative cooling ?

Do our coolers evaporate water ? No The water in the cooler is in the form of vapor, not liquid (micro-droplets). Humidity will increase between 2% and 5%, depending on the environment.

There are some things you can do to avoid an increase in humidity in your environment.

• Increase ventilation(open doors and windows). More ventilation means less humidity. The more ventilation there is, the less humidity will increase
• Monitor the temperature and humidityto keep it at the right level at all times. Our evaporative coolers feature a built-in control panel to set the level.

Portable coolers are usually used to cool down a specific area. This means that only a part of the total area will be cooled down. Therefore, the total humidity effect will usually be much lower than 2-5%. Keep in mind that powerful evaporative coolers actually expel warm, moist air from the building.

Does evaporative cooling increase the risk of Legionella because it uses water ?

Legionella is a bacterium that grows in hot water systems. Our units are equipped with UV lamps. 100% of the water flowing on the cooling panels is treated by UV.

Moreover, legionellosis is transmitted by inhaling water aerosol contaminated by legionella bacteria. Our devices do not release aerosols. Water is vaporized or transported in the form of steam, not liquid.

The risk is therefore extremely low and is no greater than with conventional air conditioning.

Can I reduce the noise level of an evaporative air cooler ?

The noise levels of our units are generally below the existing noise levelin our main markets (industry, logistics, production) Moreover, the importance of the cooling effect far exceeds that of the sound reduction. Our coolers are equipped with a speed control so you can reduce the speed and thus the sound, if necessary. The smaller the cooler, the lower the sound level. The sound level of our units is 66 dB.

Also read : Where can I use evaporative cooling ?

What can I do to adjust the airflow ?

Similarly to the sound-related question 4, some people in a factory may find the airflow disturbing. In this case, you can move the unit further away or adjust the direction of the flow. Our air coolers have adjustable flaps, which allow you to control the direction of the air flow. You can also adjust the speed with the control panel and lower the unit’s air flow.

Another solution is to place the cooler at a higher location to avoid directing the air towards people (the cool air always moves downwards, so this solution also guarantees proper cooling).

Why bother spending money on comfort – it’s cheaper to do without, right ?

Installation, operating and overall ownership costs are actually quite low, so evaporative cooling is sound financially. Additionally, employees working in hot environments are exposed to heat stress, which can affect both their safety and productivity. Working in a comfortable environment will improve their concentration and ability to work efficiently.

How do I clean my air cooler and store it at the end of the hot season ?

If your work environment is dusty or dirty, you should increase the number of times you clean and drain your cooler. We recommend emptying the water tank once a month when in use and cleaning it with clean water.

Prepping the air coolers for winter at the end of the season

The panels do not need to be changed if they are stored dry at the end of the season.

We recommend doing the following at the end of each season before storing the evaporative coolers for winter :

• Drain the units
• Rinse them with clean water.
• Run the appliances with clean water and add white vinegar if needed.
• Drain them completely
• Run them for at least 6 hours without water to dry the panels and the unit

Do you have another question ?

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions. One of our representatives will answer your questions and help you with your air conditioning project.