How to Get the Most Chill Out of Your Evaporative Air Cooler

Air coolers create a comfortable, cool breeze through the natural process of water evaporation--and they work in and out of your home. You can keep cool at your desk, stay comfy in your living room, or lounge outside on your patio.

Air coolers are a little different from traditional air conditioners. They work best in drier climates and require cross-ventilation to circulate fresh air.

We've compiled these handy tips to help you get the most out of your cooler.

Pair with Dry Air

Managing your home’s humidity level is a key component to comfort. It helps your home feel cool in the summer and warm in the winter. During summer heat, humidity makes the air feel warmer and muggier. Check out our humidity guide for more on how to get the perfect balance in your home.

Indoor air coolers work best in climates with a maximum relative humidity of 50% or less. Warm, dry air means more evaporation, which brings the greatest decrease in temperature.

Air coolers also boost the humidity in a space, so indoor coolers are perfect for maintaining a cool breeze and increasing comfort in dry weather.

Outside, humidity has less of an impact on air cooler effectiveness. An outdoor air cooler will work best in drier air, but even in moistened air, it’s a welcome cooling solution that provides better cooling than a fan without evaporative cooling technology.

Summer BBQs and backyard hangouts are much more comfortable with an evaporative cooler reducing the warm air by a few degrees compared to a fan or natural wind that just blows warm air around.

Open a Window to Cross-Ventilate

For optimal performance, evaporative air coolers require airflow from open windows or doors. The cooler pulls in outside air and pushes the stale indoor air out. This keeps the indoor air fresh and cool while reducing the humidity collecting in the room. This fresh air is why the CDC and the EPA both recommended evaporative coolers as a safe way to stay cool during the coronavirus pandemic.

As shown below, the best place to put an air cooler is near an open window. The cooler can then efficiently draw in fresh air and circulate it in the room before exiting via another window.

You might need to experiment to find the ideal cooler positioning and the right combination of open windows/doors to keep the air flowing at its best.

Use Ice for a Cool Blast

Add ice to your water tank for a nice boost. Some models like the Honeywell Indoor Portable Air Cooler CL30XCWW come with a top-loading ice compartment for easy refills.

Place Yourself in the Airflow's Path

To feel the maximum cooling effect, strategically place your air cooler so that the cool air blows directly toward you. Unlike an AC where the cool air hangs in an enclosed room, an air cooler circulates the air in and out of the room. To get the most airflow, you need to be in front of the stream. 

Honeywell Air Coolers are portable and can quickly move around your home as needed. They’re a snap to set up in the best spots for direct airflow to your body.

Get the Right Cooler for Your Space

Air coolers cover up to a certain sized area, so you should stay within the right range to get the best results. Before shopping, get the square footage of your space so you know which coolers to look at. Note that portable air coolers cool one room at a time.

Also, know that the manufacturer’s recommended coverage area assumes optimal environmental factors, from humidity, to cross-ventilation, to your position within the airflow. The cooling effect can also drop if more people enter the room.

Lastly, the right cooler should be able to provide a moist breeze that can reach you whether you're sitting or standing. If you need higher reach, Indoor Honeywell Tower Portable Coolers like the TC50PEU aim the air high so the airflow will reach over furniture.

Perform Basic Maintenance for Long-lasting Cool

Our range of air cooler models comes with convenient features to make maintenance easy, including low-water alarms that alert when to refill, easy-to-clean detachable tanks, and continuous water supply options for long unattended cooling.

The honeycomb cooling pads in the air cooler should be cleaned at least once a month with lukewarm water and a mild detergent to avoid dust, dirt, and mildew buildup. For full maintenance details, see your unit’s manual or check out this article for more cleaning tips and tricks.