Heat Pump vs. Air Conditioner: Which Is Better?

When it’s hot and steamy outside, you probably want to find a way to stay comfortably cool indoors. There are multiple options when it comes to cooling your home; heat pumps and air conditioners are two of the most common, but which is better depends on your needs. Here’s an overview of the differences between a heat pump and AC. How Air Conditioning Works An air conditioner is a component of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Air conditioners pull in air from inside of your home and blow it across coils that are filled with refrigerant. That refrigerant absorbs heat from the air the system takes in, then flows outside to disperse the heat away from your home. Meanwhile, the air that has been cooled is circulated back into your home, bringing the temperature down to keep you comfortable. This process repeats as many times as necessary to get your home to the temperature you set on your thermostat, though your system will take breaks between cycles as part of its normal operation. How Heat Pumps Work Heat pumps do the same thing as air conditioners: extract heat from the air they circulate, then push that heat...

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What Are Swamp Coolers?

A swamp cooler, also known as an evaporative cooler, cools the air via water evaporation. This method of air cooling is often more efficient than using traditional air conditioning systems. Also, in areas with dry climates, the swamp cooler adds moisture to the air, which makes the room more comfortable. Dry climates are the ideal region to use swamp coolers. In humid, muggy areas of the United States swamp coolers do not cool as efficiently. Swamp coolers work best in areas where the relative humidity is less than 60%. There are some exceptions to this. If the area that needs to be cooled is at least partially outdoors, a swamp cooler may be a good solution. This is because the outdoor area allows moisture to evaporate. Benefits of Swamp Coolers Swamp coolers are a less complicated cooling system than traditional air conditioners. They do not use refrigerants or compressors. They only need a fan, pump and, of course, water. They are also very affordable to operate. Using a swamp cooler to cool your home in the summer will not drive up your utility bill as often happens with air conditioning. On average, it is about 50% less expensive to operate...

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