bill@hpfcms.UUCP (bill) (06/19/85)
Having lived in Tempe AZ for 5 years, I know them pretty well. They are often used [in place of]/[in combination with] typical air conditioners. A "swamp cooler" is an evaporative cooler. It works by having a water pump pump water through pads on all sides of the cooler, which then sucks air through the wet pads and blows it into your house. Houses cooled by swamp coolers become humid inside, so there could be discomfort if the temperature is high and your house is humid. In Tempe, I found swamp coolers to be quite uncomfortable when summer temps reached 117 outside. However, in Colorado (where you and I are now) they would probably do well, since the temps are lower. Swamp coolers rely on circulating air, so you should always run them with at least one window in the house open. They are large, boxy things - about 3.5 feet on a side. They tend to be quiet, and of course, are cheaper to run and maintain than regular air conditioners. Bill Gates