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It’s the middle of summer, and this year it’s been a hot one. If someone dumped a bag of popcorn kernels on the sidewalk, we doubt anyone would be surprised to see them start popping! During these hot months, many of us wish we had air conditioning.

Unfortunately, AC can be expensive and requires particular styles of window that your home may not have. Renters are often prohibited from installing window or portable AC units, and homeowners may not be able to install central air conditioning in their home without expensive, major renovations.

Luckily, evaporative coolers provide a great alternative!

What is an Evaporative Cooler?

Evaporative coolers use water evaporation to provide cooling which is less expensive than traditional air conditioners and easier on the environment since they don’t consume as much energy or create ozone pollution like standard refrigeration systems do.

Furthermore, the use of water creates a safer alternative to air conditioning because no freon escapes into the room. In order to get maximum cooling power from an evaporative cooler, you need one with enough water flow capacity for your needs – typically in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

How Do Evaporative Coolers Work?

Portable evaporative cooling systems work by using a fan to blow air through water-soaked pads located in an outer frame. The process of flowing water through these pads increases the humidity in the room and lowers the temperature.

Our Pick: Best Evaporative Air Cooler

Hessaire’s MC37M Portable Evaporative Cooler is the perfect solution for cooling up to 950 square feet of space. This powerful 37 x 17 x 24 inch portable evaporative cooler uses a high-efficiency, 3-speed fan and oscillating louvers to cool 100 cubic feet per minute while distributing airflow evenly throughout your space.

The unit also comes with an attached water tank that automatically refills as needed using the Continuous Fill option, which hooks up to your garden hose and eliminates the need to manually watch and refill the water tank. A rigid 3-sided high density cooling pad system ensures larger evaporative surface area, generating cooler air.