Long time residents of Southern Utah know the impact and change that has occurred in this area due to the coming of air conditioning. One device known to many is the "Swamp Cooler." The Swamp Cooler? Yes, the Swamp Cooler.
There is a feature in the property profiles of the Multiple Listing Service, MLS, identifying the type of equipment providing cooling or air conditioning of a property. The listing data sheet may have a provision for Swamp Cooler. It is interesting to hear the concerned query of folks from outside the area when they learn about the air conditioning services for a property and find that there a swamp cooler installed. The behavior may be very understandable.
A few days ago, my wife and I had occasion to visit family in Virginia. Then we drove to North Carolina to see friends. Along the route, we saw signs with names of "swamps." In front of our hotel there was a swamp. We have seen swamps at various places throughout the south. I am no expert on swamps, but they don't look very inviting or healthy to me, although there is obviously a wide range of plant and animal life in them. So as I recall my impressions of swamps, it is easy to relate to the feelings of those people who know about swamps but are not familiar with swamp coolers to provide the needed air conditioning in this area this time of year.
Swamp Coolers are evaporative coolers. They are used in low-humidity areas. They evaporate water into the air to cool space. The unit cools outdoor air by passing it over water-saturated pads before transfering the air to the indoor environment. Windows or vents remain open to allow warm indoor air to be displaced by cooled air. To repeat, they are most effective in areas of low humidity. Therefore, swamp coolers still have a general use in many homes and buildings in the southwest desert areas. Persons with experience and use of these systems know they are less effective during the mid to late summer time where there is usually more humidity in the air in this region during these periods.
The swamp cooler is quite economical due to the simple method of its operation. It is not a refrigerated air system. The swamp cooler, or evaporative cooler, continually uses water and may detract from the water efficiency goals of a "green" home or building. Swamp Coolers are used in applications typically where efficiency of operation and cost of energy are primary considerations.
St. George REALTOR® Jim Coleman is Associate Broker and Partner/Owner of ERA Brokers Consolidated. He Specializes in Residential, Investment and Commercial Real Estate, holding National Designations of Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Resort and Second Home Property Specialist (RSPS) and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). He was recently awarded NAR's new Green designation. You can contact him by e-mail at Jim@RealtorJimC.com. Call: ( 435 ) 674-0600; or write: Jim Coleman, 201 East St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah 84770. This and other columns are available at www.RealtorJimC.com/articles.