The past few years have seen a HUGE increase in electricity bills and cost of living, alongside a steady but very noticeable rise in summer scorchers!
It’s no wonder people are quickly abandoning their slow, energy-guzzling air conditioners in favor of newer, cheaper ‘portable air coolers’. And who can blame them?
They’re affordable, super effective, and very low maintenance!
But with the cheaper price tag comes the question: how much electricity does a portable air cooler use?
Is it really a cheaper alternative to air conditioning? Or are you better off resorting to that rackety pedestal fan to get you through another unbearably hot summer?
How Do Portable Air Coolers Work?
You might be familiar with evaporative coolers or ‘swamp coolers’.
Well, portable room coolers work in a similar way. The main difference is that instead of using evaporators, they rely solely on strong fans to push air through a water-chilled filter. This effectively turns ordinary air into an ice-cold breeze that’s clean and refreshing.
It seems simple but it’s actually a super effective cooling method that uses a lot less energy than traditional AC units and works faster than your everyday evaporative cooler.
How Much Electricity Does A Portable Air Cooler Use?
The easiest way to find out how power-hungry (or not so hungry) a room cooler is, is to look at the wattage.
Most small room coolers operate within the range of 10-20 watts of power. This is more energy efficient than your average pedestal fan which uses 45-100w, and a lot less thirsty than most air conditioning units which can use up to 4000w of power!
Keep in mind though, that we’re only scratching the surface of what’s out there. Some portable air coolers like ChillWell 2.0 run on no more than 8-10w of power to cool down and humidify whatever small space it’s in.
IMPORTANT: there are a huge range of factors that impact how much power ANY cooling device uses, including what setting you use, where you’re using it, and how long you leave it operating.
Arctic Air Pure Chill uses energy-efficient evaporative cooling tech to quickly cool down and humidify any room! It’s fully rechargeable and runs on no more than 8-10w of power.
Are Air Coolers Cheaper To Run Than Air Conditioners?
The short answer is YES!
All types of AC units (window units, central air, and even those clunky portable ones with huge hoses) rely on several electrical components to run. All these individual power-hungry parts come together to form one large cooling beast that devours your energy supply!
Small room coolers, on the other hand, are nowhere near as demanding as AC units when it comes to your power supply. Their simple combo of high-speed fans and water-cooled air just sips electricity, which means it’s far cheaper to run.
According to some experts, evaporative cooling gadgets like ChillWell 2.0 can even be up to
7 times cheaper to run than traditional air conditioners!
Who knows? You might actually be able to forgive the kids when they leave a light on overnight! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
REMEMBER: Installation and maintenance costs are also important when lining up your cooling options. Air conditioners are pricey to set up and usually need a professional to service them. Portable air coolers are ready to go straight from the box, but may need you to clean the filter more regularly - especially if you’re running it all day.
Are Air Coolers Worth Buying?
While air coolers may not be as powerful as air conditioners, they definitely come with a long list of unique features that AC units simply don’t have. They’re portable, low maintenance, and above all else, they don’t cost an arm and a leg!
As we discussed, it’s also a super cheap way to get a cool breeze delivered straight to your personal space in the hot summer - all without the big, mighty roar of a window or portable air conditioner unit.
Wrapping Up:
If you’re still stuck on the air cooler vs aircon debate, just look at your needs and budget.
Smaller devices like swamp coolers and room coolers are great for quickly cooling down small spaces. They’re budget-friendly and portable, making them ideal for offices, bedrooms, and small family rooms.
On the other hand, portable air conditioners and window AC units are better at cooling down larger spaces, but are quite expensive and require more regular maintenance.
If you’re on a tight budget and only looking to stay cool some of the day, you’re better off with something like ChillWell 2.0 Portable Air Chiller!
ChillWell 2.0 Cooler and Humidifier
The ChillWell 2.0 is a smart, easy home portable air cooler that quickly cools down any small space! It’s fully rechargeable, allowing you to enjoy wireless cooling, anywhere - from the bedroom to the office.
It’s just like a portable air conditioner, except it’s able to cool down AND humidify the air at the same time! It also has a replaceable filter cartridge that filters dust and other micro-particles from the air, ensuring a cleaner, fresher breathing space.
