Swamp coolers and smoke

[charlese]

In masonsailor2's "a new adventure post" we took it to discussion of swamp coolers and desert air.

Here in the Antelope Valley (Western part of the Mojave desert) we have had pretty heavy smoke from the Sand Fire for the last three days.

Not quite so hot because the Sun is shielded by the smoke. Predicted temps are in the 100s, but because of the smoke it is in the mid 90s. The normally hot, bright Sun looks like a red ball in a brown sky.

Now to the purpose of this post. - - County health officials have recommended people turn off their evaporative coolers. We know them as swamp coolers. When operated, they blow cooled, outside air into the house.

Holy Cow!! I really feel sorry for the people having only swamp coolers and no A/C, especially babies and elderly. They have the choice of sweltering or struggling with breathing issues. This air is a lot worse than sawdust. It is smaller particles that can do much to slow down oxidation of blood.

BTW, I wear a surgical mask when I take the dog out.

[Gene Howe]

Wow Charles, that must be miserable for you. Especially bad for those poor souls that had to move to the desert for heath reasons.
Hopefully, they get this fire under control quickly.

[charlese]

Thanks, but I'm not feeling miserable - staying inside the air conditioned house. But no woodworking isn't a good thing.

You are right on thinking about those who moved here because of lung problems.

A while back, (my guess is 60 years or more) many people were encouraged to move here because of lung problems. There is still an old wood structure in the valley - an old hospital - that used to house tuberculosis patients referred here by their doctors. Now obsolete. When A/C was developed, those referals pretty well ended.