A new adventure begins !

[Gene Howe]

Evaporative cooling consumes far less electricty than an AC unit. And, the water drained off can keep the flowers happy.
Have you considered a wall mounted, ductless heat pump? It's DIY job to install, about the same cost as an evaporative cooler and, it could be moved from the garage shop to the permanent shop, later.
A major benefit for the garage is being able to shut it off when not using the shop in the garage. Plus, no need to duct AC from the house, which might cause some problems with the air flow balance, anyway.

[rjent]

Thank you all for the input. The link was very useful Chuck. The property has a three car garage that I will be using until I get a shop built. I will be limited to the two car side only. My wife has made it clear that her "baby" will not be parked in the sun. Our daily drivers will have to be parked under a covered driveway until the shop is built. I should be able to tap into the HVAC from the house and insulate the doors which will help. I won't be able to have down time for the shop due to heat or cold as that would extend the time frame of the project by a year or so. Using an evaporative cooling system for the new shop may be an option. It doesn't sound like introducing moisture into the shop will be an issue as it is so very dry there. Are evaporative coolers that much more energy efficient ? I have absolutely no experience with them.
Paul

Evap coolers run use 10 to 20 percent of HVAC cost wise. Cost of operation is one of the main factors in choosing Evaporative over HVAC. Also, and I keep emphasizing this, You HAVE to move a lot of air (for a three car garage I would move at least 3000 to 5000 CFM) and you HAVE to let the air escape out of the building. Again, you are EXCHANGING air, not cooling it. One advantage, is that it also moves most or all of the airborne wood dust out with it, so if you are making dust while the AC is running it is mostly cleaning (clearing) the air at the same time. It won't add appreciable moisture to your shop or wood. If you are coming from the coast ... well let us say you are in for a change ....

JMHO

[everettdavis]

Check out this thread "Do you use evaporative coolers to cool your shop?" https://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/view ... 92#p216292

It is really on point for your question.

I have lived in homes with both evaporative and refrigerated air. Each have their benefits. I had not used one in a shop before.

From those who have commented (some who have commented in your thread) I learned that it was ideal for my shop, even a portable one for my covered patio.

My portable unit has the ability to have a water source directly attached so it would function more like the permanently fixed and ducted ones.

If you have been to theme parks about the country you likely have stood in lines with overhead ductwork that helps cool the patrons standing outside in line. Six Flags comes to mind. Those are evaporative coolers and if you have stood under one in the middle of summer, you understand already.

The key take away items for me are:

1) Cross flow air is essential in that outside air comes in with added moisture and cooling occurs due to the evaporation of the added moisture provided as it flows through continuously wetted filtration pads, then leaves through a small opening in window or cracked door.

2) Not as efficient on the most humid days as evaporation into moist air is less opposed to drier air

3) Do not seal up the room, otherwise humidity in the room will rise beyond the levels needed, making it muggy. Let the air coming in, get out. Opening a window near your work area will pull the air by you on the way out keeping you very comfortable, even cold.

4) Keep the water pump flowing and watch for mineral buildup if you have lots of minerals in your water. There are additives you can pour into the reservoir to help mitigate that.

See the map on the post above and you will find that Arizona is ideal for evaporative cooling.

Everett

[ChrisNeilan]

Curious, how much water does one of these systems use? Enough to be a problem is areas with extreme drought?

[Gene Howe]

Chris, somewhere between ten and seventeen gal. Per hour. For an eight hour day, about one third of what a typical four person household uses in the same time.
The difference is that much of that seventeen gallon can be re used. As opposed to the water used in the typical household.

[jsburger]

Chris, somewhere between ten and seventeen gal. Per hour. For an eight hour day, about one third of what a typical four person household uses in the same time.
The difference is that much of that seventeen gallon can be re used. As opposed to the water used in the typical household.

Gene,

I have cooled with a house swamp cooler for 22 years. Please explain what water is able to be re-used?

[everettdavis]

I think he was giving the area of the reservoir to fill from empty.

Reuse I feel certain is the fact that it circulates through the filtration pads then drains back into the reservoir to be re-circulated to the pads to keep them wet.

Normally a ¼" plastic hose from a water source (outdoor faucet) fills the reservoir with water until a float inside the reservoir shuts it off when full.

As some of that water is mixed as moisture in the air being circulated, the level will drop low enough to allow the float to allow more water in.

I think about 5-8 gallons a day is what we used. The sized of the space and the CFM of air being circulated will drive that consumption.

In our area there are even some humidistats that will turn off the pump if it gets too humid in the space, and some controls that will turn off the circulation if the temperature reaches a pre-set temp.

All those are add-on accessories, and during the heat of the day, it will pretty much run all the time even if you have them when temperature is soaring.

Insulation in the walls, ceilings etc. all come into play to make it more efficient if you have those.

Everett

[ERLover]

Chris, somewhere between ten and seventeen gal. Per hour. For an eight hour day, about one third of what a typical four person household uses in the same time.
The difference is that much of that seventeen gallon can be re used. As opposed to the water used in the typical household.

Gene,

I have cooled with a house swamp cooler for 22 years. Please explain what water is able to be re-used?

JB you have a garden??

[Gene Howe]

Many folks capture the evap discharge water, as well as rain water, and grey water, to water plants. Some cities even provide the storage tanks and assist with set up of the system.
Here is some info. https://www.tucsonaz.gov/water/rwh-rebate
My son took advantage of Tucson's offer and waters all his trees and plants with reclaimed discharge water, grey water and collected rain water. He even washes his cars with it.
The point being that, with a well designed system, no water from an evap cooler is lost/wasted.

[masonsailor2]

I helped a friend in Phoenix install a grey water recovery system in his house and it works very effectively. We designed the system from scratch and it works very well. It was simplified by the fact it was new construction which eliminated most of the plumbing woes. The amount of water it recovers in a 2700 st ft house is pretty amazing. They have a large garden and landscaping is pretty extensive and all the water is supplied by the recovery system and a rain cistern. Our new house in Vegas has no water issues. One of the reasons we bought the property is that it has its own well and so water is not regulated by the city. It will be fairly reasonable cost wise. It has a 5000 gal holding tank so the well pump can operate only at non peak hours. The pump test for the well was excellent with very little draw down. I think it was the main reason we bought this particular property. Before we moved onto our boat we lived on rural property for 30 years and prefer a well over city supplied water.
Paul