The Sun has started unleashing its terror upon us and those of us who don’t already own an AC are undoubtedly busy scouting the market for good cooling options. But then the question arises: AC or air cooler? Here is a comparison of the two to help you decide which one will suit you better.

Working principle

An air conditioner removes heat from within a room and exchanges it with the air outside. This is done through coils through which a gas flows. This gas has the property to absorb heat.

An air cooler works by impelling air into the room by means of a blower or fan, through a thin film of water.

Effectiveness

An air conditioner is effective in all types of weather conditions and is usually also fitted with a heating mechanism which can heat the room during the colder months. During the summer, the drop in temperature depends on the outside or ambient temperature; a normal AC is built for a difference of 22 to 23 degree between outdoor and indoor temperatures.

An air cooler is effective only in areas where the humidity is very low; this is why it is also often referred to as a ‘desert cooler’. The drop in temperature is inversely proportional to the humidity- so, the higher the humidity, the lesser the drop in temperature and lower the effectiveness.

Air tightness

An AC needs the room to be as air tight as possible for the cooling to be most efficient; lesser the leaks the better.

An air cooler must have an opening in some part of the room; otherwise, the humidity inside will increase drastically. 

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Health hazards

A split AC usually does not have a provision for fresh air intake, apart from the opening of doors for entry and exit. So, after a while, the air tends to become stale. The remedy is to have a separate mechanism to bring in a small quantity of outside air.

An air cooler poses the hazard of increasing the humidity to such an extent that it may cause respiratory problems and congestion if a proper outlet for the air is not provided. So, if you live in an area where the humidity is high, an air cooler will not only be ineffective but also a health hazard. However, in areas of low humidity, it could be extremely effective in bringing down temperatures.