Whilst it is lovely to be living in a country with such beautiful weather for most of the year, the summer heat can sometimes be more than a little difficult to bear. Global warming is affecting the weather world-wide, bringing with it colder winters and hotter summers. This has been particularly evident in the Western Cape for the past couple of years, with severe droughts in 2020 and an incredibly hot summer this year with temperatures in the mid to upper 30°Cs – and higher – in the Cape Province. Winters here have also become more frigid, and it is obvious that the weather patterns are definitely becoming more extreme each year. air
What are the options for cooling my space down?
Opening all windows and patio doors is not the best way to cool your home down, particularly if there is little to no wind to flow through the house, and with outside temperatures being so high, sometimes people batten their homes down and close the windows to stop the heated outside air from getting into the house. There are, of course, always the traditional electric fans which are meant to cool the interior down somewhat, but often manage little more than moving hot air around at a higher speed. Still, in the absence of anything better, they do provide some relief! The more sophisticated indoor standing fans have a misting element built in which sends out a fine mist of water vapour from an inbuilt reservoir which is then dispersed by the spinning blades. These fans have a slightly higher cooling effect, as well as providing much-needed moisture in the air, which is useful for those people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Finally, there are portable air conditioners which are extremely useful as they can be moved from room to room as required, which is a great convenience factor when you are renting a small apartment with no room for multiple large free-standing appliances. Permanent installation is not required, but they do need to be vented via a window or wall through an exhaust hose which vents hot air out of the room. They work by pulling in hot air from outside, cooling this air with water and pushing the cooled air into the room.
Which is best – air coolers or permanent air conditioners?
Air coolers have a distinct advantage over permanent mounted air conditioners in that portable air conditioners are constantly exchanging the air between inside and outside, pulling in fresh air and cooling it down, and therefore offering you a better quality of air overall. Air conditioners, on the other hand, circulate the internal air of the room repeatedly, which can result in very dry air, which is not a great option for people who suffer with asthma and dust allergies. In addition, permanent air conditioners cool through chemical refrigerants such as CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) and HFC (hydro-chlorofluorocarbons), which are harmful to the environment. Air coolers are more eco-friendly, since they use water as the coolant medium. With this being said, built-in permanent air conditioning units have the advantage of being able to cool more effectively, as well as heating the air during the colder months. Air conditioning mechanisms and fan units are usually mounted on external walls, with the more aesthetically pleasing control and output units mounted internally. They are not bulky, are above head level, do not take up valuable floor space and do not need their water tanks to be constantly monitored and refilled. They are simple to operate and offer the option of simply circulating the air within the room without heating or cooling it, operating as a very sophisticated fan only, if required. They are not a viable option for those who are only renting their homes, unless there is a guaranteed long lease, you have the approval of the landlord or the owner is willing to contribute to the cost of purchase and installation, as any such installation becomes a permanent fixture of the home and cannot be removed when your lease ends. If you are not willing to purchase the unit, knowing that you will not actually own it and cannot take it with you when you eventually move, a permanent air conditioner is an additional cost which is best left alone. Renting, in itself, is an expensive business, and additional financial outlays of this kind are rarely undertaken, particularly as many rental periods are relatively short.
Your options are varied so think carefully before you buy
There are various options available to you when it comes to cooling your home, and it is a case of “horses for courses” – i.e., choosing the best option for your circumstances and needs. There are plenty of articles available online covering all the options mentioned above, so it is an easy task to educate yourself on what will best suit your needs. If possible, think long-term and buy a sturdier and more expensive appliance which will last for a few years, rather than opting for something cheaper but which not meet your needs or break within a relatively short time. If necessary, put up with a few months of inconvenience and save for the more reliable option which will serve you well for a longer period.
