Cool-N-Save to lower airconditioning cost - Page 3

I would not bother wasting any money on this product.  It's cheap and doesn't really work.  I installed per their instruction and works fine for a the first few minutes then it'll start leaking.  After a couple of days the spray mist will break down and the flaps attached to the center of the ac unit will come unglued since ac unit will get pretty hot....so my recommendation would be no!  spend that +$100.00 on something else.

 

Thanks for the welcome Russ, and I'll do that.

Great site, I stumbled upon here.

Hey kantoquad, what size mister nozzles would you recommend, before I get on with my experiment?

I didn't see how I could send an instant message hee, so I'll ask the question here for everyone's benefit. Hope thats ok.

Sorry for the lat response, school was out for the kids. The finer the mist the better, I do recommend some kind of scale inhibitor. You can find one where they sale swamp coolers, not sure how you would rig it though. I have been having to spray mine occasionally with vinegar and I have very soft water. It has been hot and on alot lately, but it does seem effective.

Hi Kantoquad - We have missed seeing you!

Glad to hear the thing is working for you!  

Dred55 - just go to your local nursery supply and see what they can best offer for a start.

You do not want a true dry fog which requires a higher pressure anyway. You want the moisture on the coils.

Looks like I won't turn on the A/C this year - temps into the low 90's but as we sit on a hill overlooking the bay and normally have a breeze it has been OK - sometimes warm but OK.   

Well, Our summer cooling season is just about over. I have used the Cool and Save all summer. I did seem to make the unit run less, our electric bills are good, but there are many other things we are doing as well.

But I have to reverse my initial opinion. Our filter sprung a leak after about a month, and the valve leaks more often than not. It is a big water waster. I followed all directions and it stops for a day or so, and then starts leaking again. The concept is there, the design is not.

@ whirnot - like you say the concept seems correct but shoddy materials are used - Brian has made the point about cheap materials in his posts as well. 

The problem with monitoring energy use is many things have an affect - as you point out. It is often to see exactly what is happening. That is a problem with the whole house energy monitors - you know what is happening but you have no idea of what without a lot of research.

Sounds like a good idea.  Is there any reason it has to be dry.  AC units run in the rain just fine.  Maybe something as simple as spraying water on the unit can raise its efficiency.  I'd have to calculate the energy savings vs water usage though.  

edited to remove commercial link

If you read through you will see why running a hose has problems. The first, is that it uses a huge amt of water. The second, is that any calcium in the water can build up on the condensor.  The cool-n-save only uses 1.4 GPH and has a filter designed to decrease calcium buildup. It is not perfect, but the cool-n-save beats a hose.

Hi Brian, Your experience has convinced me that the cool-n-save concept is useful abd does not waste water. If you remember I was a bit sceptical at first!

greengiant123 - it is not a dry fog but a fine water (and wet) mist.

If I remember right, Brian has good soft water (or at least not much hardness). Has anyone using this type of equipment with hard water any comments to add?   

That's right I have soft water. Good old snow melt. I have noticed  a little bit of calcium buildup, esp on the ground, cannot see it on the condenser.

For anyone actually using the cool n save, have you put a thermometer in a duct to see if the temperature of the air is colder when the water is running?  It would seem like a simple test.  Turn off the water, let the unit run for a specific period of time.  Say 10 minutes, measure the outlet temperature of the air using a digital thermometer.  Leave the unit off for 10 minutes.  Repeat with the water on for the same 10 minutes.  If the temperature is colder with the water on, then the unit is cooling better and should run less.  I am more interested in additional cooling, then in saving money.  On 95 degree plus days, my unit runs constantly and will only produce about an 18 degree temp drop in the house.  On a 100 degree day, it is 82 degrees inside with the unit running constantly. Lately, we have been having many 95+ days.  Any info is appreciated.

have not done that, but when we were 110, we had no problem keeping it 72 in the house.

Hey Russ and kantoquad -

 

New here, but had a couple of questions...

 

I am fighting a battle with the heat and my AC unit is loosing. It is a 11 yr old, 10 SER unit that needs all the help it can get. Out in the DIRECT sun, attic scorching hot, and not quite enough insulation... you get the idea..

 

It like the conversation going about the Cool-n-Save. I like the "concept" of the unit, but I am looking for a better solution with a similar concept, at a similar price $90 'ish. The 'no tools required' for the Cool-N-Save is nice, but I am not scared of a screwdriver!

 

When you are referencing a solenoid valve, did you have any in mind that could function on the relay INSIDE the AC unit. *Don't Worry* I have an electrician friend that will make sure I am getting and connecting correctly. I found some and did not know if this was something like what you are referring:

 

http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-5859-electronic-shut-off-solenoid-valve-with-qc-fittings.aspx?affiliateid=10053

 

Also, I had considered running the system on a bit higher pressure than the PSI from the faucet. This is NOT in the budget right now, but rather on the table for discussion. I considered this unit:

 

http://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-1040-6800-booster-pump-24-vac-14-push-in-ftg.aspx

 

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated...

 

Oh, I also started a blog so some friends of mine could keep up with some of our more unusual projects. My AC woes are being documented... http://fortinoprojects.blogspot.com/

 

John

So am I, .... I'm definitely no expert on heating and cooling systems...but I've read that, in winter for example, if your thermostat is set to 68 degrees F with a relative humidity of 35%, it will feel as warm as a room set at 72 degrees with relative humidity of 19%.

Edited by centralcostac - 7/18/10 at 11:58pm

John14o

Here is another designed for it.

http://ezmister.com/index.php?product_id=78&page=shop.product_details&category_id=6&flypage=flypage.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53&vmcchk=1&Itemid=53

 

As for Russ, I am getting concerned, he usually posts several times a week and he has been silent since mid- march.

I was going to make my own system very similar to this. The concept of misting water around the AC unit is sound. It will be misting and creating cooler temps around the unit itself making it work more efficiently. I'm buying the Cool-N-Save because I like the idea of the switch that operates off the air from the fan so I don't have to wire anything into the system..

 

If you are worried about deposits building up from hard water put a 1 micron filter ahead of the system. That should take care of anything in the water that could build up on the coils. I'll be adding a 1 micro whole house filter ahead of the system plus using the filter that comes with the package deal.

 

This thing should work great here in west Texas. We've already had two weeks of 100+ temps and it's only June. I figure this unit will pay for itself and the extra filter I'm putting in front of it over the course of this summer.