Outdoor Cooling Systems
Cooling Mist Systems
The most popular and affordable outdoor cooling systems use a cooling mist to reduce air temperatures by as much as 25 to 40 degrees Farenheit. If you've ever spent a hot summer evening at an outdoor bar or restaurant, you've probably enjoyed the benefits of one of these mist-based outdoor cooling systems.
Mist cooling systems work by introducing a fine mist into the air through a series of nozzles attached to a hose or tubing. The mist evaporates, reducing the air temperature. The more quickly the mist evaporates, the cooler the temperature becomes. The rate of evaporation depends on the size of the mist particles (a finer mist is preferred) and the relative humidity of the air — mist will evaporate more rapidly in lower relative humidity.
How fine a mist is acheived depends on a variety of factors, including nozzle design and spacing, tube or hose capacity, and available water pressure. Normal house pressures range between 35 psi and 90 psi. Greater pressures can be achieved with an electronic water pump.
The following chart may help you decide whether a cooling mist system is the right outdoor cooling system for you. It shows the temperatures that are theoretically possible using a mist cooling system.
|
Outside Relative Humidity |
Ambient Air Temperature (F°) | ||||||
| 75 | 80 | 85 | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | |
|
|
|||||||
| 10% | 50 | 53 | 55 | 58 | 61 | 63 | 66 |
| 20% | 53 | 57 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 69 | 73 |
| 30% | 57 | 60 | 64 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 78 |
| 40% | 60 | 64 | 68 | 71 | 75 | 79 | 82 |
| 50% | 63 | 67 | 71 | 75 | 79 | 83 | |
| 60% | 66 | 70 | 74 | 79 | 83 | ||
| 70% | 68 | 73 | 77 | 82 | |||
| 80% | 71 | 75 | 80 | ||||
| 90% | 73 | 78 | |||||
| Chart adapted from the Fog Cooling Chart at MicroCool | |||||||
In addition to reducing the temperature, mist cooling systems can decrease dust, provide a measure of insect control, and help eliminate outdoor odors.
You can hire a contractor to install a custom mist cooling system. If you're handy, you can buy the tubing, nozzles and connectors and build your own. You can save time and money by purchasing a ready-made outdoor mist cooling kit for your own porch, patio, or deck. These outdoor cooling system kits attach to your outdoor spigot, and require no additional plumbing or electricity. The Misty Mate Outdoor Cooling System is one example of a ready-made kit that can help you enjoy your outdoor living space all summer long.
Have a look at this comparison of mist cooling system kits for a side-by-side comparision of some of the popular cooling mist systems available online.