Although summer is considered a pleasant season, patio cooling with water mist might be necessary for many people on hot days. Such a cooling system offers more comfort outdoors in a subtle way, taking into account a few factors. During heat waves, this can be used to create a pleasant atmosphere in different seating areas, but does the environment also play a role? Below you can learn more about the possible options to make the best decision for your needs.
What should you consider before choosing patio cooling with water mist?
Wouldn't it be great to have a balcony or acovered terraceto be able to keep cool at high temperatures? Many people today are trying to reduce their energy and water consumption by looking for such efficient options. The variant with a spray system for outdoor use is becoming increasingly popular. You've probably come across this kind of misting system in restaurants or parks. In public places, this usually takes the form of large towers that spray mist over the passing crowds. In bars with seating areas or open lounges, patio cooling uses water mist diffusers that can be easily hidden between plants or behind structural elements.
Additionally, this is the preferred option for outdoor spraying by home or garden owners. You can do this on your terrace or in oneInstall greenhouse. Some systems even work with ultrasonic misting and a water tank. They can also be connected to a garden hose to create mist. As for the installation, it is not complicated, but it does require good planning. This allows you to ensure that you maximize the efficiency of your system and get the most benefit from the cooling effect. But how exactly does evaporative cooling work? Here is some useful information that might give you a better idea.
How to use water mist patio cooling outdoors?
In general, such systems involve a circuit with tubes and nozzles that mist the water flowing through it. The water droplets are released in the right proportions and in a shower to refresh and even purify the air. Since a terrace does not require particularly high performance, models with low pressure are also suitable for private home gardens. All you have to do is connect this to a tap and use it to keep the desired area cooler. If you have your mist cooler installed correctly, it can maintain temperatures at a comfortable level depending on the efficiency of the mist system, the relative humidity, and the outside temperature.
The operation is also very easy once you have planned your terrace cooling with water mist well. In most cases, such a fog system can be operated directly via the hose nozzle on the side of the house. This makes it suitable for gardeners or homeowners who use evaporative cooling for a maximum of three to four months a year, as they do not have to invest in an expensive pump. You can also winterize the system as you would a drip irrigation or other irrigation system.
Typically, the actual water pipes are also made of PVC, and if you maintain your system regularly, it can last a long time. Depending on the position and planting, such a spray system could also function as an irrigation system and help to keep lawns orGarden plants lush and greento keep. You can also install the system on a parasol over dining areas in the garden.
What are the advantages of evaporative cooling?
Such spray mist systems are already used in medicine for the inhalation of medicines. You can even use them to water plants in the garden that don't need a lot of water. Additionally, evaporative cooling offers remarkable energy and water efficiency. You may be wondering how this is possible and whether it isn't a waste of water. In contrast, it takes about 100 liters of water to generate one kilowatt of electricity, with a typical central air conditioning system using 3-5 kilowatts of electricity every hour. So to run the air conditioner for one hour you will use about 280 liters of water, while a small water pump needs about 1/4 kilowatt of electricity per hour.
Additionally, there are different types of evaporative cooling, with the main difference usually being the number of nozzles and the length of the hose. The cheaper versions, for example, are 8 meters long and have 6 nozzles. This is a good suggestion for a house where a maximum of one or two people live and which has a small outdoor area. If you use patio cooling with water mist on an area of approximately 3 m x 3 m, approximately 10 nozzles are required. One nozzle is sufficient for about 8 to 9 meters of hose around the perimeter of the area at a distance of 1 meter. The pump and nozzles use around 60 liters of water per hour, almost twice as little as air conditioning systems.
Are there any disadvantages to patio cooling with water mist?
Depending on how large your outdoor space is or which variant you choose, the price for such a cooling system can vary. The pump is usually the most expensive, with low pressure systems using natural water pressure. However, to increase efficiency, a more powerful pump would be better so that the water droplets can evaporate more quickly. Additionally, if you don't have any plumbing skills either, proper installation and maintenance of your such gadget requires a professional plumber, which could also be costly.
Another important factor to consider is the locations and designs of the outdoor areas or patios to be cooled. In addition, there are home gardens that are not particularly suitable for this and may require plumbing work before installation. Cooling the terrace with water mist could also be disadvantageous or pointless even if the humidity is over 80%. Unless your area gets particularly hot, this wouldn't be the best possible investment. In such cases, the water will not evaporate as quickly and the system would only be able to keep the area moist, not cool. You will therefore not get any particular benefit from it if it is mild in your area in spring or if the temperatures are not high enough in midsummer.
