Vent: spent $800 on a swamp cooler that didn't work in our dry heat

Emma Mason · 2026-04-29T01:10:03.133916+00:00

I installed a fancy new swamp cooler here in Tucson last summer thinking it would save us on AC bills. But it barely cooled the house below 85 even on full blast, and the humidity it added made everything feel sticky. After two weeks I called a local HVAC guy who told me these units need at least some ambient moisture to work right. Anyone else fall for the swamp cooler hype in a super dry desert climate like ours?

bailey.jennifer4mo ago

Guess you got a bad unit or installed it wrong then.

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bailey.jennifer4mo ago

Bought a portable AC for my garage last year. Still sweating in there.

3

emma_baker614mo ago

Honestly, I used to roll my eyes at people who complained about swamp coolers in dry heat. I figured more evaporation = more cooling, right? But then I stayed at a friend's place in Phoenix for a week with one running nonstop and I totally get it now. That muggy feeling indoors, plus the unit struggling when it's 110 out, really changed my mind about them being a good fit for our climate. I mean, they work great in places like Colorado with some humidity, but for us it's just not worth the hassle.

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