NewAir AF330 Portable Evaporative Swamp Air Cooler with BuiltIn HEPA Air Purifier
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of NewAir AF330 Portable Evaporative Swamp Air Cooler with BuiltIn HEPA Air Purifier
Customer Review: Provides no cooling
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this item to provide some cooling in a single, small room. In my area when it is hot it is dry, so a swamp cooler should be at least somewhat effective. I tried this on two days that reached about 90 degrees with humidity levels below 30%. It had utterly no effect on the temperature in the room. Since the recommendation is to have some ventilation while using a swamp cooler, I tried it first with a door open for ventilation. That didn't work, so I tried it with the door closed. I tried it with cold water and I tried adding ice in the ice compartment. I tried it on all three speeds. It did not lower the temperature in the room even a degree. I was so puzzled by its ineffectiveness I even opened the back and inspected the mechanism to ensure that the unit I received was functioning correctly. It apparently was: the wick that the air blows through was damp. You would think it would provide at least a little relief, but no dice. The only benefit it offered was a very slight cooling sensation when you stand directly in the airflow. But not more than a fan alone. And no general cooling in the room. I don't fully understand why it was so ineffective, but it was. On the upside, the vendor, Air-N-Water, delivered it quickly, for free, and the box arrived in good shape.Customer Review: Was skeptical...great purchase.
Summary: 4 Stars
When my mobile home was being built we had the option of A/C or a Swamp cooler. We talked to several people and they advised getting the A/C unit, and so we did. What a huge mistake! During the summer with the thermostat set at 85 degrees that's right 85 our electric bill jumped through the roof...more then $300.00 a month. WTF!
This year the heat started early so I searched the internet for a solution, and was intrigued by the AF-330 but very skeptical. I purchased two units putting them on opposite sides of our home, and I'm very happy with the performance of the AF-330. I'm not sure what our savings are going to be since these only operate at 85W,and I only have had them for about a week....but I'm sure it'll much less then running the A/C.
Here are some tips to enhance the performance of the unit and address some issues some people have with it.
1. Replacement filters:
I emailed the manufacturer and they informed me that if you need replacement filters you can call them and order the filters over the phone. It would be nice to be able to buy the filters via their website, but now you know how to obtain them.
2. Adding water:
If the unit is empty and unplugged simply remove the back panel and fill it up that way...it doesn't get any faster then that, unless you have a unit that is connected to a hose(not this model). Keep a few bottles of water in your fridge and top off as needed...which is only once or twice a day. It's a very easy thing to do. I don't recommend removing the back all the time to fill the unit, as some people may forget to unplug the unit and then they'll be subjected to possible physical harm or damage to the unit.
3. Ice:
Need extra cooling? Take the plastic ice tray, fill it with water and then freeze it. Once it's frozen simply put that large block of ice into the ice compartment. This is good because a large block of ice will melt slower then smaller pieces of ice. Basically there is more air contacting the smaller pieces of ice so it'll melt faster then a larger chunk of ice...but some people may feel the need to have the ice melt faster. In that case use the ice tray to carry the ice to the unit and pour the ice in...and of course you could use both methods and you'll get the best of both worlds.
4. Slanted floor:
I have a room in which the the floor slants towards the front of the machine, so the ice doesn't all flow to the holes at the rear of the unit. Since the unit is in a carpeted area, I have it in a plastic tub just in case there's a leak. I just put something underneath the tub, and the ice melts in the proper direction.
If they were to redesign the unit I'd only change a few things:
1. A larger hole for adding water.
2. A tilt feature to compensate for slanted floors.
3. A lid for the ice tray so it's easier to put in the freezer without spilling any water.
4. Vents in the front and back with air intake from the sides, although I have no idea how well that would work...I'm no engineer.
I would recommend the unit to friends.
I hope this helps any one who has are is going to purchase the AF-330.
Customer Review: Waste of time and money!
Summary: 1 Stars
This so-called swamp cooler is TERRIBLE. We bought it expecting something that would actually COOL (hello? Cooler!), and it is just a waste of time and money. Why? Because not even enough with finding out that after leaving it on/working one whole night, a regular fan would have been much better than this loud useless device; the seller, Air-n-Water, charges a 15% restocking fee even if the cooler doesn't work (and they take TOO LONG to refund). It's a total rip-off!!! Please, don't waste time and money and buy yourself a portable AC. Swamp coolers are useless anywhere.Customer Review: You get what you pay for.
Summary: 3 Stars
If you live in a hot climate where temperatures reach over 90 you should be aware that these types of coolers are only slightly better than a standard Fan. I have this model and 2 others and they work about the same.(slightly better than a standard fan). If this is all you need then this is a good product. I have had it for over a year and have had no problems. It is also quite and light.Customer Review: bottom line
Summary: 3 Stars
the newair 330 swamp cooler is at its best a small relife from the heat, not going to effect a whole room. if you remove the hepa fillter you will create more air through the wick. the wick is on a roller that dips into the water than goes in front of the fan, so the more water you have the more evaparation you will have. best i could do was to knock 3 to 4 degrees of exiting air, which is ok if setting right in front. i picked up two from someone that did not like them for $100.00 ea. no shipping or tax. if i had paid full price i would not be happy, but because the fans are very quite for how much air they move i can also you them in the winter to move hot air around with the hepa fillter.