Swamp Coolers

[laundryboy]

I'm looking at leasing a space that had a laundry but has been empty for several months. All the infrastructure is still there - just no equipment. Anyway, the place has these swamp coolers. I understand the cooling operation of these units.

My question, Would I be better off in the long run to put in a roof top HVAC unit during the remodel? The space is about 3200 sq/ft. I'm in NW Ohio. Heat is currently from a single gas unit that hangs from the ceiling in one of the corners.

My existing store has the a roof top unit (and ducting) and does a great job of heating in winter and fair cooling. Consistent temp throughout laundry.

Thoughts, opinions, cost estimate, are all welcome. Any resale market or these things?

[Anonymous]

I would get 2 10 ten ton units. You will only need heat in one.

[Andy]

Ohio can get pretty muggy, swamp cooler performance in the midwest is marginal, I'd go with the rooftop units.

[pete f]

I have 2 stores around 1600 sq ft, 1 an older 4 ton unit, which does not quite cool enough, I added a 16000 BTU wall unit, that helped alot, the other a new 5 ton ( I went 3 phase) and that cools great. With the equipment boxed in ( dryers, washer bulkheads, etc) I really cool about 1200 sq ft I would guess. 2 - 10 ton for 3200 sq ft? If the a/c does not run enough then you have humidity problems. The one with the older unit runs all the time, and though it was a little warmer inside, it felt cool becuase of no humidity and constant flow of cool air comming from the vents. Maybe people can post what the sq ft and size of units they have and where from.

[CharlieS]

Virginia -

My larger store has 3000 sq feet, cooling about 2500. We put in a 7.5 ton unit, thinking that would be plenty. Last summer, it ran nonstop, the humidity gets very low, but the store never gets below 82 degrees on a hot day (95+). We did have some dryer exhaust issues last year which created a little backpressure and may have contributed a smidgen, so hopefully we'll keep it at 80 this year. I have been considering adding a 2.5 ton wall unit in the entry area. 10 - 12 tons for this store would have been just about right.

We also had little to no roof or ceiling insulation last year. The roof was just foamed with about 3 inches of foam roofing, which should also add a significant insulation factor this year. With that and the dryer exhaust improvements, it will be interesting to see what temp we can maintain.

However, even at 82 last year, with the low humidity in the store (<20), and our normal high (75+) humidity outside, we had nothing but customer compliments on the AC, not a single complaint.

My latest store has 2500 sq feet and a swamp cooler that needs a lot of work. I'm thinking of pulling it, and/or adding an AC. However, this is a college store and business drops about a third in the summer anyway. I would add a 10 ton unit, or 2 five ton units if I do anything.

My first store has a 12 ton unit for 2400 square feet. No problem, cools it right down.

Charlie

[Ken]

Swamp cooler only work in very dry area.
I took my swamp coolers out when the buildind was reroofing,they don't work in IL at all.I use fan right now,thinking about put AC in my stores.

[Andy]

I have two rooftop 5 ton units cooling approx 4000 sq ft. I plan to add a third 5 ton unit as these units will not keep up. If you have significant southern window exposure be sure to take this into account.

[Duane]

Depending on your local code you may want to add return air ducts if you do not have any. Some codes allow the space between your drop ceiling and roof to be the return air system for your HVAC systems.

This was the way my store was set up when I gutted the building and when I put the ceiling back up I added return air duct work with intakes around the windows and dryers. This way the system draws the hot air from the store first before it has a chance to heat the rest of the store. I ran a temp gauge above the ceiling last year and it usually was 5 degrees hotter than the outside temp. Now I am only cooling store air instead of the air above the ceiling. Big difference.

3250 sq ft store, cooling about 2900 sq ft with 2 5 ton roof top units. One unit is set to kick on at 78 and the other at 86. Only on the hottest days do both run and it is usually 20 less degrees in the store compared to outside.

Both fans in the HVAC units run all the time to circulate the store air and to help eliminate lint via filters in the intake ducts.

I also have 3 celing fans that create a breeze near the folding tables to help the customers feel cooler when they are folding hot clothes.

[Rondo]

Daune, your ARE the man! You must of thought of everything. I'm going to have to come over and see your innovative store sometime and steal some ideas. :D

[Anonymous]

It is best to have the returns in the store. But when you place them by the dryers you would have to shut the air off everytime you cleaned the dryers or you would clog your filters all the time.

[Duane]

LP2000,

Dryer lint is not a problem. When cleaning the lint drawers I use a central vac system and hold the hose just under the drawer as I am pulling out the lint. All air borne lint is sucked down into the central vac hose.

I use 99.9% filters in the return air ducts and with an extension on my vacuum I sweep off the filters a couple of times a week and they last for nearly two months.