Evaporative Air Conditioners aka "Swamp Coolers" and Arthritis

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Clarence Crow - 04 Mar 2005 19:17 GMT

Hello from D/Under

I realise most of you are Yanks and your weather is the reverse of
ours, but I'd like to know if any of you suffer more when in the
presence of a single stage ducted Evaporative Air Conditioner (Swamp
Cooler) as it introduces more humidity into your house?
After 70% Relative Humidity they are ineffective and you feel you are
"drowning".
These things are only good for Hot/Dry climates.

What it does to me is causes extreme Flare in my OA and PN (from
diabetes) in my feet, ankles and R knee.
I actually have to go to bed and get under the covers to get some
relief.
Wifey just sits there wallowing in it and enjoying it, either doing
Cross Stitch or Crosswords.

Any similar experiences?

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-- CC

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Smokie Darling (Annie) - 04 Mar 2005 19:27 GMT

> Hello from D/Under
>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> -- CC

Hi CC,

I use a swamp cooler (high desert valley in Colorado), our relative
humidity is around 15% and lower in the winter, go figure. Haven't
noticed that my RA flares with it though. In fact, my RA tends to
settle somewhat in late Spring, then "kicks back up" again in the Fall.

Is it possible that your flare happens because it makes your joints
"too" cold? I know that sounds odd, but if getting under covers helps,
I'm wondering if it isn't more the temperature rather than humidity.

I have noticed that a get some horrific chest colds and/or sinusitis
with the SC though. Have taken to adding a zinc diode in the "tank"
and changing the pads at the start of the warm season.

Smokie Darling (Annie)

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Clarence Crow - 04 Mar 2005 22:39 GMT

>Hi CC,
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
>Smokie Darling (Annie)

That's just it....you're in a Desert Valley, & I'm less than 2 miles
from the Coast near Perth (not suitable for SCs), and the Relative
Humidity ranges from 40% to 85%. The SC will pump 40% to 70% in 5
minutes and only lower the Temp by a couple Degrees.

As I sit here now, the Temp is 23 Deg C ( 73.5 Deg F), Relative
Humidity 57%, Local Time 06:40AM, Weather Overcast, Swamp Cooler OFF.

Pain OK

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-- Please reply to this ng as my email adress is fake:

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-- CC

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Smokie Darling (Annie) - 05 Mar 2005 00:24 GMT

> >Hi CC,
> >
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> -- CC

What are the odds that you could get a refrigerated cooler (a window
mounted a/c unit, not a swamp)? Strange that a swamp would be put into
a home in an area with high (well from my perspective) humidity.

There are days in the summer when I'm *thrilled* the swamp lowers the
temp to 80 (F) in the house. Granted it's waaay over 100 (F) outside,
but the thing is they don't make more than about a 20 degree difference
(ya know, give or take some degrees).

I know, here when it rains, the "cooler" portion is completely useless.
I'll turn off the water, and just run the fan. At least that keeps
the air moving around.

I would, literally, kill to have 40% as the *low* humidity.
Considering I was born and raised (okay, reared) in San Diego, so I'm
used to higher humidity.

Smokie Darling (Annie)

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Nann Bell - 05 Mar 2005 04:34 GMT

I've never been in a room with one of these contraptions as I've always lived
in humid places. I can tell you though that I feel worse in high humidity.
I really noticed it last summer when we had oodles of cool but very humid
days. I felt much worse on those days than I did when it was 10-15 degrees
(F) warmer, but with low humidity. Don't know why though.

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