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Mastercool: What Makes This Evaporative Cooler One of the Best?

Mastercool is a family-owned and operated company that has been supplying professional air conditioning products for over 35 years. As America’s evaporative cooling choice for years, Mastercool is second to none. They are especially good at evaporative coolers– also coined as swamp coolers.

What is an Evaporative Cooler?


Evaporative coolers pull in dry air and move it over water-moistened cooling pads where water is then evaporated into the air, making the air about 15 or 20 degrees cooler than its supply air.

Designed for the environmentally and energy conscious consumer, evaporative coolers use nature’s refrigerant . . . water . . . to cool, unlike other air conditioners that use chemical refrigerants.

How Evaporative Coolers Work

  1. Hot air is sucked into the evaporative cooler via an inflow fan.
  2. This air is passed over water-saturated pads.
  3. Water in the pads evaporates as warm air hits the pads.
  4. The air is instantly cooled by the evaporated water, usually up to 15 or 20 degrees cooler.
  5. Outflow fans push the cold air out of the evaporative cooler, cooling your surroundings.

Mastercool vs Other Evaporative Coolers


Mastercool produces cooler temperatures than standard evaporative coolers because of their unique design. They only have one pad– called rigid media– and they resemble honeycombs which hold more water. Because the pads can hold more water, the fan can usually push through cooler temperatures into the home. 

Costs for a Mastercool


Professionally installed Mastercool evaporative coolers cost between $4-7K, depending on the brand, size, type and placement. You’ll also need winterization and turn-on maintenance each year, which B. Carlson provides for an additional, nominal fee.

Things to Consider about Mastercool


Unlike other evaporative coolers that require you to change out the pads annually, you only have to change the cooling pads every 3-5 years in a Mastercool. As far as maintenance is concerned, you do need to clean the pads annually, which can be done in conjunction with your spring turn-on visit each year.

The single biggest disadvantage of Mastercool, and– in fact– all, evaporative coolers is their dependence on a constant supply of fresh air. Without fresh air, the air in the room will become damp, the cooling effect will be reduced, and eventually stop completely. Condensation and mold growth could be a real concern.

Rounding out the disadvantages, however, come all the pros to evaporative coolers. According to the US Department Of Energy, “evaporative coolers cost about one-half as much to install as central air conditioners and use about one-quarter as much energy.”

What Size Mastercool Do I Need?

CFM is a measure of cooling airflow and stands for Cubic Feet Per Minute. If you buy too small of an evaporative cooler– like a 500 CFM for a 1,000 sq ft space, your temperature drop won’t be noticeable. However, if you put a 3,000 CFM unit in a 250 sq ft space, you will invest unnecessarily for a larger unit, you’ll reduce space, and you may have an uncomfortable wind in your room.

Coverage (In Sq Ft):

Estimated Airflow (In CFM)

250 sq ft and below

300-750 CFM

250-500 sq ft

750-2,000 CFM

500-750 sq ft

2,000-3,000 CFM

750-1,000 sq ft

3,000-4,000 CFM

1,000-2,000 sq ft

4,000-7,500 CFM

Over 2,000 sq ft

More than 7,500 CFM

Mastercool Upgrade and Installation


Mastercool evaporative coolers can typically provide greater cooling ability than your standard swamp cooler. Here at B. Carlson, our professional technicians are qualified to install all types of air conditioners. You can count on B. Carlson to provide you with cooling options that meet your comfort needs and budget. Talk to our HVAC professionals today about upgrading to Mastercool. We always offer free no-obligation estimates and will gladly review your options with you.

24/7 Mastercool Swamp Cooler Repair


We respond to swamp cooler repairs when you need help fast. Our experienced professional technicians can handle all types of troubleshooting and swamp cooler repair needs for your home or business. Call us day or night for your cooling needs at (505) 349-4409. 

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