Posted by GoodCooling Team
If a business regularly gets too warm, sooner or later the question arises: is it worth retrofitting a conventional air conditioner, or is an evaporative air cooler the more economical and flexible solution? Both systems have their place – which option makes more sense depends heavily on the individual use case, how the space is used and the available budget. This article sets out the most important cost factors side by side and provides a structured basis for decision-making for businesses facing exactly this choice.
Rather than a blanket recommendation, you will find below a comparison of purchase cost, running costs and flexibility – supplemented by concrete questions that let you work out the right solution for your own business.
Purchase costs compared
| Cost factor | Evaporative air cooler | Split air conditioner (retrofitted) |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance cost | approx. €300–1,200 | approx. €1,200–4,000 |
| Installation | none – ready to use immediately | Specialist contractor required, often an additional €500–1,500 |
| Building work | none | Wall opening, outdoor unit, permit if applicable |
| Time until ready for use | a few minutes | often several days to weeks |
The figures given are guideline values for rough orientation; actual costs depend heavily on the model chosen, the room size and the structural conditions on site.
Permits, building work and time required
A permanently installed air conditioner generally requires a wall opening for the connection between indoor and outdoor unit, and often also coordination with landlords, owners' associations or – depending on the building and region – the competent authorities. This coordination and construction phase can take several weeks depending on the situation. An evaporative air cooler, by contrast, only needs a power connection and water, and is therefore usually ready for use the same day – an advantage that matters especially at short notice before a heatwave.
Running costs in operation
In addition to the electricity costs already discussed (see our electricity cost calculator), air conditioners incur further running costs: depending on the amount of refrigerant, the applicable refrigeration and air conditioning regulations require regular leak tests to prevent the escape of climate-damaging refrigerants. These tests, as well as occasional servicing of the refrigerant circuit, cause additional, often recurring costs that do not arise with an evaporative air cooler, as it works with water rather than refrigerant.
Flexibility and scalability
A significant economic advantage of evaporative air coolers lies in their flexibility: they can be moved between rooms, sites or even outdoor areas (such as hospitality terraces) as needed. With changing requirements – for example seasonal events, rented premises or growing businesses – this is an advantage that a permanently installed air conditioner cannot offer by its very nature. In addition, cooling capacity can be scaled to demand by using several evaporative air coolers, without the need for major structural changes.
When is air conditioning still worthwhile?
Despite the advantages of evaporative air coolers mentioned, there are use cases in which a conventional air conditioner remains sensible or necessary – for example where very low, precisely controllable target temperatures are required regardless of humidity, such as in server rooms or certain production and storage areas with strict climatic requirements. In very humid climate zones, the additional dehumidifying function of an air conditioner can also be an advantage, as evaporative air coolers inherently raise humidity slightly.
Maintenance effort in day-to-day operation
Besides the legally required tests already mentioned, the everyday maintenance effort also differs considerably between the two systems. An air conditioner generally needs regular expert servicing of the refrigerant circuit, filter replacement by trained personnel and occasional checks of the outdoor unit for dirt or damage. An evaporative air cooler, by contrast, can usually be maintained independently: the cooling pad and water tank are cleaned at regular intervals and a filter replaced if necessary – tasks that can be carried out without a specialist contractor and at no additional cost. Over several years, this difference also adds up to a noticeable cost advantage in favour of the evaporative air cooler.
Practical example: the combined solution
In practice, many businesses do not necessarily opt for either/or, but for a sensible combination: in particularly sensitive areas – such as a small server room or a store for temperature-sensitive goods – an existing or newly installed air conditioner stays in use, while larger areas such as the workshop, sales floor or dining room are cooled with flexible evaporative air coolers. This combination makes it possible to invest in precisely controlled technology where it is really needed, and to benefit elsewhere from the lower costs and high flexibility of evaporative air coolers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I also use an evaporative air cooler alongside an existing air conditioner?
Yes, many businesses use evaporative air coolers as a supplement in areas that the existing air conditioner does not reach or reaches only inadequately, such as adjoining halls, outdoor areas or when extra capacity is needed at peak times.
How quickly does forgoing a planned air conditioning retrofit pay off?
Since the full installation costs are saved as well as the running electricity costs, the economic advantage of an evaporative air cooler in this scenario is often even more obvious than in a pure running-cost comparison. For an exact figure, we recommend the calculation presented in our article on payback.
Is funding available for either solution?
Whether and to what extent subsidies are available depends on region, programme and timing, and changes regularly. Before a larger purchase, it is worth checking the currently valid funding conditions with the relevant regional bodies.
What happens if requirements change later?
A key advantage of evaporative air coolers is that the setup can easily be expanded or rearranged with additional units as needs grow or change. A permanently installed air conditioner, on the other hand, is tied to the room originally planned and can only be adapted with further structural work.
Decision aid: questions to ask yourself
- How quickly is cooling needed – at short notice before the summer season, or on a long-term, plannable basis?
- Is the room in fixed use, or could requirements (location, size) change in future?
- Are very low, precisely controlled target temperatures required, or is a noticeable reduction in perceived temperature enough?
- What budget is available for purchase and ongoing operation?
- Are structural interventions in the building possible or even desired (e.g. in rented premises)?
Conclusion
For many commercial use cases, an evaporative air cooler is an economically attractive and considerably more flexible alternative to retrofitting an air conditioner – especially for short-notice needs, changing room use or a limited budget. For special requirements involving very low, precisely controlled temperatures, a conventional air conditioner may remain the more suitable choice. An honest assessment of your own requirements using the questions above will help you make the right decision.
Take a look at our range in the Industry & Large Areas section or Hospitality, Events & Workshops for inspiration.
