How to Build Evaporative Cooling For Greenhouses With Carpet

The concept behind evaporative cooling is simple. It is often used as an alternative to air-conditioning for buildings and greenhouses. Warmer, outside air is pulled into a building by a fan, where it passes through a moistened pad. A portion of this air evaporates after passing through the pad. During the evaporation process, some energy is taken from the existing warm air, producing cooler inside air. Many evaporative cooling systems can lower the inside air temperature by 10 to 20 degrees F. Carpet is not a standard media for the pad and may not be suitable, unless it is of proper porosity and can be cleaned. Cellulose or aspen fiber are the typically utilized pad media.

Pad (carpet not recommended)
Water supply
Supply line
Pump
Sump and crock for drips under pad
Exhaust fan
Basic plumbing tools

Instructions

- 1
  
  Proper ventilation in a greenhouse is crucial for plant health.
  
  Install ventilation or exhaust fans at the opposite side of the greenhouse from the side the pads will be placed. Many greenhouses already have an adequate exhaust system for this purpose.
- 2
  
  If unsure of your plumbing skills, a professional may be needed for this step.
  
  Install a water supply to pump to provide water for the pad. Existing water lines could be tapped; otherwise, new ones may need to be installed.
- 3
  
  The proper pad media should be obtained from a greenhouse supplier.
  
  Set pad media directly across from exhaust fans. They must be constructed and placed so they can be moistened from the water supply. This could be in the form of a drip or mist, depending on your particular system.
- 4
  
  An existing greenhouse drain system could be modified to collect water from the pad.
  
  Place a crock or gutter below the pad to collect water that drips. This water can then recirculate via a sump pump back into the water supply.
- 5
  
  Disease pathogens could easily be spread in a dirty cooling system.
  
  Clean the pad regularly so mold and bacteria do not develop and get transferred through the greenhouse.

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