What is an air cooler and do they really work?

Paul Eyers
By Paul Eyers
8 Min Read
aircooler

With summer reaching its peak, many Aussies are sweating at the thought of the scorching weeks still ahead.

As the sweltering days and sticky nights set in, homeowners have been cranking up the air con and hanging out in their undies, searching for ways to stay cool until autumn arrives.

But for those who haven’t installed air conditioning — or renters whose landlords would rather watch them fry than spend thousands on an air-con unit — air coolers offer a more budget-friendly way to keep the heat at bay.

Also known as evaporative coolers, air coolers work by cooling the air through water evaporation. Unlike air conditioners that rely on refrigerant gases, air coolers draw in warm air, pass it over water-saturated pads, and release cooler air back into the room.

But with most Aussies either upgrading to air-con or sticking with reliable fans, it’s tough to find a clear answer online about how effective these rarely-seen cooling devices actually are.

That’s where Build-it comes in…

We’ve been working up a sweat over the Christmas holidays, testing out several of Bunning’s most popular air coolers to help decide if they truly deliver relief and are worth our reader’s hard-earned cash.

Air Coolers Pros

Air coolers provide a more comfortable cooling experience than regular fans. While a fan simply circulates warm air around the room, an air cooler actively cools it by adding moisture to the air as it blows through.

Additionally, most air coolers come with a versatile range of functions, with an option to use them purely as fans when the cooling effect isn’t needed, giving you flexibility and use all year round.

Although their cooling capabilities aren’t as effective as air conditioning, they are significantly more affordable and require no installation, saving thousands.

Meanwhile, their portable design means they can be easily moved from room to room and home to home, making them an ideal option for renters or those on a budget.

However, perhaps the biggest savings come in terms of energy usage. Most air coolers consume the same power as a standard fan, unlike air-conditioning units, which burn through energy and will get you heated in different ways once that post-summer bill arrives. 

Air Coolers Cons

Air coolers rely on evaporation to cool the air, which works best in dry conditions. In humid areas, they struggle to make much difference, leaving you with little more than a regular fan’s breeze or, worse, increased humidity if you’re using it in the likes of Queensland.

Another downside is the potential for leaks due to the internal water reservoir. This is especially common in most budget models, according to customer reviews online, so it’s worth considering putting a towel down under the unit until you suss out its likelihood of leaking. 

Finally, air coolers offer a limited cooling capability. They’re simply not designed for intense cooling, so if you’re trying to cool down a larger space or an entire room, an air cooler may fail to have much effect, especially once the cold water warms to room temperature. 

Arlec 5.5L Remote Control Evaporative Cooler – $119

With a 5.5L tank, this Arlec model pushes 360m3 of air per hour and includes a honeycomb cooling pad, remote control, and oscillating function for even air distribution.

Its compact size and light 7kg weight make it one of the easiest models to move around the home and fit neatly into any room.

The only thing ‘cool’ about the Arlec 5.5L is its design.


The look, controls, air flow, and remote all felt higher quality than the other models we tested, and they didn’t leak, which was a huge bonus given our all-carpet home.

Unfortunately, while the Arlec’s design may feel more premium, its cooling ability remained anything but, with its ability to reduce room temperature extremely underwhelming. Easy to use but ultimately limited in performance. 

Rating: 2/5



Bonaire 12L Diet 12i Evaporative Cooler – $199

With a 12L capacity and three-speed fan, the Bonaire is designed to effectively cool your typical bedroom-sized space.

In addition to its cooling and fan features, it boasts Bonaire’s i-Pure technology for multi-stage air purification, a full-function remote control, and an alarm for when water tanks reach empty.

The Bonaire 12L was the noisiest of all the units we tested.

However, while this model had a more powerful fan and slightly more effective cooling capacity, it was also a lot noisier than any other air cooler we tried, making a distractingly high-pitched running sound compared to other models. 

While this Bonaire model didn’t leak on us, we had previously owned a Bonaire that did have mild leaking issues (which were commonplace in online customer reviews), so if you do choose this unit, we would recommend placing a towel underneath just in case.

We also weren’t a fan of the model’s look and cumbersome size, which made it stand out in the room (as if its whipper, snipper-like sounds weren’t eye-drawing enough). 

Rating: 2/5

Click 5L Portable Evaporative Cooler – $89

This small 5L model by Click features three-speed settings, three fan modes (Normal, Nature, and Sleep), and a remote control.

Its sleek black design fits nicely into most spaces and is perhaps the most stylish choice of the three we tested.

The Click 5L was the most compact of the units we tested.

However, its small tank capacity means this model requires regular refilling compared to others, making it a challenge to last through the day or night. 

Despite the “cool” mode, we again could hardly tell the difference from a basic fan, but at least it didn’t leak, it didn’t break the bank, and the noise level was more manageable than the Bonaire.

Rating: 2.5/5

Editors opinion – Are They Worth It?

In summary, air coolers are essentially loud, poor-quality fans that may have some cooling capabilities for very small rooms in dry climates. 

However, if you’re distracted by fan noise, or expecting anything like an air conditioner or live in a humid area, it’s certainly not for you.

For the $100-$200 price range at Bunnings, we’d suggest investing in a high-quality fan by a premium brand instead – a quieter, simpler, and arguably cooler choice.

Share This Article
Paul Eyers has worked as a journalist for a range of media publishers including News Corp and Network Ten. He has also worked outside of Australia, including time spent with ABS-CBN in the Philippines. Stepping away from the media, Paul spent five years sharpening his tools in construction - building his skill set and expertise within the trade industry. His diverse experiences and unique journey have equipped him with an insider view of Australia’s construction game to dig deep into the big stories.