As the lazy, hot days of summer roll around, people that enjoy their outdoor living spaces start to realize that at the best time of the year they are actually restricted in using this space. The heat of the sun, either direct or indirect, makes it too uncomfortable to sit outside during the day, which restricts the use to the late evening after the sun goes down.
There are two different ways to address this heat issue. One is to use fans, which have a very limited cooling capacity as they are just circulating already hot air. The second is to install one of the quality mist systems on the market.
Often homeowners hesitate to install mist systems due to information obtained on the web or through neighbors, friends, and colleagues. These myths about misting systems for residential applications are simply not true, provided you choose a quality system that is not a pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all type of kit.
Misting Systems are High Maintenance and Repair
The best mist systems are going to have a slightly higher initial cost than the pre-fab kits. However, as they are customized for your specific patio or outdoor living space, they are able to provide exceptional cooling abilities.
They are also designed to be low maintenance. With quality tubing, brass or cleanable misting nozzles and quality pumps, these systems will last for years with very little maintenance.
Cooling Potential is Limited
Any misting system cools based on flash evaporation. This allows the evaporation process to absorb the heat in the surrounding air, cooling up to 40 degrees in dry, hot climates.
The cooling potential is only limited when the nozzles are cheap quality or when a pump isn’t used to maintain the necessary pressure to create the finest droplets for fast flash evaporation.
Another common misconception is that misting systems are costly to operate. Other than the pump, there is no electrical requirement of the system. For residential use, the pumps are very energy efficient and will not add significantly to any electrical bill.
