By Daisy 
A houseplant can be a great way to lower humidity in your home. They will absorb any extra moisture that they can find. Many plants can be irrigated by the air, but not the soil. This will keep your swamp cooler and more hydrated. For best results, try these types:
- Cacti
- Succulents
- Yucca
- Euphorbia
- Aloe Vera
- Bromeliads
- Air plants
- Peace lily
- Boston fern
- English ivy
Experiment With Positioning
The smaller, portable evaporative coolers are intended to chill one room at a given time and not the entire house. You should check how many square feet the unit is recommended to chill and make sure it is used in an area that is large enough for maximum efficiency. It may be a good idea to place the swamp cooler so that it blows cool air directly towards your living space, such as your sofa or dining table. This will allow you to benefit from cold air blowing directly towards you. You can also take advantage of the fan’s breeze to cool your skin. Move your cooler around using the wheels.
Prime The Pads First
The cooling pads need time to absorb the water before the evaporative cooler can be turned on. Although they will more easily absorb water from the tank once they are wet they can still wick it away. It may take as long as 15 minutes for the pads to get saturated. After filling the water reservoir, allow the pads to do their work before you turn on your fan. By doing this, you won’t waste energy blowing hot water around before your machine is fully cool.
Use Cold Water
Hot water will evaporate faster since it is near the boiling point. However, water at room temperature performs better. A physics study found that 50-degree water, which is about what you get from your kitchen tap, worked best in an evaporative cooler. The performance of hot water decreased with increasing temperature.
Skip The Ice
However, the effects of cold water are very limited. Although 50 degrees was the best temperature for water in the study above, adding ice can only bring it down to the 30s or 40s. This is because the water will need to melt before the ice can evaporate. This takes time, so you don’t increase the efficiency of the evaporation.
You can add ice to give you a quick blast of cool air right in the front of the machine. But, just because the ice is adding ice does not mean that it will cool down the entire room more than the water.
Keep Cool
As with all appliances, a swamp cooler pad will run at its best when it is well maintained and properly cleaned. Before you use your swamp cooler for the first summer or winter, be sure to clean and inspect it. Mid-season inspections are also recommended. Make sure to include these items in the maintenance checklist.
- Cleanse the exterior
- Vacuum fan and intake grills
- You can clean your water tank using mild soap and water.
- Cooling pads should be inspected for cracks or mildew and replaced as needed
Be sure to thoroughly clean your evaporative cooling system before storing it in the winter. You should not pack it until it has had the chance to dry thoroughly, including the cooling pad. You will end up with mildew next spring if you put a damp unit in storage.