Skip to content

System type

Evaporative Cooling Modbury Heights

Evaporative cooling in Modbury Heights is one of the smartest ways to handle a dry Adelaide summer, and Modbury Heights Air Conditioning installs, services and repairs these systems across the 5092 foothills. Modbury Heights is home turf for us.

Call (08) 8246 6282 Get a fixed quote
Technician on a roof servicing an evaporative cooling unit
Technician checking the pads on a roof-mounted evaporative cooler

In detail

A Rooftop Unit That Runs on Dry Heat, Not Against It

Evaporative cooling works by pulling hot outside air through water-soaked pads and sending cool, fresh air through ceiling vents into every room. It is not a refrigerated system and we never sell it as one.

It is its own technology with its own strengths. That difference matters in this market, because Adelaide summers are hot and dry, which is exactly the condition these units were built for.

The technology earns its place here in a way it never could on a humid coast. So the honest question is not whether it works, but whether it suits your house.

Call (08) 8246 6282
Technician crossing a tiled roof with a toolbox

In detail

How Evaporative Cooling Works

Wet pads.

A rooftop unit draws outside air through pads kept wet by a water feed. The dry air drops several degrees as it passes through, and a fan pushes that cooled air down the ducts.

Open windows.

The system needs windows or vents open while it runs, because it works on airflow rather than recirculation. That is the single most common misunderstanding customers arrive with.

Water and power.

The unit uses both, running a fan and a small pump instead of a power-hungry compressor. That is where the running-cost gap comes from.

No heating.

An evaporative unit cools only. If your household wants winter warmth from the same vents, we point you at ducted reverse cycle or ducted gas heating instead.
Technician climbing to the roof with ducting laid out below

Local knowledge

Which Homes Here Suit Evaporative

The housing stock decides the answer better than any brochure. Two things about this suburb do most of the deciding:

  • It filled in through the 1970s and 1980s above central Modbury, and the dominant build is single-storey brick and brick-veneer family homes on generous suburban blocks, with later 1990s and 2000s infill near Wynn Vale and Surrey Downs.
  • That wide, single-storey footprint is close to ideal for evaporative. One rooftop unit feeds ceiling vents across the whole floor plan, and the generous blocks give us room to work the roof and water feed without squeezing.

Whole-home airflow. Families conditioning every room at once through a hot week get the best value from it, since one unit serves the whole house.

Open-plan living. The open layouts common in the later infill homes suit the constant airflow this system delivers.

One caveat. If your household closes up the house and wants sealed chill on a 42-degree day, a split system or ducted setup is the honest answer, and we will say so.

Call (08) 8246 6282

Running costs

Running Cost and the Adelaide Seasons

Cheap to run.

Without a compressor working hard, an evaporative unit costs far less per hour to run than a compressor-based system. Through a heatwave of consecutive days over 40, that gap adds up fast on the power bill.

Dry days are its best days.

The drier the air, the harder the pads work. Our long dry stretches are where this system earns its keep.

Humid days are its weak days.

Adelaide gets a handful of sticky days each summer where the pads lose their bite. The unit still runs, but it cools less, and we tell you that upfront rather than after the install.

Water use is real.

The system draws water while it runs, including a bleed-off that keeps the pads clean. It is part of the deal, not a hidden cost.

Winter is off.

From about April the unit sits idle and should be winterised, which is part of a proper seasonal service.

In detail

What an Evaporative Install Involves

Roof check.

We confirm the roof can carry the unit, that duct runs reach every room, and that ceiling vent positions suit the floor plan. The east-to-west fall of these foothill blocks toward the plain matters for the water feed and drain falls.

Water and drain.

The unit needs a water supply and a drain that works, and on a sloping block those falls have to be set correctly so nothing pools on the low side.

Ducting and vents.

Ceiling vents go room by room, and we size the ductwork for the airflow the unit produces rather than reusing whatever is there.

Commissioning.

The system gets tested under load, the water feed checked, and you get the walkthrough on how to run it, windows and all.

The install itself is quoted under our Fixed Upfront Pricing: fixed quote before any work starts. No hourly rates, no bill shock.

Common problems

Evaporative Problems We Fix

Weak airflow.

Often a blocked pad or a duct that has come loose in the roof, and both are quick to diagnose.

Water where it should not be.

A leaking unit usually points to the water feed or drain, and we handle those as an air conditioning repair. See our page on an air conditioner leaking water if that is your symptom.

Musty smell.

Stale pads or a water tray that needs attention cause it, and a proper clean sorts it.

No start-up.

A unit that will not fire up on the first hot day usually needs the pre-summer service it skipped, which we handle across the foothills every spring.

Why locals call us

Why Choose Us for Evaporative Cooling

Local and family owned.

We are part of Exceed, a family-owned Adelaide business with ten years in the trade, working these streets most weeks.

Fully ARC licensed.

All work is carried out under a full ARC refrigeration and air conditioning licence, ARC Licence L162586, RAC01 - Full Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Licence.

Fixed Upfront Pricing.

You get the fixed quote before any work starts, so the price you see is the price you pay.

Lifetime Labour Warranty.

If a fault occurs due to workmanship, the team returns and fixes it at no cost.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Does evaporative cooling work in a humid summer?

It loses effectiveness on humid days, which Adelaide gets a handful of each summer, but through the long dry stretches it performs at its best and costs far less to run than a compressor-based system.

Do I need to open windows while it runs?

Yes, the system pushes outside air through wet pads and needs open windows or vents to work, which is also why it brings fresh air through the house rather than recirculating it.

Can an evaporative unit heat my home in winter?

No, evaporative cooling does not heat, so a household wanting one system for both seasons is better served by reverse cycle ducted or a gas heating pairing, which we quote honestly.

How often does an evaporative system need servicing?

Once a year before summer covers pads, water feed and bleed-off, and homes around the foothill reserves with heavy backyard planting often benefit from a mid-season check as well.

Can you add evaporative cooling to an older brick home here?

Yes, the single-storey brick and brick-veneer homes built through the 1970s and 1980s usually have the roof space and ceiling vent access for a straightforward evaporative install.

We're available now — 24/7

Book Your Evaporative Cooling Quote in Modbury Heights

Call (08) 8246 6282 today for a fixed upfront quote on evaporative cooling, with $50 off first service and 24/7 emergency availability. We are on these streets most weeks, from the older pockets to the newer infill, and we will tell you honestly whether evaporative is the right fit for your home.

  • Fixed Upfront Pricing
  • Lifetime Labour Warranty
  • Fully licensed and insured
  • 24/7 emergency service
Call (08) 8246 6282

$50 off first service for new customers.

Fixed quote request

Tell us what the system is doing

We ring back to confirm a time. Or call (08) 8246 6282 now.

Book Now Call now