Reply #25: Thanks, that's a good idea.

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Swamp coolers are virtually unknown in San Diego, because there is just too much humidity here for them to be efficient or effective. My niece has a swamp cooler in her house in San Bernardino, but the air is significantly drier in SB than in SD as well as hotter. It feels good to sit in front of the vent at her house and feel the cool, moist air blowing at your face. And they are very common in Arizona and the desert areas of southern California. They require low humidity to be effective, and they would work very well during our hot, dry "Santa Ana" conditions we get in the fall. But in the hot, humid summers we have here I don't think they would work because the water wouldn't evaporate enough. Fortunately we have had a dramatic change in the weather, it's 25 to 30 degrees cooler and much drier - almost fall-like. I appreciate the tips!