Cool-n-Save System

• Central Air Conditioner Pre-Cooling System
• Cuts AC Energy costs by up to 30%
• Installs in minutes with no tools
• Eco Friendly: Reduce your carbon footprint
• "one of the most cost-effective and simple ways to save energy"- Ed Begley Jr

2/5/2012: product review updated and rating cut to 1 star today... see end of review.

this product DOES work to increase AC efficiency... there was a Tulane study of it that measured it's heat transfer increase at the condenser at 40% and 70% humidity ... the short story being that there was at least a 70% increase of heat transfer on the coils.

Another reviewer stated that if you have a humidity over 40% this is not effective.... per the Tulane study that is false... this is a water pre mister for standard residential Freon type AC units... it works by wetting the fins on the gas condenser so that the water evaporation increases the condenser transfer to the air... it is not using water as the primary evap mechanism... his statement was correct for water coolant vs gas... just about every house in the USA has gas / Freon so this is a good product for them regardless of location.

So it does increase heat transfer to the air at the condenser by >70%.... this means that if the rest of your AC system is in good shape... air handler temperature should go down (at the exit, not the vents necessarily), the cycle time should go down creating more off time, and the amp draw at the compressor should go down reducing the electric bill in addition to the increase in off time.

This product has two significant flaws....

1 cheap construction.... if you are a capable do it yourself-er... shouldn't be a big deal to maintain

2 susceptible to hard water... not easy to tell how hard is too hard... only way is to try it and monitor for clogs and calcium build up on the fins... if lime away or the like doesn't get the fins clean, take it off... not worth a condenser replacement.

so for a guy who knows what he's doing... it can make a big difference even in a swamp....

AFTER SUMMER FOLLOWUP:

I used this product through Jul, Aug, Sep, and Oct to the 21st with the following result:

1in FPL's South Florida district, over the 3.75 month period, I saved about 28% of my electric bill compared to the pro rata 2 month period of May Jun.... total 3.75 month savings about $410.....

2the jets clogged from hard water and required a cleaning about every 6 weeks

3there was no appreciable build up of hard water deposits on the condenser fins, but it will be an eventual issue

4the base kit was far too small with 3 jets to treat the whole condenser, it will require at least 1 expander kit, but it did a good job anyway

5the flapper valve had 2 defects: it made a loud squeaking sound when running at temperatures below 85..... and it leaked all the time..... this is a major product defect

overall.. .the product works as advertised, but considering the price, the manufacturer should provide a quality flapper valve and make it clear that the misters that come with the kit are only for the smallest installations....... if someone else comes out with a quality product, these guys are going to lose their entire business....

FINAL UPDATE:

Today, the leaking flapper valve KILLED my condenser fan, repair cost will be about $200 doing it myself with no AC on superbowl sunday in south florida with 82F and 90% humidity expected.... The product saved well over $200 in electricity, however the hassle of water penetrating the fan housing (which it mounts directly on top of) is HUGE. Accordingly I'm lowering the product rating to 1 star.... It is a GREAT product theory... but until someone comes out with a quality product and doesn't market cheap garbage like this... save your money and hassle....

Buy Cool-n-Save System Now

This is such a ridiculously simple concept, I can't believe it's not just everywhere. It was VERY easy to install.

One neat thing is that it doesn't spray water all the time, just when the a/c is on. I don't know what the effect of moist air will be over time I don't want mold but the A/C works just fine in the rain, so I'm not really worried.

After two weeks, looking at my own meter, it doesn't look like my A/C bill is much better, but it's tough to say just yet. I'll post updates later once my bills come in.

August update: it looks like my electric bill is indeed going to be lower, though I think it's by about $50. However, the flap that turns the water on when the A/C is on, and is supposed to turn the water off when the A/C is off, is getting stuck, so it's frequently misting 24 hours a day... causing me all sorts of issues, and running up my water bill to boot. It's a good thing that we're reaching the end of summer because I was about to turn it off anyway.

[Update 7/2/12]

After leaving this thing out over the winter, it froze and busted. So I bought a new one, and noticed that they had made some modifications. First, the instructions say not to leave it out over the winter because freezing will damage the seals on the device. I hadn't noticed that before... but the zip ties would make it pretty tough to get off and put back on, which is part of the reason I had left it out there. For the new device, they took away the zip ties and replaced it with a sticky pad so you can cement it to your A/C. Huh? That's even worse!!! One word: VELCRO. You want me to take it in during the winter, make it easy to remove and stick back on.

They also changed the filters so they're no longer screw on, but instead you have to cut the cable and feed it through. Not a big deal, just meant I couldn't use my old spare filter.

Regardless, the pressure regulator someone suggested in the comments seem to be working. It's spraying water when it should, it's not spraying when it shouldn't.

The only problem is that my electric usage is significantly higher than it was this time last summer, by about 33%. And that's after I cut my bill by replacing fridges, etc. AND put insulation all over the house. (That insulation is doing a great job keeping the cold in and the heat out: my A/C goes off far less frequently than my neighbors'.) I haven't actually seen the reported average temp for June 2012, but while there have been a few VERY hot days, I'm not willing to place money on the idea that the average temp is really all that much higher.

Read Best Reviews of Cool-n-Save System Here

Great with PURE water but a horrible idea if you have any hard water at all. I assumed the cartridge filter that came with the unit would filter out the calcium & lime from our hard water. It did not! Within two weeks, my condensing unit fins had started to lime up and I could tell the fan was having to work harder to pull the air through the unit. I have tried using CLR, LimeAway, and other similar products to no avail. I have since taken the Cool'N'Save off my air conditioner and I'm about to throw it in the trash. I have a feeling the manufacturer will find a reason to blame me for the problem as I doubt they will buy me a new condensor. Worse case scenario, I may have to replace my complete A/C system because I tried saving "up to 30%" on my cooling bill. Rough estimate for a new A/C is between $2500-3500. Is it worth it to risk that?

NOTE! One thing for the potential user of this to remember is that most outside water spouts do not get softened by a water softener!

Want Cool-n-Save System Discount?

Yes, it's very easy to install. One of the misters was clogged but there was an extra in the box so I just replaced it. I cannot tell you if my electric bill has gone down because usage is up this month and next as they are the hottest months in Texas. It is very humid here and the problem I'm having is that the misters do NOT STOP when the a/c is off so I have water pooling around the a/c and creating a muddy mess near the foundation. I'm hoping the company can tell me how to fix this. The problem is that when the a/c turns off, the paddle does not go ALL the way down so the misters keep misting......all the time. I've had the product for about a month but it's been turned off the past two weeks because of the problem. I read the paper from Tulane U. and the bottom line is that it works better in dry hot climates.

Save 35% Off

The system works pretty well, but the flapper switch didn't shut off completely. This was fixed by adding steel washers until it does shut off now.

A suggested improvement would be to include a pump to boost the pressure so the mister would work better.

DIAL MFG INC #1075 7000 CFM Offset Pump

• DIAL MFG INC #1075 7000 CFM Offset Pump
• DIAL MFG INC
• Pumps water for private well or low flow irrigation applications
• Equipped with GE motor
• Easy change 115/230 voltage switch, preset at 230V

Fewer and fewer stores carry evaporative cooler parts. Hard to believe with the "green" emphasis in America

This is a strong pump and will keep my old swamp cooler cooling for many years.

Midwest Can (MWC5600) 5 Gallon Auto Shutoff Gasoline Can

• Midwest Can #5600 5GAL RED Plastic Gas Can
• MIDWEST CAN COMPANY

Pros are it has a good capacity, the Cons are that the nozzle is too restrictive. It takes double the time to get the gas out of the can due to the safety feature in the nozzle.

Buy Midwest Can (MWC5600) 5 Gallon Auto Shutoff Gasoline Can Now

I purchased a model 5600 (5 gal.). I'm not sure if it has the same spout as this #6600. If it does, I would not recommend the gas can (apologies if this review is irrelevant). It is a self-closing spout with a spring (the nozzle must be twisted then depressed to dispense gas). The spring is stiff and difficult to press down. There is a little plastic lip that is intended to hook on the edge of the gas hole which is too small and therefore constantly slips off (shutting off the gas dispensing). Given the angle of the spount, I can't dispense all the gas into my car. Finally, the gas comes out very slowly when it does come out. It is a frustrating experience to wrestle with this can while trying to dispense gas into my car.

I've been shopping around the area and simply can't find a plastic gas can without some inconvenient "leak proof" dispenser system. Why is it so hard to find an old fashioned gas can that works? I can only conclude that there is some conspiracy out there -probably a new EPA regulation (well intentioned, no doubt, but unfortunately resulting in products that don't work). Please, I can screw a simple threaded cap on all by myself. I would have given the product a 1-star, but my guess is that it's not Midwest Can's fault.

To their credit, Midwest Can customer service is very responsive. They are sending me a replacement cap for "gas storage," i.e. a simple threaded cap. I'll just buy a funnel to get gas into my car.

Read Best Reviews of Midwest Can (MWC5600) 5 Gallon Auto Shutoff Gasoline Can Here

Works fine, spill proof spout is a bit slow and cumbersome, but that's the only complaint. Almost impossible to find a 6 gal can. Use it to store mixed gasoline for 2 cycle outboard motor, 50 to 1 mixture is one pint oil to 6 gals of gas. Just makes things simpler.

Want Midwest Can (MWC5600) 5 Gallon Auto Shutoff Gasoline Can Discount?

I am not going to go into how the nozzle works because it has been covered in other posts. I just want to support the notion that this can is very slow. Not a big deal if you are pouring gas into a weed trimmer but it is a serious pain trying to pour gas into a boat. The last time I tried to fill something it built up with pressure and preceded to spray gas everywhere for quite a long time. I never seemed to have trouble pouring gas until I got my hands on one of these. I would not recommend getting anywhere near a hot engine with this gas can.

Save 60% Off

These CARB compliant cans are very bad. They spill gas all over you, the environment and your gear. Why can't the government politicians trust us to simply put a lid back on the can?

Campbell Hausfeld RP0650 12-Volt Tire Inflator

• Perfect for inflating tires during roadside emergencies
• Easily fits under the seat or in your glove box
• Hose, cord and accessories store neatly inside
• Plugs into cigarette-style lighter in your car
• Monitor pressure to avoid under and over-filling

Great item in all ways except one. When unscrewing the compressor hose from the bike tire valve, we lose 15-20 psi. I am reluctant to overfill the tire initially to compensate for this loss. If it had a quick release valve, this would be a great device with a competitive price point. Meanwhile, we will buy the Airman tour pump instead.

Buy Campbell Hausfeld RP0650 12-Volt Tire Inflator Now

I always hated going to the gas station to fill my car's tires, and probably suffered from low tire pressure in trying to put off the task for as long as possible between each fill. Once I discovered that personal tire inflator's existed, I knew I needed one to free me from the dependence of gas stations, but I was quickly faced with a wide variety of devices to choose from, and no answer as to what might be the right one for me. I ultimately went with this model for the price, and it's size, which probably is as small as you can get when it comes to tire inflators. It doesn't seem very loud (although I've never used other inflators to compare this), and the gauge is fairly accurate when I compared it to my digital gauge reader, although sometimes it appeared to over estimate the pressure just by 1-2psi. But I suppose that's better than under estimating and possibly over inflating your tires. The power cord that comes with the device is long enough to reach to all four tires on my compact car, but I'm sure it would work just as well on a standard sized car too. It just took about a minute to fill one tire with 5-7 psi of air, and considering that it is saving me the time I would otherwise make with a trip to the gas station, I would have to say that this little inflator works as fast as it needs to for my satisfaction!

Read Best Reviews of Campbell Hausfeld RP0650 12-Volt Tire Inflator Here

This fit in the saddlebag of my 1981 goldwing interstate and allowed me to add air to tires and to the rear shocks. It was very inexpensive. It has a spin-on valve stem attachment, so some air might escape while you're un-spinning it.

Want Campbell Hausfeld RP0650 12-Volt Tire Inflator Discount?

Light, compact, works well. Love the on/off switch and built in gauge. A bit tough to stuff the hose and plug in the rear cavity, but doable.

Save $0.08 Off

Gets the job done. As expected, and like other portable pumps of its caliber, it is rather noisy and it takes awhile to pump up auto tires. But, it is functional and often more convenient than a trip to the gas station.

Gasoline Portable Single Stage 5 Gallon Air Compressor

I Bought this compressor to use for basic maintenance of my 4x4 truck on the trail and at home. The weight is more manageable than I thought to move around, the Round tube bars on top are comfortable to use for carrying and away from the hot parts. I run a 3/8 impact off of it and it works perfectly. The Motor runs quite loud but disengages and runs a little quieter once it reaches 125psi then kicks in again at 95psi. The motor builds pressure quickly and with constant use of a blow gun it mantains 90psi at running full speed. Quality of the Mi T M is top notch with braided lines, perfect powder coat and Made in The USA in Iowa. Mine was shipped direct from Mi T M in Iowa to my home in California in 4 days. It was boxed up really good and arrived without a Scratch. I checked the Mi T M website for service centers and they have several local to me, since I plan on keeping this a long time this was a concern of mine. 1 year warranty on compressor and 3 years on the motor how could you go wrong, Nice as they come.

Ingersoll-Rand 2130 1/2-Inch Heavy-Duty Air Impact Wrench

• Offers 550 feet-per-pound of maximum Torque
• Full stroke tease throttle
• Easy glide forward/ reverse switch
• Multi position power management
• Lightweight reinforced aluminum hammer case

I have been performing maintenance on the family cars since my dad died when I was fifteen. That makes over a quarter century of brakes jobs and tire rotations, removing and tightening lugs with a T wrench. A couple weeks ago, I bought a compressor; mainly to keep the tires inflated, but I couldn't resist sizing it at least marginally enough to run an impact wrench. Then I couldn't resist going ahead and getting the wrench. I worked a little overtime, made my order, and my Ingersoll-Rand 2130 was on the table when I got home from work this evening. I immediately went out to perform an overdue rotation on the Silverado. Those who've used impact wrenches regularly will laugh, but I was downright dumbfounded when the wrench tapped the lug nut a few times and spun the nut off in a fraction of a second. And the wrench hardly attempts to turn in your hand. Had I known an impact wrench would make life this easy, I would have invested in the wrench and compressor years ago.

I did some research before purchasing, reading a lot of reviews and comparing specs. I pretty much decided one was wasting his money going below about the $110 point. The other contender that would minimally meet my needs at the lowest price was the Ingersoll-Rand 231C 1/2-Inch Super Duty Air Impact Wrench. I'm sure I would have been happy with that, but moving up the 2130 seemed to be good value. For about $30 more you got a little more forward torque (500 ft-lbs. vs 350), a little more speed (9500 RPM vs 8000), about 2/3 the weight (~4 lbs. vs. 6) at very little additional air use (4.4 SCFM vs 4.2, however they measure that).

I was a bit concerned about my compressor being up to the wrench. It's a Sears Craftsman 20 gallon, 1.5 HP, 150 max. PSI rated at 3.8 SCFM at 90 PSI (however THEY measure that). A lot of experts would say it's not enough. Sears said it was fine for 1/2" impact wrenches and only appropriate for intermittent use with a 3/4" wrench. I did some math and took the risk. For performing a tire rotation, the compressor was every bit up to the task. I really can't imagine any job in which the wrench would be used so continuously to really tax the compressor. If you're a shade tree mechanic, this compressor had no problem with the wrench. In fact, I had almost completed the rotation when I realized that I had turned off the compressor earlier when my three-year-old came outside and was terrified by the compressor. I had done the job with only stored air, it was still holding 90 PSI, and I had noticed no reduction in the performance of the wrench.

I did not find any photos of the 2130 on the web that showed the rear the wrench. (I intend to post a photo or two in a the next few days) The red button in the side photo pushes left and right, choosing forward and backward. There is a five position toggle (at least on mine the manual says it's three) in the rear to choose the maximum power. The switch is labelled from 1 at the lowest setting to 2 at the highest setting. Go figure. Power is also continuously variably controlled with the trigger, and I have to say that it is a fabulous trigger with fantastic control of speed. I've never used a power tool with fine control like that. I was also amazed at how quiet it was. It certainly makes little noise when it's not hammering, and when it is, I don't believe the 100 dBa plus listed in the specs (on the verge of pain.) I also ordered the Ingersoll Rand SK4M14 1/2-Inch Drive 14-Piece Metric Standard Impact Socket Set. This appears to be a great value as well.

Time will tell how it holds up, but with my use, I expect it last a long time before requiring a rebuild. I can't speak for professional mechanics, but if you're a do-it-yourself mechanic, I don't believe you will go wrong with this wrench.

Oh yeah...while you're waiting for your new toy to come, get a bottle of air tool oil. None is included.

Buy Ingersoll-Rand 2130 1/2-Inch Heavy-Duty Air Impact Wrench Now

Tool is awesome. Not much you can say about an impact wrench as they do not do a lot but when you want it to do what it does it does it perfectly. Powerful, solid, compact and very lightweight as far as impact wrenches go. I have had impact wrenches before that the sockets fall off too easily but this one holds them real snug and has about as many features on it as you can fit on an impact wrench. There are many way more expensive wrenches out there but this one will stand tall next to all of them in the same performance class. Get it now.

Read Best Reviews of Ingersoll-Rand 2130 1/2-Inch Heavy-Duty Air Impact Wrench Here

I put this tool to good use right away to remove a 1 and 1/4 inch nut which was holding on the rear axle yoke on my 88 Chevy Pickup. I had tried to break it loose previously with a half inch breaker bar and couldn't budge it. I've never used an impact wrench before so I didn't know exactly what to expect, so I set my compressor at 85psi (manual says 90psi is max.) put the socket over the nut and pulled the trigger. About 5 seconds later the nut was off. I couldn't believe how easy it was. Putting the new yoke on was a bit tricky as you have to be careful not to damage the crush washer. I set the tool on the lowest setting and it was very easy to control with the trigger; I got it on with no problem. Next I needed to replace a brake caliper so I used it to pull off the front tire which was just plain fun. I'm just a shade tree mechanic but have found lots of uses for this tool. It's very useful and I couldn't have done some of the jobs I've done without it. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you decide to purchase it. I also purchased the Ingersoll Rand SK4H13L 1/2-Inch Drive 13-Piece SAE Deep Impact Socket Set to go with it as I was told that regular sockets would not hold up. These are great sockets, very hefty with easy to read markings (great for those with over 40 eyes).

Want Ingersoll-Rand 2130 1/2-Inch Heavy-Duty Air Impact Wrench Discount?

I purchased this impact wrench to replace a very old Craftsman hand me down which doesn't have adequate power. The wrench is finished in very nice composite body with the air ports at the handle of the wrench. Power setting is established with a dial on the rear of the unit. There is a direction switch just below the dial setting. The trigger is very responsive and has variable power delivery. It fits 1/2 inch impact sockets perfectly and has a design where it grips the socket so it doesn't fall off easily.

The very first time I used this was to loosen up axle nut on a 7 year old car driven in the Northern USA climate (salt + road grime). I would presume the torque delivery was very close to its maximum, but after 2-3 seconds of hammering, the axle nut came loose. Pretty impressive. I loosen up both side of the FWD axle in one minute. It saved me time, my back and possibly my knuckles if I would have it done manually with an extra long breaker bar.

The wrench has a very nice balance and is pretty lightweight for its size and torque delivery. Please adhere to its minimum air delivery and pressure (make sure your compressor is up to snuff). The wrench is not so quiet, but I usually use ear plugs around these things anyway. For the price + power delivery + quality of construction, I would comfortable rate it at 5 stars.

Save 48% Off

I've been using this with a Craftsman Pro 26gal compressor. I did some research and this impact wrench had good specs for the SCFM rating I could support. Just changed my timing belt last weekend and it was great for removing the wheel, motor mount, crankshaft pulley bolt etc. The IR is short enough that it fits into most places you'd expect to use an impact wrench. Also, it fits well in my hands and has a solid feel.

There are three power settings on the back. The counterclockwise rotation is full force regardless of the setting. With the middle setting, my lugnuts go on just a bit tighter than spec, so I actually avoid using a torque wrench when I use this.