Outdoor cooling is not a new phenomenon. It has been used for decades to keep animals cool where air conditioning simply was not practical. The most common uses for a typical misting system going back to the 1950’s included outdoor cooling for poultry and cattle.
Misting Systems Coming of Age
In the 1980’s, after years of proven performance and with continued emphasis on product improvements, outdoor misting systems were perfected enough to apply their cooling capabilities to outdoor areas for people. These unique systems began to show up on restaurant patios in places like Phoenix and Palm Desert where the climates were hot and dry for up to 8 months out of the year.
Throughout the 1990’s, this new method of effective outdoor cooling continued to gain momentum and was soon economically viable for residential use. The cost for the systems was less than 1/2 of what it was in the mid 1980’s and even a modest home could justify the expense, especially considering the cooling capability (lowering outdoor temperatures by as much as 25 degrees) and the fact that this method of outdoor cooling allowed the patio or gazebo to be used even during the hottest summer months.
Today, mist systems are seen at hotels, restaurants, theme parks, universities, and almost any outdoor environment where temperatures exceed 90 degrees. Due to constant improvements in mist system design and mist system nozzles, these relatively new means of outdoor cooling are even used effectively in humid climates throughout the South and Mid-Western United States where temperature reductions of between 10 degrees and 15 degrees are achievable.
