Evaporative cooling media can be tricky to order due to a number of reasons. It might be hard to know what material you need, dimensions, and how to order in general. At ATEC we want to help make the ordering process as smooth as possible. In this blog we will go over what is helpful to know before you order evaporative cooling media.
Material:
First off, it is important to know what type of evaporative cooling media to order. It can become a very expensive mistake to order the wrong type. Don't feel bad if you didn't know there are multiple materials of evaporative cooling media, you are not alone. That is why we are here to help ensure you have the right type for your application. There are two main materials we offer in different brands:
Cellulose:
When we talk about efficiency both materials perform similarly. What it really comes down to between the two is fire resistance. Cellulose media is NOT fire resistant and not certified to go into applications that need to meet certain fire rating standards. If you do not need to worry about fire rating, cellulose media works great and is the cheaper option.
Brands of cellulose media options we stock (and links to pages on our site to learn more):
Fiberglass:
Just like with cellulose the efficiency is very similar and they both perform well. The big difference being fire resistance. Fiberglass media is made with fire resistant materials to comply with UL900 standards requirements. Here are the options (and pages) for fiberglass media:
Do I need coated Media:
Next on our list of things to check before we order is if coating is needed for the media. This coating on the media is dipped onto a side of a regular piece of media. For most cellulose paper media it is a black color coating and for the fiberglass media is is a light tan color. The side with the coating is more rough and hard. This coating is meant to help with increased durability. When installed it is placed in the unit facing outwards, or towards the outdoor elements. When is comes to evaporative cooling and humidification there are hundreds, if not thousands, of applications. Each application is different and some may have increased exposure to the elements. For example, some applications will receive increased sun exposure, or weather in general. This could lead to an increased exposure to chemical or algae buildup. That is when coating can come in handy, it can help give longer life and efficiency to your media. Here is more information about the current available options for coating (Kuul is not currently offering a coated option, we will keep you posted):
Do I need distribution pad:
Distribution pad does just as the name indicates; it evenly distributes water across the whole bank/unit of media. Sometimes the spraying headers will only saturate small portions of the media which will cause those parts to wear down faster and not allow for even wet out. Distribution pad is designed to carry that water to all the media giving you more efficiency as well as helping to prolong the life of your media bank. Distribution pad is also often roller coated to help with added durability.
Measuring distribution pad is different from other media and is measured in Depth x Width x Length (to cover the Width of the bank of media under it).
Standard distribution pad comes in either 2" or 3" deep, with a standard of 12" wide, and length/height ranging from standard 24", 36", 48", 60", 72".
As with other media we can cut to custom sizes depending on you unit size
(we do not recommend cutting it smaller than 2" deep as it loses in efficiency and becomes very fragile).
Check out our Distribution Pad download for more about how to order and measure for distribution pad:
Dimensions:
One of the most important parts of ordering is knowing the right size. The most common mistake we see is mis-measured media. There may be a manual or a maintenance guide on your unit but most of the time you will need to measure your media or media opening to be extra sure.
When measuring you will need to get the Depth X Width X Height.
Let's share an example to make it a little easier (see photo):
I took my media out and I have measured the media section of my unit. My overall unit dimensions for media are
12" deep x 54"wide x 44" high (46" high with distribution pad on top).
I will send my dimensions (and photos if I have them) to ATEC who will send me a quote for:
-4 pieces 12d x 12w x 44h
-1 piece 12d x 6w x 44h
-1 piece distribution pad 2dx12wx54L
On all ATEC quotes and orders we will always use the order of DxWxH for measurements. We realize everyone might organize them differently but to ensure accuracy we will ask you to specify. For example, say we get a quote request for 1 unit that measures at 52 x 6 x 36... It is pretty certain that 6" is the depth but, without seeing the unit, there isn't a great way to know which measurement is the width and which is the height.
Measuring is probably the topic we get the most questions about so we have created a number of resources to help answer those media measuring questions. Please enjoy our measuring video as well and check out our recent blog covering all things measuring!
Get a quote:
Now that you know the material you need, if it needs to be coated, and the measurements, you are ready to get a quote! We always suggest getting a quote to ensure everything is accurate, as you may not know what size we will use to make your order. Quoting also helps with pricing and lead time information. As a large stocking distributor we typically carry larger media sizes and cut them to per order, since every application is a little different. We offer custom cutting for almost any size you need. When you receive a quote, always check out the description section because we often cut smaller sizes out of bigger in-stock pieces. So, you may ask for 4 pieces 6d x 12w x 60h and we may cut it from only 2 pieces 12d x 12w x 60h (that quantity of 2 may get confusing).
Lead Times:
Once you give us all the information we need:
✅ Material (and if coating is needed as well as distribution pad)
✅ Measurement (specifying depth x width x height)
✅ Quantity
We can now give you a quote and lead time! When it comes lead times stock is alway moving and changing, almost daily. Depending on the time of year lead times may be longer than usual. We work very hard to stock extra and try to have the shortest lead times available! Keep in mind, if you have a job you know is coming down the pipeline, you can get orders in and have them shipped closer to install. This helps "save your spot in line" and helps you meet the install dates. We are already seeing orders for 2025 and are looking forward to another great year of helping you have a cool day!
If you want to read more about lead times and what materials trend busier when, check out our lead times blog:
Thank you for reading along and hope this helps answer questions on what you should know before you quote and order! As always feel free to reach out with any questions you might have!
We hope you have a cool day!
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