Shadehouse Misting Systems

While I was kvetching yesterday about the 100°F temps in the shadehouse, DH surprised me with a "why don't we put in an evaporative misting system?" After doing a little looking around, I think I need a pump with at least 1000psi, because I want the water to instantly evaporate and not add any liquid water to the plants. (I've been attempting to cool with one-minute intervals of running my irrigation, but I'm beginning to see weakening in my new growths from too much water.)

Anybody have any vendor recommendations? I don't want a misting system that relies on fans for distribution; rather, we will install nozzles all along the ceiling. At least that's the plan. I'd also like the pump to be thermostat activated, so any advice on that would be appreciated, too. (Along with a vendor recommendation for the thermostat.)

Also, it seems to me that a misting system might help maintain warmth in the Looking Glass on 50° winter nights. We don't get many, but a few. Is this the case?

My shadehouse is 24'x36' / 8640 cubic feet...

Thanks!

 

Evaporative coolers aren't an option for me, because (as it seems you've guessed,) my humidity is usually above 90% when it's this hot.

 

This is what I ordered. I'll post the source if I'm happy with the results...

- 1000 PSI Operating Pressure.

- Capacity 1/4 GPM: Powers Ten .008" Nozzles or Fourteen .006" Mist Nozzles

- Weather Rated Galvanized, Powder Coated Enclosure (Not painted plain steel)

- Upgraded Permanently Lubricated Bearing Type Motor with Capacitor (Does not use brushes which wear out)

- Thermal Protection (Prevents motor from overheating)

- Solenoid Valve with Filter Screen (Shuts the water supply off when the pump is turned off)

- Low Pressure Safety Switch (Prevents mist pump from running dry in case of accidental shut off of the water supply)

- Pump can be Wall Mounted or Placed on Ground

-Whisper Quiet Operation - The Quietest Mist Cooling Pump on the Market

- Specially Designed for Super Efficient Operation (only Draws 1.8 amps)

Kit Includes:

1 (MD250S) High Pressure Mist Pump 250

10 (MDN8B) Brass and Stainless Steel Mist Nozzle 0.008"

10 (MDPC1/4x10/24NB) Push Connect NB

1 (MDPCDVT) Drain Valve

1 (MDPCEP) 1/4 End Plug

75'(MDT1/4NYBL) 1/4 High Pressure Flexible Nylon Tubing

1 (MDFC) Filter Calcium

25 (MDTC1/4n) 1/4" Nylon Tubing Clamp

 

Thanks Candace. I'm sure I will need to clean them regularly. Have to clean my irrigation heads, too. Reminds me that they're due...

 

No mention of the system needing RO; and it comes with a nice, big calcium filter. It arrived last evening, and I'm stoked. It's a pretty nice kit! Installation this weekend!

 

Ok, installation is complete! Preliminary results are very promising. It took approximately one hour for it to cool the shadehouse from 97° to 88°. One row of misters is incomplete because I'm waiting for 4 more nozzles, so it should do even better with those installed. I went with the 14 .006" misters, and the water droplets vaporize very nicely.

The pump is VERY quiet, only emitting a very quiet humming noise. I'm sensitive to annoying sounds, and it doesn't bother me at all.

Here's the link to the system I got: http://mistingdirect.com/mikit250m.html

 

Yeah it's definitely a commitment.