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The key to the success of our high-pressure misting systems is the level of atomization our systems achieve. The combination of our 1,000 PSI tri-piston pumps and Halo's FlashMist nozzles result in the shearing of water droplets as small as 10 microns in size. This distinction causes rapid evaporation of the mist droplets, drawing heat out of the air, cooling the area rapidly by up to 30 degrees, all without saturating your furniture, clothes, or guests with residual moisture.
Evaporation is the method through which the air is cooled. As the water converts from a liquid to a vapor, that change requires energy (heat). By localizing the evaporation to your patio, we are essentially robbing the area of heat.
The greater the amount of evaporation, and the faster it can occur and the greater your overall cooling capacity. Rapid evaporation is also what prevents the side effect of many misting systems, residual moisture. Residual moisture occurs when the water droplets are unable to evaporate before making contact with the surface, whether that is a guest, furniture or the patio surface.
We influence the efficiency evaporation by controlling the droplet size leaving the nozzle. These droplets are measured in microns (1/1,000,000 of a meter). The smaller the water droplet, the faster the evaporation and the greater the cooling effect.
| Type | Typical PSI | Approximate Droplet Size | Evaporative Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Pressure Hose | 40-60 PSI | Often 200+ microns (µm) | Low |
| Mid-Pressure | 200-500 PSI | Often 100+ microns (µm) | Moderate |
| High-Pressure | 1,000 PSI | Can reach 10-15 microns (µm) | High |
Going from 10 microns to 200 microns may seem insignificant with how small of a scale a micron is, but the negative impact even 100 microns can have is dramatic.
To provide a better visual, if you take a water droplet that is 200 microns in diameter from a low pressure misting system; the same mass that is in that droplet can make 8,000 10 micron droplets and create 20x the surface area. On even a 100 micron droplet the evaporative efficiency is low enough that it can no longer evaporate before making contact with the surface. This results in little to no cooling effect, damp clothes, wet furniture and uncomfortable guests.
The chart below uses D²-law to calculate the time and distance of various droplet sizes to showcase how even a small change in droplet size can have a big impact. You can read our detailed article on the role of droplet size in misting system cooling if you are looking for a deeper dive.
| Starting Droplet Size | Estimated Time to Fully Evaporate | Estimated Fall Distance Before Full Evaporation | Likely Residual Moisture Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 µm | ~0.04 sec | ~0.0002 ft. | None: near-instant evaporation |
| 20 µm | ~0.16 sec | ~0.003 ft. | None: near-instant evaporation |
| 50 µm | ~1 sec | ~0.12 ft. | None: near-instant evaporation |
| 100 µm | ~4.1 sec | ~1.7 ft. | None: evaporates within 2 ft. of nozzle |
| 150 µm | ~9.3 sec | ~7.7 ft. | Seated and standing guests, some furniture |
| 200 µm | ~16.5 sec | ~21.5 ft. | Guests, furniture, and patio surfaces |
| 250 µm | ~25.8 sec | ~46 ft. | Guests, furniture, and patio surfaces |
Several items worthy of consideration when deciding on a misting system fall outside of the scope of this page. You can read our article on what to look for when considering an patio misting system for a more in depth breakdown.
Using the calculations in the table above, as well as what we know about droplet sizes across various misting classes we are able to compare the performance of these systems. Pay careful attention to the distinction between the two tables. The first table compares the evaporative efficiency of each system in what we consider its "best case" or the lower end of the droplet size distribution for the system. The second table uses a 3x multiple of the smallest droplet size to create an expected average droplet size.
| Type | Typical PSI | Droplet Size (Lower End of Distribution) |
Estimated Fall Distance Before Full Evaporation | Likely Residual Moisture Locations | Cost (DIY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Pressure Hose | 40-60 PSI | 200 µm | ~22 ft. | Guests, furniture, and patio surfaces | Under $20 |
| Mid Pressure | 200-500 PSI | 100 µm | ~1.7 ft. | None: evaporates within 2 ft. of the nozzle |
$1,000- |
| High Pressure | 1000 PSI | 15 µm | ~0.001 ft. | None: near instant evaporation |
$1,100- |
| Type | Typical PSI | Droplet Size (Expected Average Distribution) |
Estimated Fall Distance Before Full Evaporation | Likely Residual Moisture Locations | Cost (DIY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Pressure Hose | 40-60 PSI | 600 µm | Beyond 50 ft. | Guests, furniture, and patio surfaces | Under $20 |
| Mid Pressure | 200-500 PSI | 300 µm | Beyond 50 ft. | Guests, furniture, and patio surfaces |
$1,000- |
| High Pressure | 1000 PSI | 45 µm | ~0.12 ft. | None: near instant evaporation |
$1,100- |
If your goal is to take the edge off the heat and cool your patio as much as possible, then your want to be evaporating as much water as possible. The most efficient way to accomplish that is with a high-pressure misting system, whether you install it yourself, or hire a contractor. the low- and mid-pressure systems take too long to evaporate which leaves you with more residual moisture and less cooling capacity.
A low-pressure system can provide some relief from the heat through the dampening of the skin, which can be a great budget option in setting where guests getting wet isn't as much of a concern such as a youth camp or outdoor sporting event. Mid-pressure systems do have a leg up in performance over the low-pressure systems, but at a cost similar to the high-pressure systems they can be hard to justify.
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