• Cold Air Drain®
  • About the Product
  • Benefits
  • Applications
  • Power Options
  • Frequently Asked Questions
• Getting Started
  • Getting Started
• Pricing
  • Pricing
  • Sales
• Product Comparison
  • Cold Air Drain® v. Wind Machine
  • Cost Comparison
• Sustainability
  • Saving Water
  • Saving Energy
  • Reducing Noise
  • Reducing Pollution
• Education
  • Publications
  • Presentations
• Events Schedule

 

Comparison: Cold Air Drain^® versus Wind Machine

	Cold Air Drain® #1550	Wind Machine
Coverage	Approx. 10 acres*	Approx. 10 acres
Best Suited Areas	Gentle Slopes, Rolling Hills, Swales, Pockets, Canyons, Valleys	Flat
Unit Cost (with Power Unit)	Approx. $13,500	Approx. $15,600-$32,0001
Fuel Consumption	Approx. 1 gal./hr	Approx. 10 gal./hr2
Installation Cost	Portability Allows Owner to Install	Cement Pad + Installation: Cost Unknown (may be included in price of new machine)
Maintenance Cost	Minimal: Owner Maintained	Mfg. Service Contract: Cost Unknown.
Auto-Start Available?	Yes	Yes
Horsepower	15HP	85-100HP3
Power Options	Gas, Electric, PTO, Auto-Start	Gas, Electric, PTO, Diesel, LPG, Auto-Start
Fan Efficiency	90%	56%4
Propeller	Aluminum, Resilient Mounted, Vibration Eliminating, Low-Noise Tip	Rigid Mount Fiberglass or Aluminum
Gearbox	Cast Iron, Steel Gears	Cast Iron, Steel Gears
Enhances Other Frost Protection?	Yes: Wind Machines, Sprinklers, Heaters	Yes: Heaters
Quiet for Residential Areas?	Approx. 63-66dB (depending on power unit) at 120ft	Approx. 90dB at 126ft5
Safely Used in Any Weather?	Yes	No
Reduces Cherry Cracking?	Yes	Yes
Years in Use	20	50+

*Depending on severity of situation.

1. Assessor’s Handbook Section 534: Rural Building Costs.  January 2010.  California State Board of Equalization.
2. Jackson, L.K. and Parsons, L.R. June 1994. "Cold Protection Methods". Fact Sheet HS-121. Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.
3. Tyson, Anthony W., et al."Frost/Freeze Protection by Sprinkler Irrigation". Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium.
4. Rikan Aeromarine, LTD. June 2004. A Comparative Study of FROST BOSS and ORCHARD RITE Wind Machine Fans.
5. City of Calistoga. 2003. "2003 General Plan: Noise Element." Online. 17 July 2010. www.ci.calistoga.ca.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=559.

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