An evaporative cooler which includes a sealed loop of conduit with a first portion in a space to be cooled and a second portion in a space where heat is rejected, a volume of working fluid, and a fan inside the conduit loop. The fan forces air over the working fluid to accelerate its evaporation, which requires heat. Evaporation creates vapor-enriched air which carries heat and is forced by the fan to the second portion. Within the second portion, the vapor-enriched air rejects the absorbed heat before being forced back to the first portion. In certain cases, a portion of the working fluid in the vapor-enriched air condenses out and drains or is pumped back to the first portion. In certain uses, the cooler provides cooling to an area. In other uses, the cooler captures vaporized water, producing an impurity-free condensate for removal or use.