An evaporative air conditioner is provided which includes a housing (10) having air-pervious portions (12). Wettable pads (20) are mounted within the housing (10) against the inner surface of the air-pervious portions (12) such that ambient air flowing through the air-pervious portions (12) flow through the pads (20). A suction fan (18) is mounted within the housing (10) for drawing ambient air through the air-pervious portion (12). A liquid distributor (16) is mounted above the housing (10). The distributor (16) has surfaces which slope downwrdly from the center of the distributor (16) toward the upper edges of the housing (10). The surfaces of the distributor (16) which slope toward the air-pervious portions (12) of the housing (10) include horizontal terraces (17) for distributing liquid evenly across the surfaces. A pump (22) supplies liquid to the center of the distributor (16) such that the liquid flows downwardly by gravity over the terraced surfaces and directly onto the upper edges of the wettable pads (20).