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Tips for Maintaining an Evaporative Cooler
The evaporative cooler, which is also known as the swamp cooler, is an ingenuous money-saving device that can deliver a surprisingly effective temperature reduction performance. It’s a good alternative to an air conditioner in many climates, if its well-maintained and cared for to guarantee smooth and reliable operation.
If you have a swamp cooler or plan to get one soon, good maintenance practices are essential, to ensure you get the most out of your investment.
Spring Maintenance Tips
Before the summer cooling season arrives, you must prepare your evaporative cooler for the heavy load it will be asked to carry in the coming months. Here’s how you do it, step-by-step:
- Remove the panels and thoroughly clean the water pan. To ensure fast and efficient evaporative functioning, a spick-and-span pan is your very best plan.
- Check the fan belt to make sure its tight. If its stretched and loose (wiggles more than an inch) it needs to be replaced.
- Grease the blower assembly and motor with a few drops of high-quality lubricant.
- Take a look at the swamp cooler absorption pads. If they look worn or stained they should be replaced—and if you do have to change your cooler pads, be sure to buy good-quality replacements.
- Check the interior and exterior of the cooler closely, for holes, cracks, splits along seams, or more significant forms of damage. If signs of trouble are evident, you may need to bring in a trained heating and cooling technician to assess the situation and perform repairs (or recommend a new model if your evaporative cooler is past its prime).
- Turn on the cooler motor and pump it to test how the system is working. You should notice your cooler pads getting fully saturated, and if that doesn’t happen you’ll need to consult with a technician to find out why.
Summer Maintenance Tips
Naturally, you must continue to monitor and maintain your swamp cooler once you actually begin to use it. Any drop in overall cooling efficiency could indicate an impending breakdown, and to avoid such a development you should routinely do the following:
- Check the water levels in the tray inside the cooler. If you notice the water is below the line, you can adjust the float arm to fix this problem.
- Closely examine all working parts for signs of grime, dirt, grinding noises, looseness, and any other indications of damage or dysfunction. If you see anything suspicious, contact your HVAC contractor right away and ask them to dispatch a repair technician to your home.
- Check the cooler pads to make sure they are clean and functioning properly. This is an action you should repeat frequently, maybe as often as once a week (it’s always better to be safe than sorry).
Post-Season Maintenance Tips
To prepare for winter, clean the unit thoroughly, inside and out, and disconnect the cooler’s water line so it can be drained and blown out. The latter step eliminates the possibility of water freezing inside the line, which can leave you facing costly repairs. Be sure to cover the outside of the unit with a tarp or form-fitted cover, to protect it from the ice, snow, and cold (assuming you have the type of cooler that is exposed to the elements).
Northern Climate Control: Your Evaporative Cooler Specialists in Denver
As a supplement to your DIY efforts, please contact Northern Climate Control to schedule a maintenance appointment. We can check, clean, and tune your evaporative cooler in the spring, repair it in the summer, and help you winterize it in the fall, all of which will extend the lifespan of your unit indefinitely. Evaporative coolers are an intriguing option for Denver Metro Area homeowners, and if you’re less than satisfied with your current air conditioner an evaporative cooler could make the perfect replacement.
