When hot weather looms, one of the most important things you can do to keep your home comfortable all summer is to prepare your swamp cooler for efficient service. By performing all needed pre-summer maintenance steps, you can lower your costs and increase the longevity of your cooler.
Prepare to de-winterize your swamp cooler by having all your materials and tools ready and then follow the ten steps listed below.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need to to De-Winterize Your Swamp Cooler
You’ll want to get all your tools and materials in hand before ever getting out a ladder (if your swamp cooler is, like most coolers, on the roof). That will save you trips up and down the ladder to get something you missed.
You will need:
- Wrench
- Pliers
- Tape measure
- Scissors or utility knife
- Lubricant for bearings
- Sufficient cooler pad material to install in all four sides of the cooler
- Optional: Level or T-square
Once you climb up the ladder with your materials, have a way to secure them so they don’t slide off the roof. This will increase your safety and could save more trips up and down the ladder.
Ten Important Pre-Summer Maintenance Steps for a Swamp Cooler
Here are the ten steps you should take to get your swamp cooler ready to keep your home comfortable all summer long.
- Remove the protective cover and take out any insulation added to the inside of the unit.
- Install new evaporative pads on all four sides. These generally need to be custom-cut to exactly fit your cooler. (A level or T-square helps keep these cuts straight.)
- Check out the water reservoir under your swamp cooler. Make sure it is free from any dirt, dust, plant or animal debris.
- If the water reservoir is rusted, paint it.
- Turn on the water and test your float valve operation to make sure it turns off the flow of water at the right time.
- Look all around the cooler to ensure that there are no water leaks. This is critically important if your cooler is on the roof because this kind of leak can lead to damage to your roof or inside your home.
- Inspect the fan belt to ensure there is no wear or cracking.
- Run the unit and listen for any unusual squeaks or other noises coming from the motor, fan belt or bearings. Lubricate the bearings.
- Check the evaporative pads for any dry areas. If the pads are not thoroughly wet, the cooler will draw in hot air and send it into your home.
- Let the unit run long enough to cool your home and check the difference between the outside temperature and the inside temperature. Depending on the humidity outside, a well maintained swamp cooler usually cools homes between 15 and 20 degrees.
If your swamp cooler fails any of these inspection points, call a qualified plumber to provide service for your swamp cooler. Expert diagnostics can resolve the problem quickly and get cool air flowing into your home again.
Why Not to Skip Any Pre-Summer Maintenance Steps for Your Swamp Cooler
There are two compelling reasons not to skip any of these recommended steps. First, if you want a full summer of cool air, checking off all these points is the best way to get uninterrupted cooling.
Second, a well-maintained swamp cooler can last for 15 to 20 years. To get the maximum lifespan out of your cooler, perform a complete pre-summer maintenance as well as proper winterization.
What is equally important is ensuring that your swamp cooler gets a professional service if any problems are noted. A worn fan belt, noisy bearings, uneven wetting of cooler pads or other problems should be corrected immediately. As with most mechanical objects, a fast repair is often the best way to save money in the long run.
We Provide Expert, Experienced Service for Albuquerque Swamp Coolers
In the Albuquerque area, my technicians and I have been preparing swamp coolers for our long, dry summers for many years. We know all the ins and outs of New Mexico coolers and exactly which problems tend to show up. Count on us to keep your swamp cooler running as inexpensively as possible, for as long as possible. Call us for all your swamp cooler maintenance needs: (505) 560-3424.