How Do I Service My Swamp Cooler?

Operation and Preventative Maintenance

To keep the swamp cooler from being overused, which can necessitate more repairs, run the swamp cooler only at temperatures higher than 85 degrees. This will also help you save energy. Also, remove the blower panel and clean the water reservoir of leaves and dirt. Lubricate the blower at the beginning of the summer before you start using the swamp cooler.

Be careful when working on a swamp cooler located on the roof. Ensure that you have enough support (proper ladder length and weight load, safety rope, etc.) while doing your work. Turn the power off when working on electrical wiring.

Shut off the cooler. Pop open the swamp cooler door using a screw driver and an adjustable wrench. Check the fan belt tension and make sure that it is taut, not sagging in any way, pulling on it to determine how much it moves. If it moves more than an inch, it likely needs to be replaced. Check the cooler pads and replace them if they look damaged or caked with mineral deposits. After inspecting them, turn on the motor to see if the pads become saturated with enough water. Look for any cracks in the casement, tray or anywhere else on the swamp cooler that might cause it to leak and repair them with a suitable sealant.

Before running the swamp cooler, fill the tray with plenty of water, so that the water line is slightly below the top of the tray. The water level can be readjusted by the float arm. Also, ensure adequate ventilation in and out of the house or the swamp cooler will not work. Pour a cup of bleach into the swamp cooler and run it for 20 to 30 minutes in order to disinfect the cooler. Afterward, shut it off, rinse out the bleach and scrub the inside of the cooler with a broad brush and detergent. Scrub hard enough to remove hard-water deposits.

When you have finished using a swamp cooler for the season, make sure that you clean out mineral deposits found on the cooling pads with a brush and bleach water in order to prevent them from hardening in the winter.