A Phoenix swamp cooler, also commonly referred to as an evaporative cooler, operates by pulling in air from outside, cooling it down with the help of water and pushing the cool air back into the room.
Within the cooler, there are soaked pads through which water is run and this is used to cool the air.
Although these swamp coolers consume a lot of water and need regular maintenance, they are considered to be more effective than air-conditioners in the hot arid and semi-arid regions and hence are a popular sight in homes in such areas.
One of the most common problems which have been reported as regards the Phoenix swamp coolers is the gradual reduction in their cooling capacity over a period of time.
This problem can be overcome by replacing the blue sponge pads which are used within the cooler with aspen pads which may not sound as high tech but are definitely worth a consideration from the sustenance point of view.
This is owing to the fact that the aspen pads are not only economical but also make the cooler make more efficient by absorbing water apart from creating a curtain of water.
Since Phoenix swamp coolers are user friendly in nature, the switch from blue sponge pads to aspen pads can be brought about at home as well with the help of a few hardware materials like a pump, a supply tube, a distribution array known as a 'spider', a pump basket, a basket filter bag, a grounded three-prong splitter, 14-inch zip ties, dykes, utility knife and a cell phone.
While carrying about the repair job, the first precaution which is taken is to switch off and completely lock out the power from the swamp cooler and then dismantling the entire unit to make the replacement.
Power supply is restored back again only after the job has been completed to the last detail.