Winterizing a swamp cooler can help to reduce possible damage as a result of the cold, winter temperatures. This is an evaporative type of cooler, making it a bit different than a regular air conditioner. Swamp coolers vaporizes water to cool a space instead of absorbing and compressing water. This allows you to cool your house fast while maintaining low energy consumption and optimal efficiency.
When winter arrives, it is imperative that you take the necessary steps for winterizing a swamp cooler. The colder temperatures might result in pipelines freezing and breaking. If this happens, it could become costly to replace or repair the lines. It is also possible for your home’s hot air to leak from the vents.
Also, you can help your swamp cooler to last longer when you perform regular routine maintenance. Now it is time to explore what you can do to ensure that winterizing a swamp cooler goes as planned.
Why Winterizing a Swamp Cooler is Important
If you do not winterize your swamp cooler, this can allow standing water to remain in place throughout the winter months. When this happens, the following issues are possible:
• Corrosion and rust
• Fast growth of mildew and mold
• Leaks and broken water pipes as a result of freezing
The purpose of winterizing is to ensure that none of these issues happen. Without winterizing, the damage that may occur can be very costly. In some cases, it could render your swamp cooler unable to be repaired, causing you to need to get a new one.
Overall, the winterizing process is relatively simple. This is something that you are able to do on your own. Creating a checklist of the tasks that you need to accomplish will ensure that all are done correctly.
1. Turn Off the Power
Before you start winterizing your cooler, it is critical that you turn off the power supply. This will prevent the risk of electrocution when you are working to perform the winterizing tasks. By ensuring that the power is turned off, this also prevents any chance of the unit turning on during the cold weather months.
2. Disconnect the Supply of Water
Throughout the winter months, it is important to ensure that the water line is not connected to your swamp cooler. Start by finding the valve that allows water to get into your swamp cooler. It is usually in a more hidden spot to protect it from cold air. Once you find the valve, ensure that the pipes are free of water. Then shut the valve down.
If you allow water to remain inside the pipes, it can result in the pipes bursting in the cold weather. To ensure safety during this process, always make sure that there is no electricity going to the cooler before you start working with the lines or valves.
3. Empty the Water from the Cooler
During the winter, no water can be left in the cooler. Your cooler has metal pans, and when water sits in them throughout the winter, rusting can occur. Both sides of your cooler should be removed for this process. Ensure that all of the water is emptied completely. Once you finish draining it, clean the area and ensure that it is dry. After this, do not close the drain. Keeping the drain open ensures that any rainwater that might get in is able to flow out so that the pans do not rust.
After draining the pans, some dirt or minerals may remain. These accumulate during the warm months as water evaporates when the swamp cooler is working. As time passes, the debris sticks to the pans. You can use a hose pipe to clean the pans to remove the debris thoroughly.
4. Clean the Inside Walls
The inside walls of your cooler are prone to grime and dirt that build up during the summer months. After you empty the water, you can use some warm water and soap to wipe down the inside walls. This keeps your cooler in good condition and will make it easier to start it up again once summer begins.
5. Swap Out the Cooling Pads
During the fall season, you can start winterizing a swamp cooler by changing the cooler pads. During the summer months, mineral residue accumulates on these pads. The metal can also start to rust as a result of rainwater during the summer. Because of this, ensuring that you have clean pads going into the winter will protect the metal. It is also beneficial during the summer months because it ensures that your swamp cooler is performing at an optimal level.
6. Use a Cover
Once you do all of the above tasks, you want to make sure that your cooler is covered throughout the winter months. It is important that you use a cover that is designed to work with your cooler. The cover should accommodate the size of your cooler so that it keeps water out of the unit and prevents debris from entering.
These covers will not only protect your swamp cooler during the winter, but it also helps to reduce what you need to do to prepare it for the summer months. This is because a cover will keep your cooler cleaner and easier to clean prior to needing to use it again.
7. Cover the Vents
During the summer, the vents in your home that allow air to circulate ensure that it stays cool. However, once the cold weather starts, you want to keep this cold air from getting into your home. Most vents are able to be closed quickly. You can also use covers over them for further insulation. This will ensure that your home is not losing heat so that your furnace does not have to work harder to warm your home.
It is best to complete the winterizing process late in the fall season. This will ensure that your cooler is protected once the cold weather starts.