Need a tune up on my swamp cooler

STEVE IN SOCAL · #1 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 01:15 PM

The swamp cooler wasn't performing at the Owens Valley cabin last week as well as I (or especially my wife) would have liked. My main trouble was getting the water balanced to drip equally on all four sides(pads). Any ideas or tricks out there?
My wife wants me to A/C the place, but I can remember that swamp cooler doing a good job last year during the remodel.

Kit Fox · #2 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 01:18 PM

It sounds like the "spider" that distributes the water to the pads, might be plugged up at the outlets. Uneven water distribution is usually caused by a restriction. A thorough cleaning of the tubes, or a replacement should fix your problem.

I don't agree with his wiring solution, but you get the ideas about maintenance.

http://home.comcast.net/~cmhp/Swampcooler.html

STEVE IN SOCAL · #3 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 02:41 PM

My uneven water flow has to do with an uneven mounted cooler. I need to figure out a shim system, I think, for the individual 'legs' of the spider. The high humidity and vibration makes this a challenge.

Coues · #4 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 07:00 PM

You can get some chemicals at homedepot that will resolve the mineral build up in your water distributor.

If you don't have your cooler set up on a bleed system, the pipes and pads will get packed with minerals very fast. You should be bleeding a small portion of the water in the sump off constantly to keep from minerals from building up in the water distribution system and evap pads.

I worked at a evap cooler mfg for 12 years and failure to set up your bleed off correctly was the #1 cause of problems.

STEVE IN SOCAL · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 10:34 PM

Mine doesn't have a bleed off system that I know of...

Kit Fox · #6 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coues

You can get some chemicals at homedepot that will resolve the mineral build up in your water distributor.

If you don't have your cooler set up on a bleed system, the pipes and pads will get packed with minerals very fast. You should be bleeding a small portion of the water in the sump off constantly to keep from minerals from building up in the water distribution system and evap pads.

I worked at a evap cooler mfg for 12 years and failure to set up your bleed off correctly was the #1 cause of problems.

Quote:

Mine doesn't have a bleed off system that I know of...

I recently replaced my evaporative cooler after 9 years, and had a constant problem with mineral build-up. I never tried using the bleed system on my first cooler. This was my biggest mistake. The bleed system on my consists of a plastic tee (located between the water pump and the spider arm) with a tiny port designed to accept a super thin hose. While water is being pumped to the spider, a percentage of water is constantly being directed into the smaller hose, where I sent it out of the swamp cooler, and into my bathroom air vent.

RVRKNG · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 11:08 AM

Steve, if you want I will go up & stay for a few weeks & work on it for you in between fishing!!??

STEVE IN SOCAL · #8 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVRKNG

Steve, if you want I will go up & stay for a few weeks & work on it for you in between fishing!!??

As good as the fishing's been, I'd never be rid of you...you'd be breakin stuff so you could stay longer. I'll have to say no, but I'm doing it for the fish :)