Swamp Cooler Start Up in Spring and Winterization in Fall

written October 20, 2001, revised January 29, 2023
notes by Kay Argyle, start up from Mary English, winterization from Jeff Streba's explanation & demonstration.

Needed

Ladder, cooler cover,wrench set or adjustable wrench, small bucket or bowl, screw driver, machine oil.  Optional:  garden hose, duct pillow, plastic shrink wrap,  cord or thin rope.

Description of Interior

Pump is small thing at side of big drum (fan), attached to bottom of pan, with tube running from it to top of swamp cooler, feeding water into tubes that radiate out from center, to edges (called a spider).  Water drips from spider onto pads.

Spring

1. Inside:  Remove pillow and/or foam panel from duct.
   
2. Reconnect water pipe at water heater.
   
3. Outside on roof:  Remove cover.  Remove side panels.  
   
4. Put a few drops of oil inside small metal flaps at axle of fan.  
   
5. Reconnect water pipe at water heater & at swamp cooler.  Make sure water is flowing out from tip of each spider tube (sometimes blocked by insect nests). Can pour cup of bleach into pan to help clean out spider tubes, etc.
   
6. Replace pads in side panels. 
   
7. Service any other parts of cooler (?).  Replace side panels.

Fall -- Takes about 1/2 hour.

1. Inside:  Turn off water at connector at water heater.  Put small bucket under connector & unscrew pipe.  (Can simply turn off, but it drains more thoroughly if it is disconnected.)  Water usually does not drain out until pipe is disconnected above at cooler.
   
2. Outside, on roof:  Remove side panels of swamp cooler.  
   
3. Unscrew pipe where it feeds into swamp cooler.
   
4. Undo tube at bottom of metal pan under swamp cooler.  Can attach hose to direct water flow if desired.  
   
5. Swirl accumulated hard water sediment in pan to encourage it to drain, to reduce rusting of pan.
   
6. Clean out debris around pump filter to reduce possibility of pump burning out.  
   
7. Unplug pump & fan.
   
8. Replace side panels.
   
9. Slide cover over swamp cooler & fasten into place with velcro or ties. Optional: Wrap with plastic shrink wrap.  Tie cord around cover for extra security if desired.
   
10. Inside:  Remove vent grill.  Stuff pillow or foam panel into duct to block flow of air.  Put pump someplace inside where you can find it in the spring.