If you’re sweltering in the summer heat and your swamp cooler decides to malfunction, you’re likely to become angry and downright miserable. Luckily there are only a few reasons why your swamp cooler would stop working, so troubleshooting your problem and discovering the cause should be fairly straightforward. In most cases you will be able to correct the problem yourself and have your swamp cooler blowing cold air again in no time.
How Does a Swamp Cooler Work?
Swamp coolers use the same principle that sweat uses to cool your skin. As water evaporates it takes the heat from the air and releases it in the form of a water droplet. Your swamp cooler does this by soaking the pads in water and waiting for them to begin evaporating. As the pads go through the process of drying, they cool down all of the air surrounding the swamp cooler. A small fan blows this cool air throughout your entire space.
This is very different from your average air conditioner as it consumes a lot of electricity trying to constantly power refrigerant through condenser coils which produces the cold air. Swamp coolers use minimal electricity and use the natural power of evaporation to cool your home. Most of the electricity that a swamp cooler uses goes to powering the fan which blows the cool air.
Here are the Reasons Your Evaporative Cooler Would Stop Cooling
There are several different reasons why your swamp cooler would not blow cold air. In most cases the problem is not going to be internal but caused by an external factor. Believe it or not, the most common reason your swamp cooler stops blowing cold air is because your circuit breaker tripped or your fuse blew. This is an automatic feature which is used to prevent electrical damage to your swamp cooler.
It prevents the unit from getting destroyed in case there is an electrical surge. Another common reason for cooler failure is bad wiring. You may have this issue if you constantly have power surges which trip your circuit breaker. To check this problem, you will need to inspect the wires going to your circuit breaker and fuse, looking for any black marks nearby.
The thermostat could also be malfunctioning, and unfortunately there is no real way to check this on your own. If your thermostat goes bad, they will simply need to be replaced. Low-voltage can also cause your swamp cooler not to function properly. Just like many other household appliances, your swamp cooler will not work correctly when the voltage is low.
Installing a voltage stabilizer can ensure that your cooler will not be affected by random occurrences of low-voltage. If your swamp cooler fan has stopped working or if the belt that powers the fan is broken your swamp cooler will not blow any cold air. Both of these problems are internal, and sometimes the belt which connects the fan and motor can become loose or broken.
If your belt is broken you can simply replace it, but if the belt is still intact you can reconnect it. The motor could also malfunction, but this is very rare. Motors for swamp coolers are built to last and usually don’t have many problems.
Troubleshooting Your Swamp Cooler
Check the Circuit Breaker
If your cooler does not turn on, check your circuit breaker and fuse. If it turns on but does not blow cold air, check your thermostat to ensure it wasn’t set too high.
Address Swamp Cooler Musty Smells
If your swamp cooler starts to smell musty then you should take a look at your evaporating pads and replace them if necessary. Stagnant water could also be the culprit as the water in the sump could become stagnant. You will want to drain the water from your sump and clean it out. When refilling the tank with water it’s advised that you put a teaspoon of vinegar in the water. Vinegar helps to keep your water clean longer.
Check the Swamp Cooler Float Valve
If your cooler is dripping, you could have a float valve that is improperly adjusted. You can adjust this manually to make sure your unit is receiving enough water and not overflowing. If your swamp cooler is blowing air that isn’t cold enough, check your water supply first. Make sure there is water in the unit and then check your water pump to make sure it is working. You should also make sure that your water distributor is not clogged.
Check the Humidity Levels
Ensure your swamp cooler is continually cooling by first verifying that the average humidity in your area isn’t too humid. Swamp coolers do not work very well in highly humid areas.
Check Your Swamp Cooler Supply Line
Make sure you check your water supply often by ensuring that the pump is connected to your hose, and that your water distributor is connected to your swamp cooler.
Keep Your House Ventilated When Running the Swamp Cooler
Since your swamp cooler works better with natural ventilation you should always keep a few windows open in your house. This allows enough air flow for your swamp cooler to keep blowing cold air at you.
Excessive Scale on Swamp Cooler Pads
One of the most common problems that people run into with their swamp cooler is excessive scale on the pads. The best way to prevent this from happening is to simply drain your water out of your swamp cooler once a week. You may even want to buy a purge pump that will help prevent any debris or scale from getting into your evaporative pads. This step may seem excessive, but if you do it each week you most likely will receive the benefits from it.
Final Swamp Cooler Blowing Warm Air Thoughts
If your Albuquerque swamp cooler is blowing hot air it there are several reasons it could be happening. The fact is you need to hire swamp cooler professionals like the pros at Day & Night Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to troubleshoot the issue and then provide the solution. Give them a call at 505-974-5797 today to solve your swamp cooler problem and start cooling your house right away.
