Swamp coolers, also known as evaporative coolers, are a popular choice in the Southwestern United States and other humid regions because they provide relief from the high summer temperatures. However, during the winter months, it is necessary to winterize your swamp cooler to continue to work effectively. Now, if you wonder how to winterize a swamp cooler?
To your absolute amazement, winterizing a swamp cooler is easy and only requires a few everyday household items such as water, towels, window cleaner and paper towels.
Swamp coolers are an inexpensive alternative to air conditioning and an easy way to keep cool in the summer months. Although they don’t work as well in the winter, you can still use them effectively in cooler months if you know how to winterize evaporative cooler correctly.
How To Winterize A Swamp Cooler?
As already said, a swamp cooler or an evaporative cooler is a cooling system designed to move warm air. The water that the swamp cooler uses evaporates and absorbs heat from the air it comes in contact with. Thus, it decreases the room’s temperature by 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is essential to winterize a swamp cooler before the cold winter months set in.
Below you go with the several steps to winterizing a swamp cooler.
1. Unplug The Cooler
The first step is unplugging the cooler and filling it with water. This should be done at least one day before starting winterizing other parts of the home and should not be left plugged in, or it could freeze and burst.
So how do you start winterizing a swamp cooler? The answer is to unplug the unit while not using it for an extended period.
2. Shut off the Water Supply
For better energy efficiency during the winter months, it is essential to shut off the water supply when winterizing your swamp cooler. Water left in the lines will freeze and may burst or create other issues with your cooling system. On top of preventing freezing leading to bursting, shutting off the water supply helps you conserve water during the winter months. It also reduces the risk of flooding when valves are closed due to a potential pipe break or backup.
Shutting off the water supply can is as easy as turning off the valve at the bottom of your unit to stop its flow. If you have a hose bib with a shutoff valve, then that’s all you need to do.
3. Clean the Cooler
Now it’s time to clean the cooler. A swamp cooler creates humidity which, when combined with ice and snow, can clog up the unit leading to water leaking onto your floor during the winter.
So the critical and second step of winterizing a swamp cooler is cleaning the condenser coils and evaporative fins. Leaving these dirty can lead to corrosion of the coils over time, which will affect performance. Once the coils are clean, it’s best to blow dry them with an electric leaf blower to remove any remaining moisture. And allow the coils to dry thoroughly before sealing up the unit for winter.
If not properly cleaned, the coolant may mix with moisture, which will form clumps of frost on the inside of the unit leading to cause costly repairs. Thus a thorough cleaning process can eliminate this problem by sealing all potential leaks.
4. Drain the Swamp Cooler
when the weather shifts, it’s essential to make sure you drain your swamp cooler in the process of winterizing it. Keeping water in the cooler when it’s cold outside can freeze and expand, causing flooding inside your home. Letting water-filled containers freeze can also cause cracking, leaks, or even breakage.
To do this, you must first identify any water or moisture that may be in the cooler and then drain it. You can then dry or clean up any necessary items and close off the intake and output pipes. Finally, you need to remove air from inside the unit and seal it with a plastic sheet before storing it.
5. Cover the Swamp Cooler
The fourth step, just after draining the water out of the cooler, of winterizing your swamp cooler is to put a tarp or other cover on it. I you consider whether or not you need to cover your swamp cooler, make sure everything is cleaned, the water drained out.
Then you get a properly sized cover matching your unit to cover it snugly. Yes, you need to put the cover secured because it has to withstand the beastly force of the winter storm.
6. Seal Vent of the House
Winterizing your evaporative cooler means reducing every potential of cooling the room. To that end, you make sure that any is not opened to let warm air go out and winter air come in. As the vent carries the cold inside the house and lets the warm air pass out, you must seal all vent of the house.
Cost To Winterize An Evaporative Cooler
A swamp cooler is a device that cools the air by evaporating water from an open basin. They behave like the human body in many ways—cooling down simply by sweating.
If you live in a climate that experiences severe winters, it’s a good idea to consider whether or not to spend money on a service to winterize your swamp cooler. Given that the task entails loads of work and some are pretty critical to be successfully done by a novice or DIY warrior to be successfully done, you better seek professional help.
However, it should not break your bank, as the standard cost to winterize a swamp cooler is $175. This includes sealing all duct joints, insulation on the coils, and adding antifreeze to the water lines. It is worth it if you want to enjoy cool air throughout the fall and winter months. Rest assured that a professional service will save money and energy in the long run.
When To Winterize A Swamp Cooler
Swamp coolers are a great way to beat the heat, but when should you winterize your swamp cooler?
The answer is when it’s getting cold outside. Usually, when the temperatures drop below 55 degrees, it’s time to break out the creeper and start winterizing your swamp cooler. This will ensure that your system will be ready for use in the spring and that there will be no severe stresses put on any parts of your system.
So, the right time for winterizing a swamp cooler is before the end of summer. Even though no one likes to think about winter, it is best to prepare for it.
Not to forget, timing is everything in this regard. You know how quickly cold and snow can invade.
Wrap Up
In conclusion, a swamp cooler is a great way to keep your house cool in the summer. Now you better know how to winterize a swamp cooler as the process has been well-explained here. Remember, if you take long before winterizing the swamp cooler after the summer, you will invite severe damage to your cooling unit. So, whether you attempt to do it yourself or call in the professionals, do it on time. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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