How to Fix evaporative air cooler

You may have to change the fan motor to fix the water cooler.

Water coolers, or evaporative air coolers, are also known as swamp coolers in the hot dry areas where they operate most effectively. The design is simple: A fan forces outside air through fiber filters that are kept wet with a water curtain that is pumped and distributed from a reservoir in the bottom of the unit. The water cooler is composed of several major components, including an electric motor, water pump, a fan blade cage and a reservoir water control float. The water cooler is fixed by replacing or adjusting these individual components as they present problems.

Instructions

1

Condition the water reservoir by opening the drain plug at the bottom and on the side of the unit to drain the water from the reservoir, and scrub the reservoir with a wire brush to remove all scale buildup and debris. Wipe the reservoir clean of all debris.

2

Paint the inside of the reservoir by following label directions on special water cooler paint, available at hardware stores, and allow it to dry.

3

Fill the reservoir to the water level mark on the inside of the unit, and follow label directions to pour special scale remover treatment, available at hardware stores, into the water in the reservoir, which will remove scale and improve water flow in the pump and the water distribution system.

4

Replace the pump by unplugging it and disconnecting the plastic water tube. Place the new pump into the new net filter bag, connect the new plastic tubing with a plumber's clamp to the pump and plug it in.

                             Evaporative air cooler

5

Install a new water distribution system known as the spider because of its central black hub and eight curved water tubes branching out from it. Remove the hub by unscrewing the nut that attaches the central hub to the top of the unit.

6

Cut the new water tubes to the same size as the existing ones; glue the tubes in the holes of the new hub with PVC glue, available at hardware stores, and use the bolt to attach the hub to the top of the cooler unit.

7

Change out the old fan motor by using a crescent wrench to remove the bolt in the motor slide mount, take off the fan belt and remove the existing motor. Place the new motor in the slide mount, place the new fan belt on the flywheel and adjust the position of the motor on the mount to apply adequate pressure so the fan turns easily without producing a high squealing noise which indicates the belt is too tight.

8

Remove all mineral deposit buildup from the inside of the unit to keep water flowing freely, by scrubbing the water troughs and water distribution ports with a stiff brush and white vinegar. Cooling efficiency is determined by how much water is evaporated when it runs through the filters.

9

Use a toothbrush to scrub the float mechanism with white vinegar to remove buildup so the balance arm can move freely. If necessary, replace the float assembly. Adjust the float ball, much like the float ball in a toilet tank, by bending the float arm to a position that will stop the flow of new water just below the top of the drain tube that sticks up from the bottom of the reservoir floor.

Proper Ducting for Swamp Coolers

   Evaporative air coolers are also known as "swamp coolers," a system for homes and buildings which emits moisture to keep the air cool. This method of cooling is popular in the dry climate of the Southwestern United States. Existing ducts for conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning may work for swamp coolers depending on the size of the premises. For efficiency, you may need to enlarge the ducts or reduce them to a window opening depending on the cubic feet of the area and size of the cooling unit. 

   Swamp coolers need more volume of air flow than a conventional air conditioner because swamp coolers produce warmer air supply. The ducting system should handle the increased volume of air blown into the house. First you need to determine the right cooler. Divide the cubic feet of space you want to cool by two for the required cubic feet per minute of air blown into your home to determine the right cooler. The formula for a 1,500 square foot home with ceilings 8 feet high calculates as 1,500 x 8 = 12,000 cubic feet and then 12,000/2 = 6,000 cfm. You will need a swamp cooler with 6,000 cfm. For coolers 4500 cfm or smaller, use 18" ducts, 20" for up to 5500 cfm and 24" for 6500 cfm.

   Installation

   Homes with hallways and multiple bedrooms require duct installation for swamp coolers.Installers commonly used down-flow swamp coolers on roofs to flow through ducts. Flowing air through ducts from ground-mounted horizontal units makes maintenance easier with less risk of leaks on the roof.

   

Swamp Cooler

   Security

Opening or closing windows regulates the temperature and humidity. Installing up-ducts in the ceiling will properly duct the area where opening windows could present a security issue. Up-ducts release warm air into the attic and allows the cool air from the swamp cooler in. You may need additional attic ventilation for this method of duct installation.

   Small Units

Swamp coolers depend on dry, outside air. During hot and muggy weather, the coolers blow in hot, humid air which can emit a musty odor through the duct work into the house. Small premises have the advantage of installing a small unit in a window to blow cooled air directly into a room. Compact houses might not require ducts and can keep cool with central-location installations.

Happy New Year 2015, Everybody!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Swamp Cooler Roof Installation

Swamp coolers are an energy-efficient alternative, particularly in low-humidity areas.

Swamp coolers -- or evaporative coolers -- utilize the natural cooling properties of evaporating water to cool the air inside homes. They function by pulling outdoor air over water-saturated cloths or pads and circulating it through the home. Swamp coolers are an energy-efficient alternative to traditional air conditioning and function particularly well in low-humidity areas. Installation requirements vary depending on the model of cooler you choose, the type and condition of your roof and the duct work in your house; however, there are several steps that apply to all installations. Have a question? Get an answer from a handyman now!

Instructions

1

Find a location on your roof for the cooler. For aesthetic reasons, you may want to locate it on the back of your roof. Swamp coolers blow cool air into a central location through a diffuser or into duct work, which distributes the cool air into different rooms in the house. Therefore, another consideration is proximity to the duct work or diffuser to which you will connect the cooler. Location of roof trusses are another important consideration as you will need to cut a hole in the roof for duct work and you do not want to cut through a truss. 

2

Determine where your cooler will distribute air through the house and install a diffuser in the ceiling at that location or locations. The simplest installations call for a single diffuser located in a central hallway beneath an attic.

3

Cut a hole in the roof. Most evaporative air coolers require either 18-by-18 inch or 20-by-20-inch duct work. Refer to your cooler's literature for the correct size. Make sure the hole is between roof trusses. Frame out the hole with additional two-by-fours between the trusses.

4

Run electrical wiring from the roof to your electrical panel. Run ¼-inch copper or plastic tubing from the roof to a cold water supply line in your house. Make sure there are no low spots that will hold water when the unit is turned off.

5

Run duct work from the diffuser or diffusers that you installed earlier through the hole in the roof. This will require rigid ducts, flexible ducts or a combination of the two. Strive for as direct a route as possible. Check all plumbing, electrical and duct work connections before running the cooler.

Evaporative air cooler roof installation

6

Install metal flashing between the duct work and the roof. Bend the 4-by-4-inch flashing on a 90-degree angle. Remove the shingles around the duct work, screw the flashing to the duct work and replace the shingles over the flashing.

7

Build a platform or support system for the cooler to sit on. You can either use roof jacks or construct a platform with pressure treated or weather treated wood. Consider the pitch when choosing an option. Also, make sure that you will be able to connect the cooler to the water supply, electrical line and duct work when it is on the platform.

8

Place the cooler onto the platform and connect the water supply, electrical line and duct work.