How to Fix a Swamp Cooler

Like any other household appliance, your swamp cooler needs a good annual dose of TLC before being put into full service. The following contains a few suggestions that will get the process rolling so you won't lose your cool sometime in the middle of the season.

Things You'll Need

• Asphalt-based sealant Household oil Shop vac New motor unit Socket set Box/open-ended wrench set Screw drivers (regular and phillips) New water pump New belt Grease gun Rags

Instructions

Leaks

1. Drain the water out of the catch pan and vacuum the remaining water out with a wet/dry shop vac. Allow it to air dry completely.

2. Locate where the water is leaking from and apply a good layer of asphalt-based sealant. Locate any other potential trouble spots and seal them as well.

3. Allow the sealant to cure according to the directions on the packaging. When the sealant is fully cured, refill the catch pan and check for any further leaking. If more leaks occur, repeat Steps 1 and 2 until all of the leaks are fixed.

4. Refill the catch pan again to check for more leaks. When no more water leaks out, the swamp cooler is okay to use normally.

Motor

1. Turn the blower motor on. You can tell the motor is going when it makes high-pitched squeaks and squeals that come and go. The closer the motor is to giving up the ghost, the louder and more persistent the squeaking and squealing become.

2. Turn the motor off. Remove the old motor from its mounting place.

3. Take the old motor with you to the hardware store to be sure you buy a new unit that is either exactly the same or very similar to the old unit.

4. At home, remount the new unit where the old unit sat. Be sure to check that the belt is in good shape also. If there is extensive cracking, replace the belt as well.

5. Plug the motor into the power supply and have someone in the house turn it on to be sure it works.

Water Pump

1. A tell-tale sign of a failed water pump is a swamp cooler that blows only hot air while on either the high- or low-cool setting. Turn the swamp cooler off.

2. On the roof, disconnect the water feed hose. Put the water pump back into the water and have someone turn the pump on to see if it has really failed. Debris may get pumped into the hoses and cause a clog. If the pump does work, check each hose for blockage. Once cleared, hook the feed hose up again and test the pump. If the blockages were cleared, the water should flow freely.

3. If the pump has failed, take the old pump to the hardware store with you and use it to help you purchase either the same, or similar, replacement unit.

4. At home, hook the replacement unit to the water feed hose and place the pump into the filter basket. Plug the unit into the power supply.

5. Have someone in the house turn the pump on. The water should flow freely.

Belt

1. Inspect the belt for extensive cracking and splitting. If the belt is in bad shape, it needs to be replaced.

2. Loosen the motor mounts that are used to tighten the belt. Remove the belt from the pulley system.

3. Take the old belt with you to the hardware store to help you buy a new one that is the same as or similar to the old one.

4. Fit the new belt into the pulley system. Tighten the belt according to the manufacturer's specifications and tighten the motor mounts to hold it into place. Be sure the pulleys are not out of line with one another.

5. Have someone in the house turn the motor on to be sure the belt work properly. The swamp cooler can be used normally.

Squeaks

1. Motor mounts need to be oiled regularly to ensure proper function and to reduce the amount of wear and tear experienced by the swamp cooler unit. Locate the lubrication points on the motor mounts in the swamp cooler.

2. If the lubrication points allow oil, place a few drops of oil into the reservoir and spin the fan a few revolutions. Repeat until a slight trickle of oil is seen coming from the motor mounts. Wipe away any excess oil from the motor mounts.

3. If the lubrication point is a grease fitting, add grease to the fitting using a grease gun until new grease is forced out of the motor mount. Wipe away any excess grease with a rag.

Spider Pipes

1. The spider pipe assembly hanging from the top of the swamp cooler unit tends to experience wear an tear as well. Inspect the assembly annually for signd of damage or deterioration.

2. If damage or deterioration are present, count the number of pipes that make up the assembly in your swamp cooler unit and take a single pipe to the hardware store with you.

3. Using the sample pipe, either buy replacement pipes, or a whole spider pipe assembly in the size required by your unit.

4. Replace either singly pipes, or the whole spider pipe assembly by unhooking the old units and replacing them with new parts.

5. Have someone in the house turn the pup on when the deteriorated parts are replaced to check for leaks.

Tips & Warnings

• Refer to your swamp cooler owner's manual for further maintenance suggestions.

• Unplug electrical fixtures before servicing them.