How to Fix an Evaporative (Swamp) Cooler: The Water Distributor
Evaporative (swamp) coolers are an energy-efficient way to cool a house in dry climates. They consist of a water reservoir 3 to 5 inches in depth. This water is sent, via a water pump, to a water distributor, which passes the water over a wet cell or pad. This wet cell is basically a large cardboard air filter. Air is pumped through this wet filter, and this water cooled air is then pumped into the house through normal duct work. If the fan and pump work, but the pad is not getting wet, there is a problem with the distributor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Turn off your unit. Remove the top and front of the cooler housing to expose the wet cell (pad) and the water distributor (which sits on top of the pad).
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Unhook the pump hose from the water distributor. This is easily accomplished by simply pinching the two ends of the pump hose clamp with pliers and moving the clamp off of the end of the hose.
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Remove the distributor from the wet cell and turn it over. Remove the PVC pipe's end from the brace point at the end of the distributor. This is usually done by simply pulling with a little force until it comes out of its seat. This should allow the pipe to swing up, away from the distributor housing and allow access to the drip holes and the end of the pipe. Clean out the holes with the end of the cut hanger and with the wire brush. Also check the top of the wet cell for excessive scale buildup. If present, see Step 7 for additional actions to take.
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Remove the end cap from the PVC pipe. Reconnect the distributor to the pump hose and turn on the pump. Use the hanger to unclog the end of the pipe. Once the majority of the buildup is removed from the pipe, replace the end cap. Clean out the drip holes once again until water shoots out of all these holes with equal force.
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Be sure the end cap is securely fastened to the end of the distributor pipe. Turn off the pump and re-brace the PVC pipe into its seat in the distributor housing. Replace the distributor onto the wet cell (pad). Be sure that it fits snugly on all sides. Water spraying out of this housing when it is in place will cause serious problems to every piece of equipment in your cooler -- especially the electric motor.
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It may be necessary to replace broken or warped parts. If you are replacing the old parts, it is a good idea to use a wire brush to clean off the scale buildup -- especially along the entire length of the distributor pipe.
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If, during this entire process, you notice that the top of the wet cell (pad) is caked over with scale buildup, this may be the reason for the pad not getting uniformly wet. If this is the case, use a wire brush to clear away the buildup, use the hanger to clear the holes on the front of the pad, and even consider replacing the pad for optimal cooler effectiveness.
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Tips & Warnings
For further tips on how to maintain your cooler pad, check out the Related Articles for subjects under the same title - How To Fix An Evaporative (Swamp)Cooler - with subtitles like; Replacing a Water Pump, Install An In-Line Scale Filter, and Install A Permanent Bleed Line.
