How to Remove an Evaporative Cooler

Keep cool this summer with an evaporative cooler.

Evaporative coolers eventually wear out and need to be removed. Remove your evaporative cooler when the water basin has rusted through, or the cooler housing no longer safely supports the roof and panels of the cooler. Evaporative or swamp coolers are bulky and awkward and so you should seek the assistance of two or more people when removing one. Their help can minimize the chance of you straining or injuring yourself. If you don't feel qualified to attempt this task, contact your local HVAC company for removal assistance.

Things You'll Need

• Crescent wrench
• Phillips or flat-head screwdriver
• Long chain (length depends on height of roof)

Instructions

1. Unplug the power cord of the evaporative cooler from its power outlet.

2. Remove the side panels of the evaporative cooler. Put your fingers in the handles and then lift up, pull out and slide them down. Removing these will make the cooler lighter and easier to carry.

3. Twist the water basin drain plug counterclockwise and allow all of the water to drain from the cooler. Use your hand to untwist it.

4. Undo the water supply line. This line attaches to a nipple on the float assembly. Just pull it off the nipple with your fingers.

5. Have two people hold the swamp cooler to support its weight. They can hold the sides or bottom of the cooler.

6. Open the window if the air vent of the cooler feeds through it.

7. Undo any bolts, screws or chains that hold the evaporative cooler to the structure. Use a crescent wrench to undo the bolts and a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver on any screws. The chains will have hooks on the ends that unhook from soffit- or wall-mounted hooks.

8. Pull the air vent side of the cooler out of the structure. Lift straight up if removing from a roof. Lift straight out if you're removing it from a window or wall.

9. Run a long chain through the housing of the cooler and hook it back to itself above the cooler roof. Do this if you have to lower the chain from the roof to the ground. Ensure nobody is beneath the cooler while lowering it.

10. Set the evaporative cooler in the back of a pickup truck and replace the side panels. Give the cooler away or haul it to your local metal recycling center.

Tips & Warnings

• Wrap up the cooler's electrical cord and put it inside the cooler.

• Do not attempt to work on an evaporative cooler if the power is still connected. Serious electrical shock could result in burns or death.