Hey everyone! I'm gearing up for the summer heat and have been doing some maintenance on my swamp cooler—putting in new pads, pump, float, and all that jazz. However, I've been battling a major issue: for the past couple of years, water has been leaking out of the walls of my cooler, and it's starting to damage my roof. I've had several maintenance guys check it out, but they keep suggesting the same fix—cleaning the PVC pipe, adjusting the float, repositioning the pads, but nothing has worked! The water used to just wet the pads, but now it's spraying out and making a mess. I checked if the cooler is level today and it is, plus I cleaned the PVC again. I'm at my wit's end! My dad suggested blocking off some holes that are leaking or maybe trying a smaller pump. Do you think a smaller pump would help? I'll attempt to block some holes tomorrow, but I'd really appreciate any other ideas you might have. Thanks a ton! ?
2 Answers
How old is your cooler? Sometimes older machines can cause more problems, even if you've replaced all the parts. Also, what's the water quality like where you're at? Calcium build-up can be a real pain for swamp coolers. Seems like you’ve already done a lot of cleaning!
It sounds like water might be spraying out beyond your pads? Double-check if those tubes are connected right and look for any clips you might have missed. What kind of pads are you using? Make sure the holes in those pads are clean and clear—debris can cause weird water flow issues! If you're open to it, uploading pics to Imgur could really help us see what's going on.
Haha, yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of heights either! Mine doesn't have spider arms; it’s just a square setup where the tube runs along the four panels. I'm using blue pads from Lowe’s, not precut, and everything is clear—no blockages. The issue seems to be that while water fills the tray and flows to the pads, it’s also dripping down the panels and leaking outside.
It’s about 20 years old, but I've literally rebuilt it from the bearings to the motor—it’s just the shell that's older. I have my own well here in NM, so the water isn’t corrosive. I clean the PVC every year, so it shouldn't be blocked.