Learn the basics of evaporative coolers maintenance. Find out how to get the best performance out of your cooler unit.

If it feels like your evaporative cooler is on maximum speed and the area it is supposed to cool still doesn't feel cool and comfortable, your cooler might be in need of some routine maintenance. If you routinely service your cooler proactively you should see pretty steady performance out of it.

How do you know if your cooler needs maintenance?

If your evaporative coolers maintenance schedule states it's not yet time for maintenance but you believe it is not performing up to par, you might need additional maintenance. If your cooler doesn't ever seem to be cooling your room adequately, you might want to check to see if your evaporative water cooler is designed to only cool a small area. Cooler sizes vary and each product should advise you of the approximate square footage the unit will cover. If your unit is too small for the room you have it in, it won't be very effective.

Your use and care guide that comes with your evaporative cooler or swamp cooler (as it is regularly also called) should indicate the frequency with which you should change your water pads. The absorbent water pads that are contained in your cooler are a critical component for optimal performance. There may be a specific pad that is suggested in your maintenance guide that will perform better than another or there may be a need for more regular replacement filters being installed.

Another common problem with evaporative water coolers is corrosion, calcium build up or other sediment problems clogging the components inside the unit. A water treatment product or plain household vinegar can help remove the calcium build up and help your cooler run more efficiently. There are high end units that have fewer problems or chances of corrosion and rust as well due to the components contained.

What maintenance should be performed on my swamp cooler?

Any time you need to perform maintenance on your unit, you need to turn off the power, unplug the unit and disconnect the water supply. Examining all areas inside the unit for corrosion or obvious wear and tear as well as checking the water pads and replacing them, if necessary. Vinegar or a commercial product specific to your cooler unit can be used at this time as well. Examination of the pump, v-belt and blower are also a good idea. Lubrication of the blower wheel can also keep your unit functioning well. Follow all set up instructions after you inspection of the unit before turning it back on.

If you are not mechanically inclined, you can have professional maintenance done but once you have owned your cooler for some time, you will probably find that this routine is easy to manage yourself and only has to be done once or twice a season unless you notice a dramatic drop in the performance of your cooler.