Montrose, Colorado, is located in the high desert, a geographical location known for warm, dry air. If you look around, the majority of the residential homes on the Western Slope have evaporative coolers. Not only are they cost effective and more energy efficient than standard central air units, they actually add moisture to your home. Essentially, an evaporative cooler changes liquid water into water vapor, adding both moisturizer and cooler temperatures. Even in the dog days of summer, an evaporative cooler may require a maintenance call.
Take it from experience, you don’t want your swamp cooler “in hot water.” At SAM’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we have the skills to keep your swamp cooler running efficiently during the hotter months. Read below to learn some of the restorative methods that Team SAM’s uses, as well as some tips on keeping you cool this summer.
Midsummer Maintenance
Hopefully, when you took the dusty cover off of your swamp cooler in the spring, you had a thorough inspection completed. Now that summer is in full swing, conducting a midsummer maintenance routine could improve the longevity of your cooler, and boost your efficiency. While you may be tempted to climb on your roof to inspect your own evaporative cooler, you may be breaching your cooler’s, or home’s, warranty. Instead, save yourself the trouble and let the professionals at SAM’s Heating & Air Conditioning take care of it. Here are a few items that we’ll look for:
- Water in the pan–It’s important to check if your water is at the proper level. The water level should fall just below the top of the pan.
- Shallow water–If the water is below the proper level, the float arm may need to be adjusted.
- Comprehensive check-up–We’ll execute a routine examination on the pump, motor, and fan belt. Moreover, we’ll inspect, and change, your cooler pads too.
Smell Fresh
Generally speaking, evaporative coolers create moisture, and moisture can lead to mildew and/or mold build-up. If an unwanted smell is coming from your cooler vent, give SAM’s Heating & Air Conditioning a call. We’ll run your swamp cooler for at least an hour, mostly to ensure that all the components are running properly. Next, we’ll drain the existing water, and give the unit a good cleaning. This, in itself, should rid the cooler from unwanted smells flowing through the water vapor. Then again, it’s becoming more common to add essential oils to the water. Tea Tree and Lavender oils both have antibacterial properties, while lemon oil can bring a fresh scent. It’s important to note, that we do not provide the oils; however, we are happy to assist you with your desired smell while working on your unit.
Cool Runnings
In between routine maintenance inspections, you can take these simple steps to have your evaporative cooler running more efficiently. Here are three, easy steps that will improve your temperature:
- Is it warm enough?–Wait until the outside temperature is at least 85 degrees before running your cooler, you’ll save 50% water usage.
- Pump it up–Turn on your pump at least five minutes before switching on the cooler. This will help circulate the water and help the vapor cool down.
- Release the heat–Inside your home, have fans circulating in every room and leave some windows cracked. Perhaps it wouldn’t be wise to crack all of the windows, just certain ones in warmer spaces. This allows the hot air out and the cool air to circulate.
While none of these maintenance steps are too difficult for the adventurous DIYer (do it yourself), we urge you to let the professionals at our heating and air conditioning company handle your evaporative cooler needs. As an HVAC licensed and NATE certified company, we’ll meet your expectations with honesty and integrity.
Experience the difference today, and contact us today for a free service call.Â