Swamp Cooler Servicing

Above, the swamp cooler after everything was done.

A little project that was started yesterday was completed today.

The swamp cooler (evaporative cooler) needed new pads to be installed. The last time they were changed was about three or four years ago. I got the wood fiber ones instead of the synthetic (blue) ones this time. Friend Roger says the wood fiber ones seem to work better.

Above, wood fiber evaporative cooler pad detail.

Yesterday, one of my friends in the subdivision, Clint, found several problems with the cooler. First, the float was stuck. He got it unstuck and the water began to flow in. Next, he found that the pump wasn't working. After some tapping on it, it began to work, but only intermittently. We guessed that this was due to its age (we don't know how long it has been there). When it did pump, the house cooled considerably. I decided to replace it. The intermittent pumping may be a sign that it was going to completely fail soon.

Above, the old pump.

This morning, I headed into Gallup to Home Depot to get a replacement pump. They only had three types in stock. Two at 230 volts and one at 115 volts. I needed a 115 volt pump. The one I have had a pumping capacity (if you want to call it that) rating at 11000. Home depot had one rated at 5000. The 230 volt pumps have a different electrical plug than the 115 volt pumps. The big difference between the 11000 pumps and the 5000 pumps was the output amount, I was told by a Home Depot worker. I decided to give it a try. It was only $28.

Above, the new pump.

After getting home, we put the new pump in and it immediately started once the swamp cooler was switched on. Clint said that the amount of water pumped was not as hard as the old one, but it works.

I will use this one until I can get one comparable to the old one. It is doing the job as the house interior temperature is a consistent 62°.