An evaporative cooler or “swamp cooler” as we often call them are great options to keep your home cool, until it hits 100 degrees! However, many homes in the 80’s and even some in the 90’s still have evaporative coolers. They can work effectively until they start to get old and end up with rust and other issues. Is the pan of your evaporative cooler starting to rust? Can you see holes in it? There are some little things you can do to maybe get another season out of the cooler before you need to replace it altogether. Here are some things you need to know about caring for an evaporative cooler.
Winterize a Swamp Cooler
Always drain the water from the swamp cooler as it can freeze in the winter. This will lead to cracking and serious problems with the swamp cooler. After the water is drained from the cooler, remember to disconnect the water source and then disconnect the power. The cooler should be dry when you place the water plug back inside. Cover your cooler each winter to protect it from the elements and reduce rust concerns.
Repair a Pan
To repair a rusted pan on a swamp cooler, you need to remove all the dirt and debris from the pan to make it easier for rust resistant spray paint to stick to the surface. If there is a hole in the pan, you will need to use roofing cement or tar to patch the hole. After it dries, you can use the evaporative cooler spray to seal the rest of the pan. Once it has dried you need to apply another coat of sealant to the pan. Spray the exterior of the pan as well to help seal all the cracks that are around the air conditioner.
Replacing a Pan
If you have several holes in the pan, you will need to replace the pan itself. A new air conditioner is the best option at this point. To keep your new air conditioner free from rust use a anode inside. This is a small metal rod that will attract rust to it and will keep the pan from deteriorating.
For more information about replacing a swamp cooler with a new central air unit, contact Genuine Comfort today!
Chris Maple says
Where can I buy “evaporative cooler spray”. Or is that just another term for “rust resistant spray paint”? Is the “sealant” mentioned in the next sentence something different? I removed all the existing paint on a corroded (but no holes) pan last year. I used Naval Jelly to get rid of most of the corrosion. It was pretty clean. I used “Rust Destroyer” brand spray paint for a primer (much better than Rustoleum). Then top coated with several coats of boat bilge paint. After the hot season ended, water had seeped through both layers of paint causing little water pustules to form separating the paint from the metal. Surprisingly the metal was not severely corroded. I’m trying to figure out a better solution to protect the pan. Do you have any suggestions?