Winterize a swamp cooler before the first freeze
Freezing nights are rare in the basin, but a cooler full of water and an open duct all winter cost you either way. Drain it, shut it off and seal it up.
What to watch for: He works in Utah, where winters are much colder, but the steps are the same. The prices he quotes for his own service are his, not ours.
Why does this matter in Tucson?
Tucson International Airport averages fewer than 12 nights a year at or below 32°F (1991-2020 normals). That's not many, but a full pan and an exposed supply line on a roof only need one hard freeze to crack. Standing water left all winter also leaves scale behind.
There's an energy side too. A cooler duct left open all winter is a hole in the ceiling for the air you pay to heat. Covering the cooler and closing off the vent indoors fixes that.
Climate Pros Tucson doesn't arrange evaporative cooler service. This is homeowner information.
What you'll learn
- Why a cooler gets drained even in a mild winter
- How to shut off and drain the supply line and pan
- What to unplug, and why some owners take the belt off
- How to keep heated air from leaking out through the cooler duct
How do you do it, step by step?
- Pick a dry day after you’ve switched to heating for the season.
- Close the water supply valve to the cooler and drain the supply line if it has a drain point.
- Turn the cooler off at its switch and unplug the pump and motor at the unit.
- Pull the drain plug or overflow standpipe and let the pan empty. Scoop out sludge and loose scale.
- Leave the pads to dry. If they are spent, replace them in spring rather than now.
- Some owners slip the belt off so it doesn’t sit under tension all winter. Check your cooler’s manual.
- Fit a cooler cover outside, and close or cover the cooler vent indoors.
When should you stop and call a pro?
- The supply line or valve is cracked, or leaks after you shut it off.
- Roof access isn’t safe for you. Hire someone.
- Water stains on the ceiling under the cooler.
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