Why We Love (and Hate) Swamp Coolers
In California City, the evaporative cooler (swamp cooler) acts as the workhorse for many homes. It's cheap to run and effective... until it isn't.
The Water Quality Battle
Cal City water can be hard. The mineral scale buildup on your cooler pads acts like concrete, stopping air from flowing through.
The Fix: Installing a "purge pump" is mandatory here. It dumps the mineral-heavy water every 6-8 hours and brings in fresh water, extending the life of your pads by years.
Aspen Pads vs. Rigid Media
Most older coolers use "Aspen" pads (the shredded wood looking ones). They smell like a wet barn and sag over time. We highly recommend upgrading to Rigid Media (MasterCool style) pads. They last 3-5 years, provide colder air, and don't sag.
The "Monsoon" Problem
In August, when the monsoon moisture creeps up from Mexico, humidity rises. Swamp coolers work by adding humidity. If it's already 35% humidity outside, your cooler stops cooling and just makes your house sticky.
Is there a solution? Not really. If you rely solely on a swamp cooler, you need a backup plan for those humid weeks. We often install a small window AC unit in the master bedroom just to get you through those muggy nights.
Start-Up Checklist
- Clean the pan of all sludge.
- Oil the bearings (use proper zoom spout oil).
- Check belt tension.
- Verify the float valve shuts off completely (no overflow!).
Cooler Rattling or Smelling?
We do full swamp cooler services: start-ups, shutdowns, and repairs. Get it running right before the heat hits.
Call (661) 494-8075