Evaporative coolers are also known as swamp chillers. They work on very simple principles: Water evaporates and absorbs heat from the air around it. This is how an air fan cools you by evaporating perspiration from the skin. All parts of an efficient evaporative cooler have been designed to allow for the efficient evaporation and circulation of cooled air inside the home.
It is easier to maintain and repair your cooler if you are familiar with the different parts. Here’s a breakdown of the anatomy of an Evaporative Cooler. While some parts will need to be replaced frequently, others can last for the entire life of the appliance.
Motor
The size of evaporative cooler motors is small, typically ranging from 1/3 to one horsepower. They use 115/120 volts of electricity, which makes them less efficient than 240-volt central AC systems. Evaporative cooler motors work well until they stop working. They don’t slow down. You should inspect the motor of an evaporative cooler to determine its size and speed.
Shaft Bearings
Bearings are small, round metal spheres that allow the motor to drive the blower shaft smoothly. The bearings can be found in a high-rise or low-rise versions depending on the model of the appliance. The bore (or diameter) of the bearings is usually 3/4 inch.
Motor Pulley
One pulley is found on an evaporative cooler’s drive belt. It is the motor pulley or the blower pulley. If they do go bad, you can remove them by loosening the Allen screws that keep them in place.
Blower Pulley
The blower pulley is another pulley that is found in an evaporative cooler. It is located lower on the unit and in line with its blower shaft. The blower pulley should be the same size as the motor pulley to ensure the swamp cooler functions properly.
V-Belt
The V-belt type of drive belt is durable. The V-belt’s design minimizes slippage on the pulleys. It is also easy on the bearings making it an excellent choice for evaporative coolers.
Water Pump
An evaporative cooler’s water pump moves the water from the pan into the distribution tube and onto the swamp cooler pad. The cooling of the air is achieved by the evaporation from the pads. If the pads are not saturated with water, it may be necessary to replace the pump. If your pump is not working properly and the pads are not kept wet enough, it may be worth upgrading to a larger pump that can move more water.
Drain And Overflow Tube
The drain is a hollow tube, which is located at the bottom of your cooler pan. It can be taken out to drain excess water from the cooler pan. The problem will be alerted to by excess water leaking onto the ground and going up the drain tube.
Float Valve
The float valve is located in the cooler pan. It regulates the water’s height. It functions in the same manner as the float cup or ball in a toilet tank. The water level changes and the float valve rises and falls. When the water level reaches the desired level, the lever turns off the water supply.
Evaporative Pads
The pads are the place where air cooling takes place. Water delivered to the pads via the water pump evaporates as the cooler motor blows air through them. There are many types of pads for evaporative coolers, including foamed polyester and slit expanded papers.
