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#1
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swamp cooler question
Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the
swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? |
#2
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JK wrote:
Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? Depends on the brand of cooler. But since I can't see it from here and you didn't tell us what brand you have, its gonna be a major guessing game. Obvious first cause: It may have a "purge" pump installed, which periodically dumps the mineral rich water in the pan down the drain. Its purpose is to delay mineral buildup on the the pads. A constant trickle would indicate that the float is either stuck open or set too high. If it only happens when the cooler is running it may have a "bleed off" to dump a portion of the mineral rich water. -- Grandpa Koca - SAHD for 6 - Keeper of the Perpetual Kindergarten My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked. It is price competitive. If you like, I'll trade for one of yours. |
#3
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"JK" wrote in message news:GS%oe.1683$xr.37@fed1read05... Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way Now days there are two pumps in coolers. One to cycle the water over pad. The other one dumps the pan water out ever so often, some are as little as 4 hours and I have seen 12 hour ones. This pump will look exactly (to the untrained eye) like the circulating pump. In my coolers I used a pump that would dump the water every 8 hours of run time. It sure helps keep the crud down. Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. |
#4
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I'm pretty sure it's purging the water since it occurs at certain times, and
for certain periods of time. We'll have a guy out to look at it. I did have one question though: Why is opening the windows dangerous. We do have the vents that lead up to the attic, but I have also been leaving a window open. Dangerous in what way? "SQLit" wrote in message ... "JK" wrote in message news:GS%oe.1683$xr.37@fed1read05... Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way Now days there are two pumps in coolers. One to cycle the water over pad. The other one dumps the pan water out ever so often, some are as little as 4 hours and I have seen 12 hour ones. This pump will look exactly (to the untrained eye) like the circulating pump. In my coolers I used a pump that would dump the water every 8 hours of run time. It sure helps keep the crud down. Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. |
#5
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Burglars love open windows.
Force as much of the air into the attic as you can. It will help your run time. ( how long you can run your cooler. I used to try to get to 4th of July). Do not for get to install the slides when you change over to the a/c. "JK" wrote in message news:tn0pe.1688$xr.141@fed1read05... I'm pretty sure it's purging the water since it occurs at certain times, and for certain periods of time. We'll have a guy out to look at it. I did have one question though: Why is opening the windows dangerous. We do have the vents that lead up to the attic, but I have also been leaving a window open. Dangerous in what way? "SQLit" wrote in message ... "JK" wrote in message news:GS%oe.1683$xr.37@fed1read05... Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way Now days there are two pumps in coolers. One to cycle the water over pad. The other one dumps the pan water out ever so often, some are as little as 4 hours and I have seen 12 hour ones. This pump will look exactly (to the untrained eye) like the circulating pump. In my coolers I used a pump that would dump the water every 8 hours of run time. It sure helps keep the crud down. Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. |
#6
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On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 11:13:44 -0700, "JK" wrote:
I'm pretty sure it's purging the water since it occurs at certain times, and for certain periods of time. We'll have a guy out to look at it. I did have one question though: Why is opening the windows dangerous. We do have the vents that lead up to the attic, but I have also been leaving a window open. Dangerous in what way? That's the way the druggie thieves and illegal aliens get in. "SQLit" wrote in message ... "JK" wrote in message news:GS%oe.1683$xr.37@fed1read05... Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way Now days there are two pumps in coolers. One to cycle the water over pad. The other one dumps the pan water out ever so often, some are as little as 4 hours and I have seen 12 hour ones. This pump will look exactly (to the untrained eye) like the circulating pump. In my coolers I used a pump that would dump the water every 8 hours of run time. It sure helps keep the crud down. Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. |
#7
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Ah. I wasn't sure if you mean dangerous in another way.
Good question. Since this is the first time we've had a swamp cooler, not sure. Will we know when we cannot run it (that is, will it stop blowing cold air)? Regarding the closing slides, not sure what those are. Are those the vents to the attic? "SQLit" wrote in message ... Burglars love open windows. Force as much of the air into the attic as you can. It will help your run time. ( how long you can run your cooler. I used to try to get to 4th of July). Do not for get to install the slides when you change over to the a/c. "JK" wrote in message news:tn0pe.1688$xr.141@fed1read05... I'm pretty sure it's purging the water since it occurs at certain times, and for certain periods of time. We'll have a guy out to look at it. I did have one question though: Why is opening the windows dangerous. We do have the vents that lead up to the attic, but I have also been leaving a window open. Dangerous in what way? "SQLit" wrote in message ... "JK" wrote in message news:GS%oe.1683$xr.37@fed1read05... Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way Now days there are two pumps in coolers. One to cycle the water over pad. The other one dumps the pan water out ever so often, some are as little as 4 hours and I have seen 12 hour ones. This pump will look exactly (to the untrained eye) like the circulating pump. In my coolers I used a pump that would dump the water every 8 hours of run time. It sure helps keep the crud down. Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. |
#8
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On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 10:38:45 -0700, "JK" wrote:
Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. They're pretty common in my end of AZ. If you're just getting around to turning it on, you live in the cooler (no pun intended) of AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? As others have said, that is the purge pump running. Wes in Tucson |
#9
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LOL. We like it warm in our house.
Thanks. "Wes Stewart" wrote in message ... On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 10:38:45 -0700, "JK" wrote: Just bought a new place about 8 months ago, and have the need to turn on the swamp cooler, which are not common here in AZ. They're pretty common in my end of AZ. If you're just getting around to turning it on, you live in the cooler (no pun intended) of AZ. The cooler seems to work fine. It blows cold air, etc. However, every once and a while, a large amount of water will be discharged out the discharge hose (or whatever it's called, it's a pvc pipe). Some of the research I've seen said this can be normal. Some other research said I may have a problem with my float. Anybody have any experience with this? As others have said, that is the purge pump running. Wes in Tucson |
#10
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On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 10:58:19 -0700, "SQLit" wrote:
[snip] Your cooler should be 100% checked out before you run it every year. Cleaned top to bottom, new layer of asphalt in the water pan, bearings oiled, belts checked and or tightened just to hit the high points. I've never found a coating that stops rust through. Usually they crack, let some water through and then rust at that point. The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Do you have up ducts in your home? Venting the air into the attic helps a lot. Cools the attic and then makes the home more comfortable. Leaving windows open is dangerous now days. If you have a hall gas heater open the door up, and let the air exhaust there. Hint you need one up duct for every 12 inches of register length or fraction there of. I have lived in AZ for 35 years now. Practically a newcomer. Coolers are a luxury item |
#11
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On Mon, 6 Jun 2005 12:02:58 -0700, "JK" wrote:
Ah. I wasn't sure if you mean dangerous in another way. In re open windows: another option if it's "dangerous" to open windows where you live is to open the fireplace damper if you have one. Good question. Since this is the first time we've had a swamp cooler, not sure. Will we know when we cannot run it (that is, will it stop blowing cold air)? [snip] More or less. If it's too humid the swamper will be ineffective. Also, according to your personal heat tolerance, you may find A/C preferable if it gets very hot as a swamper usually only lowers the temp 12-15 degrees. -- Luke __________________________________________________ ____________________ Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic. |
#12
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SQLit wrote:
No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Can those master cool pads be cleaned? |
#13
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"G Henslee" wrote in message ... SQLit wrote: No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Can those master cool pads be cleaned? Sort of.. Really depends on how bad they are. If you can see calicum when they are wet ,,,, bad sign. The box stores and Pauls Hardware as well as 6 points sell a "cooler cleaner" by the quart. Sumphic acid.. and that is spell wrong. I used to pour the whole bottle in the cooler before I cleaned it out. I know the directions say like half. Run the cooler for at least an hour. Drain and clean. I use the shop vac. If the particles on the pad come off; great. If not then you need to decide if your buying a new pad this year or next. My last 7" pad was just short of a $100 bucks. I tried the cheapy replacement one ONCE. Get the good stuff and take care of it. If your pad is white/chalky when dry not dark paper color forget and buy a pad now. I went to help a friend once with the understanding that we were going to fix it right. I took one look at the pad and pulled the top and threw it away. He freeked. When the new pad was in he remarked "wow there is a lot of air coming out of that now. " |
#14
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SQLit wrote:
"G Henslee" wrote in message ... SQLit wrote: No maintenance on the unit and you just turned it on.... Ok. It will not last long that way The master cool type pad can last 3-4 years if maintained. The fibrous (aspen pads) need to be changed yearly. Can those master cool pads be cleaned? Sort of.. Really depends on how bad they are. If you can see calicum when they are wet ,,,, bad sign. The box stores and Pauls Hardware as well as 6 points sell a "cooler cleaner" by the quart. Sumphic acid.. and that is spell wrong. I used to pour the whole bottle in the cooler before I cleaned it out. I know the directions say like half. Run the cooler for at least an hour. Drain and clean. I use the shop vac. If the particles on the pad come off; great. If not then you need to decide if your buying a new pad this year or next. My last 7" pad was just short of a $100 bucks. I tried the cheapy replacement one ONCE. Get the good stuff and take care of it. If your pad is white/chalky when dry not dark paper color forget and buy a pad now. I went to help a friend once with the understanding that we were going to fix it right. I took one look at the pad and pulled the top and threw it away. He freeked. When the new pad was in he remarked "wow there is a lot of air coming out of that now. " Great info SQLit. Thanks! |
#15
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if you have sliding windows and you want to leave them open a few
inches, get some 1x2 or or similar wood and cut it to length and lay it in the window tracks so that the window cannot be opened more. Mark |
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