Well, it's the spring ritual in Las Vegas again.

Swamp cooler prep.

This year, my pads look like Carlsbad Caverns. Very thick with white and
yellow hard crud.

I really believe that the water is from the hose bibb loop, and not from the
water softener that provides water to the rest of the house. I could be
mistaken, though. But, it seems to me that softened water would have less
minerals in it, and if it were to be soft water, there would be less crud
buildup. Am I right?

I bought one of those automatic things that empty the water every day and
lets new water in. Do those work? I bought it two years ago and never
installed it.

Do the pads make a difference? I hate working with excelsior. One year I
used some pricey blue stuff, and it lasted two years. At the end of the
first year, I power washed it clean, but it didn't seem to have the
absorbency or cooling effect the second season.

Last year, I used some honeycomb looking slightly greenish tinged paper/wood
product stuff. Heavy, heavy buildup.

I know that this is a yearly thing. I grew up here.

But, what are some things that I can do so that there is not so much
buildup, it is easier to rehab every year, and, of course, to get the max
degree of cooling? In addition to the questions asked above.

Steve