Oren wrote in
:

On 4 Jun 2015 17:28:44 GMT, KenK wrote:

Oren wrote in
news:lvrrma15uushkangu1a3cvavurv6eui50k@ 4ax.com:

On 2 Jun 2015 17:42:17 GMT, KenK wrote:

My swamp (evaporative) cooler makes noises after it
has been run a week or so every year. A buzzing
noise. I can quiet it by pressing firmly on the front
inside grill/panel towards the bottom. I tried adding
soft washers under the four corner screws fastening
this grill last year but it didn't help. I'm not sure
whether the grill is causing the noise because it has
a mounting problem or, more likely, the blower is
vibrating and causing it to buzz. Just yesterday I
tried lubing the blower bearings again (after
prepping it for the summer a month or two ago) but no
help. I can't see anything obvious causing the
problem. The belt looks ok. This cooler is only a few
years old - third season I think, maybe fourth.

Can anyone give me any ideas on how to chase this
down?

TIA

I'd check _every_ fastener on the entire unit; ensuring they are
tight. "Buzzing" makes me think of the motor as opposed to
'vibrating of the metal covering the blower.

Well, I gathered my stethoscope, screwdrivers, nutdrivers and step
stool and turned it on. You'll never guess, in a million years, what
happened next!

Tada!

Cooler ran very quietly. Let it run a half an hour. Still no buzz.
Tried a few of your suggestions anyhow.

Motor mounts very tight. With stethoscope motor just hums.

Also check the tension on the belt.

Normal - a bit of slack.

Don't over tighten it. The belt needs a little wiggle so not to wear
the pulley bearing.


Put stethoscope everywhere I could think of. No unexpected noise.

I'll try again tomorrow. Hope its as cool - high 90s - then. I'm sure
it will go back to buzzing later today.

Did find poor water flow to the pads - a couple of lines were just
dripping. Will switch to a new pump tomorrow too.

sigh I'm sure other people never have such problems.

chuckle It's only you, Ken.

Didn't you change the motor last year, iirc?

Not that I recall. I consulted my checkbook and I bought it 4/26/2011 -
so I was wrong, it's 5 years old, not 3 or 4. Time flies when you're
having fun - or senile. I changed the motor a wew months after I bought
it - I was really ****ed at Home Depot for requiring me to bring it in
to replace the motor. What cheapskates! Much to big and heavy to haul
around and uninstall and reinstall for a $50 motor. And they knew it!
Bought a new motor from Lowes and had a handyman install it. No more
major purchases from Home Depot.

No offense intended, but are you overly sensitive to the sound?

No. It's in the kitchen where I'm only in an hour or so a day. I can't
hear it in the other rooms. I just worry that it's trying to tell me
something but I don't understand what.

Maybe changing the pump _may_ help. I can't say. Good water flow over
the pads will help keep the unit cool; perhaps dampening sounds.

Well, I changed the pump. Much cooler cooler output. And, strangely, no
buzz since. Most likely coincidence. It had been intermittent before
that yesterday. I'll be interested to see if it buzzes this afternoon.
Normally I'd not use it because it's only in the low 90s today but I'll
at least test it an hour or so. I'll keep you posted.

--
You know it's time to clean the refrigerator
when something closes the door from the inside.