Evaporative coolers work in a simple way; it draws in air from the outdoors and makes it pass through a wet cooling pad. As water evaporates, the air is cooled and released into the environment. It works in the same way as an air fan by cooling you as sweat evaporates from your body. An evaporative cooler has many parts which play different roles in ensuring the efficient circulation of cooled air in your home. It is essential to know the main components of your evaporative cooler and how they work. This knowledge will make it pretty much easier for you to maintain and repair the cooler where necessary.
Motor
This component is an essential part of an evaporative cooler; it is usually small in size. It also operates on 115/120 volts of power which explains why evaporative coolers use little electricity. Evaporative coolers come in varying sizes and speeds. It is essential to know the specification of your current motor before purchasing a new one if you need to.
Cooling Pads
This part is where most of the air cooling job takes place. When it is wet, and the cooler motor blows air from outside through the cooling pads, it cools the air as the water on the pad evaporates. Cooling pads come in different materials, including wood strips, foamed polyester, and even slit expanded paper. The cheapest material is the wood strip. These cooling pads also come in different sizes, so you have to measure yours when you’re going shopping for cooling pads. Ensure you change out your pads at least once every year to ensure your evaporative cooler remains efficient.
Wire Connection Box
This part is where the power supply passes through into the evaporative cooler. The power supply is usually linked to a wire connection block. Always, power passes through each wire to the blower, water pump, motor, and other vital parts of the evaporative cooler. The wire connection box usually requires little to no repairs. If power isn’t entering your air cooler, you simply need to check the connections and tighten loose wires.
Water Pump
The evaporative cooler’s water pump is what directs water through the distribution lines to the cooling pads. It is from the pads that evaporation of water takes place that cools the air. Therefore, the water pump must be operating adequately to saturate the pad with water. If your water pump isn’t getting the pad wet enough, you might need to change your pump to a larger one.
Float Valve
The float valve is the determinant of whether the evaporative cooler has enough water. It regulates the water height and can be configured to your preference. It moves with the water level, and when the water reaches a set level, it ensures the water supply is shut off. The float valve allows the water to get high enough for the pump to draw from but not too high that it overflows.