Swamp Cooler Not Blowing Cold Air? (Possible Causes & Fixes)

Swamp coolers represent a reasonable alternative to homeowners who need more cooling but would rather not splurge on an air conditioner. The aforementioned coolers rely on evaporated water and air circulation to make a home more comfortable. That’s why swamp coolers are also referred to as evaporative coolers.

If you already have a swamp cooler at home, you’re likely pretty happy with it. Still, that appliance is not immune from encountering problems. At some point, you may find the swamp cooler not blowing hard or not providing any cold air.

The problems with your swamp cooler could be related to a lack of water inside the unit. Internal components of your swamp cooler could also be malfunctioning. If your swamp cooler isn’t getting enough exhaust, that can also lead to the inadequate production of cold air.

The last thing you need during the summer is a malfunctioning summer cooler. Find out how to resolve the common issues that are known to affect them by reading on.

Your swamp cooler is supposed to help you cool off during especially warm days. After turning it on, you expect cooling comfort to follow.

Unfortunately, swamp coolers can run into some problems that prevent them from providing that highly coveted cold air. We’ve highlighted what those problems are below and we’ve also detailed the different ways to fix them. Read on so you can find out how to handle those swamp cooler issues on your own.

Evaporative coolers need a steady supply of water to do their job. Without the water, the evaporation cannot take place and you won’t get your cold air.

Water can get into your swamp cooler through one of two ways. First off, you can manually refill the swamp cooler’s pan. As long as you remember to do that, the appliance should work just fine.

The other way to supply your evaporative cooler with water constantly involves connecting it to a water line. If anything obstructs the flow of liquid through that line, your swamp cooler will not receive the water it needs. Your home will be warmer as a result of that.

The Fix

Homeowners who fill their swamp coolers manually should set a reminder for it. Note how quickly the water in the pan evaporates when the appliance is in use. You can then set reminders so you can fill the appliance up again before the water runs out.

Now, if you’re using a water line, the required fix may be more complicated. You will have to check out the water line and figure out why it’s not providing water. Detaching and then re-installing the line may be necessary if you have to clear out a blockage or obstruction.

The water line itself may have sustained some damage. In that case, you will have to replace the water line before you can start using the swamp cooler again.

If your swamp cooler is not blowing hard, the issue could be related to a lack of exhaust. The evaporative cooler needs a lot of airflow to carry out its job. The layout of your home may be getting in the way of that.

The ducts located in the room where the swamp cooler is working should offer enough exhaust. Of course, not everyone may have those ducts installed.

With no ducts in place, your swamp cooler cannot move the air around as much they need to. Its performance will suffer as a result.

The Fix

Don’t worry because you don’t need to install ductwork just to get your swamp cooler to work right. The issue related to inadequate exhaust can be resolved by simply opening up your home.

Open your windows and allow some fresh air in. You don’t need to open them up all the way. Even opening them up by a few inches will help.

You may also want to move your swamp cooler to take advantage of the new air supply. See if the appliance will work better if you position it close to the open windows.

Look inside your swamp cooler and you’ll find the motor powering the fan. The setup features more than just the swamp cooler’s motor and the fan though. There is also a belt present there that allows the motor and fan to work in unison.

Or at least that’s what the belt is supposed to do. At some point in time, that belt may fall off and disrupt the connection between the motor and fan. The belt could even break if it has sustained enough wear and tear.

The Fix

Open up your evaporative cooler and look for the belt near the fan and motor. If it’s not in the right in position but still in one piece, you can slip it back on.

A broken belt will be tougher to deal with. You will need to find a replacement belt that’s compatible with your swamp cooler. After that, you will have to slip it into position.

Finding a replacement belt and installing it can be troublesome. Still, that’s worth doing since your swamp cooler will likely be as good as new after the belt is replaced.

There are two main types of electrical problems that are known to affect evaporative coolers. The first is related to faulty wiring.

Power surges hitting at the wrong times can significantly damage the wiring inside your swamp cooler. Too much electricity flowing into your swamp cooler as a result of faulty wiring can also lead to a blown fuse.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, swamp coolers may also malfunction because they’re not getting enough electricity. You may have plugged the swamp cooler into the wrong outlet or the outlet itself could be damaged. Either way, the swamp cooler not receiving enough electricity will be a problem.

The Fix

Whenever electrical issues pop up, it’s not a bad idea to exercise more caution. If you’re not familiar with the issue presenting itself, there’s nothing wrong with letting an electrician handle it. Faulty wiring in particular can be tricky to deal with so entrusting it to an electrician is a good idea.

You can also try plugging your swamp cooler into a different outlet and see if that helps. That will work if the previous outlet you were using was already damaged.

Swamp coolers can work at optimum efficiency when they are used in dry areas. Abundant moisture in the area is just going to hamper how the swamp cooler is supposed to work.

Your swamp cooler will still work if it’s humid, but it won’t work like you want it to. The heat may still cling to you and your skin may still feel sticky even after you engage the swamp cooler.

The Fix

Humidity negatively affects your swamp cooler so you need to do something about it. One solution is to run your dehumidifier if you have one. Run the dehumidifier at the same time you’re using the swamp cooler to experience the comfort you’re seeking.

Another option is to move the swamp cooler to a different room. You may have a different room in your home that houses plants. With those plants soaking up the moisture in the air, your evaporative cooler should be able to work fine.

The other thing you can do is to hold off on using your swamp cooler. Wait until there’s less humidity hanging in the air so your swamp cooler can work more effectively.

Related Questions

Why Is Water Dripping from the Swamp Cooler?

Your swamp cooler uses water but that doesn’t mean water should be dripping from it. Something has gone wrong if that’s the case.Check out the float valve and see if it may be set at the wrong level. That could explain why too much water is flowing into the appliance. Adjust the float valve to stop the water from overflowing.Swamp coolers could also leak because you didn’t drain them properly. The swamp cooler has to be completely drained before it is put in storage. Otherwise, you’ll be greeted by leaking the next time you use it.

How Often Do You Need to Clean the Swamp Cooler?

Swamp coolers should undergo heavy-duty seasonal cleaning. Beyond that, they also need some lighter cleaning every month.Make sure you clear out the water pan at least once per month. If you don’t clean that water pan regularly, you’ll notice mineral buildup on the swamp cooler. Aside from affecting the swamp cooler’s appearance, the mineral buildup can also adversely impact its performance.