How To Install A Swamp Cooler On The Roof

Swamp coolers can be found in relatively drier and hotter areas like Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Swamp coolers are alternatively called evaporative air conditioners since they use evaporative cooling techniques.

This is comparable to the human body which uses perspiration to release heat. Humans usually secrete liquid on the upper surface of the skin. This absorbs the body’s heat. The heat present in the air evaporates the liquid, which in turn cools our body.

In a similar way, outside warm air is taken up by the swamp coolers and passed through cooler pads. These pads are damp and serve to chill the air that passes through them. A blower motor is used to deliver the chilled air into the building’s interior via a vent.

Now, you may wonder, how to install a swamp cooler on the roof. Well, in this article, we will describe every step of this installation process.

Let’s start digging.

How To Install A Swamp Cooler On The Roof?

The initial step is to determine the size of your home’s air volume. This is calculated by multiplying your home’s square footage by the height of ceilings and the number of air interchanges required per hour.
You can divide the hourly demand by 60 to find out the air required every minute in the form of cubic feet. This is how the swamp cooler’s air capacity will be determined.
Swamp coolers are frequently spotted on residential roofs. The next step is to select a perfect location to set the cooler. A perfect location would be the middle point of two nearly situated roof joists. Light fixtures, wires, and other impediments should be avoided.
A space on the upper part of the roof should be marked as well as the interior should also be marked using a pencil.
The sketched portion needs to be separated using an electrical saw. To ensure the beginning points of your cut, drill holes in each of the corners. This will make things a lot easier.
Carefully ascend onto your house roof. Examine the hole you have made and locate the swamp coolers.
While installing the cooler, it’s critical to fix mounting brackets that ensure cooler level. Unless the cooler is leveled properly, it won’t work accurately.
Metal braces are suggested to add at the joints of roofs. When you’re finished seal the holes with roof tar.
Find a location on the ceiling just underneath the cooler. This must be situated between two joists in the ceiling. If you’re having trouble finding the areas under the duct, then use a plumb bob. For ease of installation, keep it in an upright position.
Use a drywall saw for cutting holes in the ceiling and install the duct register.
The cooler duct, power wire, and thermostat wire should be connected properly. You should pull out enough length on the thermostat wire to link it to the rest of your house.
Roof tar, alternatively a specifically formulated waterproofing membrane should be used to seal any holes. Experts suggest adjoining duct transition components to get a rounder and more flexible duct.
Connect the cooler to the duct that you have already inserted by placing it on the apex of the mounting bracket.
Connect the thermostat wire’s end to the cooler’s thermostat. The inner thermostat must be linked to a thermostat wire and positioned on the wall that is distant from the ceiling duct.
The cooler’s power wire should be connected to electricity. It is highly recommended to hire an expert electrician if you don’t have a strong understanding of electrical wiring.
Look for a water-resistant PVC pipe and connect one end to the cooler and another end to the chilled water supply in your home. If any hole is found, seal that with tar.
The last step is to turn on the cooler’s water supply. Check for leaks in all pipes. Now it is time to turn on powers. The temperature of the thermostat is recommended to be reduced. Ideally, the temperature should be lower than the ambient temperature.
Finally, double-check all the connections and use aluminum tape to seal holes.

How To Maintain A Swamp Cooler?

When it comes to winterizing your cooler that is located on the roof, maintenance is very vital. It is necessary to take care to avoid rusting or freezing. Experts suggest you turn off the water supply for its protection.

Furthermore, you must cleanse the water holder or pan as well as remove any dirt that has accumulated.

Evaporative cooler pads should be changed and replaced on regular basis. Swamp coolers may become ineffective in case of accumulation of debris and dirt that result in an unusable cooler. As the water drops down through cooler walls, this might cause them to corrode so it is a better idea to change this in winter.