Secrets to Fixing Your Swamp Cooler

[@MrFredsDIY]

Leave a comment and share your thoughts👇Was this video easy to follow? I tried to show this “rebuild” in such a way that you can easily follow along.

[@jameschicken7482]

is the retaining ring a must to have on there with the bearings?

[@MrFredsDIY]

Yes, it is. The bearing is not really pressed on so the shaft could move which would put the squirrel page off center.

[@jameschicken7482]

@@MrFredsDIY gotcha that makes sense thank you for your response man!

[@pattynelligan8804]

DUDE!!! From a 59 yr old single woman? THANK YOU!!! Last year I was given a free swamp cooler, it squeeled like crazy, figured out it was the bearings, I just kept spraying oil in there LOL Not in the flap, didnt even KNOW about those. LOL Im replacig bearings and belt today. hell float valve too. Thank you so much for your easy to understand video.

[@27short]

He's married no need to mention you're single lol

[@homemountain333]

Excellent how-to video! With your help I just replaced both bearings on our swamp cooler and it went really smoothly. Thanks for your guidance and expertise and for taking the time to make this video!

[@MrFredsDIY]

Great job on your DIY project! I’m happy to help.

[@jimo1294]

Really nice and thorough video! Thank you Brother!

[@Tony-ck1ds]

Great video for swamp cooler users and novices alike. When I bought my home in Las Vegas 15yrs ago, a brand new, but larger Master Cool swamp cooler from HD for $550.00 was my first investment-glad I did! Mine is ground-mounted with cooler-sized square hole cut into garage wall (had to remove one stud section to fit). This unit not only cools my garage, but my entire single-story home! I keep the big garage door fully closed, but the kitchen entry door is left open, then a bedroom window at the far end of the house is opened to about 5in or so. This “draws” the cool air through the house. “Squeezed” air travels faster this way :) With low humidity, 12% or less, it’ll cool 20degrees cooler than the outside air. 81f inside temp is my limit, then I’ll switch to full-on a/c for the house. I’ll then close the kitchen door, and leave the cooler ON to somewhat keep the garage coolish. But I’ll open the big garage door just a smidge so the now, warmer air, can escape for hottest times of the day. Later that evening, a/c is turned off and it’s back to swamp cooler magic :) The cost to run 24/7 is pennies per hour compared to a/c unit, and I run it on “low speed” for even better efficiency. I prep and clean the cooler every March, oil the bearings and re-coat the pan with a paint-on black tar and I change the aspen pads about once a month as they get clogged with minerals. Tip: I use a beach umbrella to shade the cooler from the Sun, every little bit helps:)

[@RoosterSnuffer]

I still wish you were working on a 40” x 40” roof mount unit that has every problem going wrong that you can imagine. But you’re giving me good ideas. Plus your general attitude is refreshing.

[@CensoredbyYouTube-1955]

First time I've heard of a swamp cooler. Much cheaper to run than an a/ c unit. Thumbs up 👍

[@Tony-ck1ds]

I too, live in Las Vegas and use a swamp cooler, similar to this one, but a little bigger. Ground-mounted, blows cool air into garage and my entire single-story 1600sqft home. As long as humidity level is less than 12%, above that, I gotta switch to a/c

[@jeeperguy4290]

Those coolers work phenomenal for what they are and on a budget. I installed one from HD for our little cabin, about 1400 sq ft. It cools pretty well. I’m considering a mini split for my garage. Nice work. 🤙🏻btw, I’m in Northern California Bay Area.

[@MrFredsDIY]

Thanks for commenting! I have not ruled out a mini split but not this year.

[@AztecWarrior69_69]

I don't have a swamp cooler but found this video very useful. 8:00 Step 2 should have been to use The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It eats rust fast. Will leave it very clean in anywhere from 3 seconds to 3 min. Use a plastic pan under just in case there are holes. I will make a frame of 2x4 and use either plastic from a roll or cut a contractor bag, for large items. For long items I have various sizes of PVC with just a cap on one end. Some I have a clean-out adapter on the other end. Then a male adapter on another section of PVC with another clean-out adapter on the other end. So 2' base, then 2' extender, 1' extender, or 6" extender. Don not cap the end and seal. There are gasses that are barely noticeable when doing this outside in open air but they are there. Wear glasses if brushing off. A face shield would be good too. I tend to just rinse off with hose. When brushing off is needed, I wear mask and glasses min.

[@RoosterSnuffer]

I was literally 30 seconds into this video when I realized that this was the man who I was looking for. Unfortunately, the other 20 videos I watched were basically a waste of time. It is quite difficult finding such specific videos. Although I did not need all of the information that you supplied in this video you made it pleasant to watch. Even stuff that I already knew was still entertaining to hear you talk about and see how you do it. The square bolt-3/8 socket thing was so simple but I was too pissed off to think about some thing that easy at the time I was working on the unit. Anyway, thank you.

[@MrFredsDIY]

I’m glad you got some value out of the video and thanks for watching!

[@Wesleydunn-k3w]

I love your video. Thank you. I'm gonna be using a lot of that this weekend.

[@JesusSportsNature]

Great information. Thank you for the video!

[@Herlongian]

The inner sleeve is called a sintered bronze bearing. The material is porous. This allows 20w oil to sweat through and lubricate the shaft. But you have to open the little caps and add oil periodically. If you let it go dry, not only is the bearing ruined, the shaft can also be ruined. Keep the bearings oiled and you will not face this or need a puller to get the bearing off.

[@mrblueskynm3968]

Awesome! I'm pretty sure I need to replace the bearings on my swamp cooler as it has become noisy despite having oiled the bearings. Your video has given me hope that it can be done! I like that little torch you used, do you have a link to it?

[@MrFredsDIY]

These bearings fail quite often. Good luck with your project! The torch I used, I believe it was from HarborFreight, but it was very similar to this one amzn.to/3LxMvVF

[@mrblueskynm3968]

@@MrFredsDIY Sweet! Thanks for the reference! ✌

[@DonGrigorianFishing]

Best video I've watched on maintenance of a swap cooler..Question, wouldn't it be a good idea to put a mineral filter before the water shoot thing...Just so calcium/lime doesn't build up on the pads and in the drain pan? it seems like they all suffer from mineral buildup...

[@MrFredsDIY]

Those things do work good! I actually change my water every couple of weeks in the summertime because it is so easy. I probably should’ve mentioned that in the video lol. Thanks for watching!

[@rynait]

um few tips and pointers for your future repair-people. pullers, i use stack of 5/8 washers (4) as pulling surface. You used socket from your socket wrench. (hint: there is puller plugs on amazon, cost 12 dollars. the suggestions is cheaper). Sandpaper, is better than steel wool. use air conditioner oil [oiler] (not penetrating lubricant) to assist on getting rust off the shaft, and use the stop collar (Mr Fred called retainer) to test fit. they are easier to pull off for repeat elbow work. remove rust about 1 and half inch length of the shaft. expect 10 to 15 minute cleaning up the shaft. you used a technique, to keep shaft from rotating; a clamp. this is cumbersome tool to carry up on roof. and if thrown up, makes hole in roof. I suggest use block of wood or a length of a broomstick instead. is lighter. majority of belts are odd numbered sized. Because the motor "adjustment" allows for 1 inch belt variances. a little hint here, write the belt model and size [and date installed if warranty is involved] on the fan shroud with a sharpie. next time snap a picture go store get the right one. Saves you trouble every time. several units for customer(s) had that dial pan coating. I am going to give you a opinionated statement of my own, that stuff is TAR and not great material. This still rust out your pan (not protective). I recommend buy rubber coating spray from either automotive part or from paint department (not from air conditioner manufacturer). Took me a while to figure out that DIAL is cheapskate with some of the materials, in particular they are buying third hand part and they relabeled parts and sold as their own. some of the materials is good, but Paint is one of those that is not quality material (in fact, dial air conditioner machines does not have those coating on their pan and I wonder why?) I tested flex seal stuff seen on TV on my evaporative (on roof) before telling customers of mine. Flex seal kept rust at bay but still blister appears because of the original TAR paint on it. I would suggest if the customer is able to; have tar paint removed and rust fixed up and re coated with the real rubber stuff.

[@GormanBookkeeping]

If I was comfortable climbing on my second story roof, I think I could totally do this. Alas, I’m back to my search for the ever elusive rumored-extinct swamp cooler repairman. :/

[@stacialaw3327]

I feel your pain.... seems like everytime I climb up, thunder clouds move over😟

[@jjjacer]

Disadvantage of the midwest were i live, swamp coolers dont really work with our high humidity (heck my A/C cant keep up in the worst of the summers), how i would envy keeping my garage cool with one of those as the cost would be a lot less than running an A/C

[@MrFredsDIY]

Swamp coolers definitely are cheaper to operate! Thanks for watching.

[@Bewefau]

Hey one of the power outlets on the cooler for the power the top one the button one works isn't working. How do you fix that its like the box outlet but its a big and not a stander-ed 2 outlet.

[@zapatasghost]

Great video - thanks! Yes, very easy to follow. But you can't just buy a replacement pan?? Holy cow, I'm not trying to spend 2 or 3 weeks, welding, priming, painting, etc. if the pan just needs replacing..right? Or do they sell plastic liners of some sort?

[@MrFredsDIY]

The replacement pan is hard to find. $193 on ebay when you can find it. Plastic liners would be an interesting idea. A few years ago I did purchase a new pan. As soon as it arrived, I took it to a powder coating place here in Las Vegas and paid them $150 to sandblast the new pan and powder coat it. It lasted two years. The pan in this video is that pan.

[@lizmolinar9575]

Thanks for the video ur easy to understand my issue is the water going into the cooler I had guy set mine up he didn't check it before he left & the water was overflowing for hours before I found out I called someone they told what to do I turned off the water it just isn't working right ????

[@MrFredsDIY]

It could be that the float is malfunctioning.

[@lizmolinar9575]

@@MrFredsDIY thank you I will check that out 🥰

[@Chakaa18]

Awesome video! Super helpful! Random question though. And sorry if it’s long. But I have a swamp cooler on my roof and a bolt on one side of the motor mount bracket thing broke off so is pretty much relying on one side. And keeps getting loose so the belt isn’t tight enough. Would a JB weld on the broken side to replace the bolt and keep it from moving be a viable fix? Or should I just try and punch out the bolt and replace it instead?

[@MrFredsDIY]

I would try to replace that bolt. There are various bolt extractors out there. I think JB weld has its place but on something like this, probably not. Good luck with your project and thanks for watching!

[@pochitamexicana]

Thank you this is what I was looking for I just a little help on the water on the sides is not coming out ? I’m a female so I do look up things before

[@blasterbrain1443]

Nice. I wonder if a simpler way to improve the lifespan of the water pan would have been to set some sort of marine-grade epoxy along the basin. I’ve used a West System product for similar applications in the past, but I wonder too how it may behave in the unique conditions of Las Vegas, set on top of a metal.

[@MrFredsDIY]

Thanks for commenting. The crazy thing is, the pan that failed was not the original. I bought a brand new replacement pan and took it to a powder coating shop. They sandblasted it and coated it. It lasted two seasons.

[@jameschicken7482]

if only I watched this video before I used a pure wrench to take of the retaining ring without realizing there was a set screw on it

[@charlieb3943]

Swamp coolers are ok when it's around 90 degrees and low humidity but once we start getting above 100 you will be suffering if you don't have refrigerated air conditioning. Putting bags of ice like most people do is only a temporary fix because eventually the ice will melt and you are back to the same situation.

[@Tony-ck1ds]

I’ve read elsewhere that bags of ice don’t really work because warm water evaporates quicker than cold water. I tested this and tend to agree.

[@jjuwayne]

The Best way to fix a swamp cooler is to take that huge wrench and smash the heck out of it LOL. I had one growing up in Texas its swampy enough without a mildew blower.

[@mauriciosandoval4482]

That's not going to make it cooler man

[@johnbonner922]

@@mauriciosandoval4482 it's gonna be much cooler than if the bearing seizes. Have you ever worked on a swamp cooler? Or just trolling?