Swamper just not performing like I want it to.

[tmleadr03]

I have just under a 1K sqft home. I purchase last year a 1600 sqft swamper. Last summer I never ran it over the low fan speed setting and the house was kept to a nice 75 degrees almost all summer.

I just checked the thermostat and it reads 81 degrees. WTF. I have the swamper on high fan speed and I am not getting any sort of cooling like last year. I am headed out to see if perhaps something is messed up but I think I know it is just because IT IS FUCKING RAINING TOO DAMN MUCH. It is so humid the swamper just cant get the cooling it did last year.

[HBARleatherneck]

the instructions on my swamper said to make sure you have enough windows open. take a dollar bill and if it sticks to the window screen, open another window. that being said, mine is working like crap this year too. i oiled the motor, i oiled the squirell cage bearings. new fabric, washed it out a couple times. no luck.

[BlasterBob]

My first thought is to check the pump and see if it is properly pumping water down the panels. If no water is being pumped, the unit is merely bringing in HOT outdoor air. My swamper is running on the LOW cool setting is it's damn cool in my place. Want to make sure the windows are open in the rooms that you want to cool and freeze in. One quick/easy way to see if the water pump in functioning is to just feel the water supply line. It should feel real cold.

[tmleadr03]

My first thought is to check the pump and see if it is properly pumping water down the panels. If no water is being pumped, the unit is merely bringing in HOT outdoor air.

Ummm... maybe that is what I just found. I can neither confirm nor deny that I might have found some straw in the tubing...

[HBARleatherneck]

i forgot to mention that part. mine is pumping plenty of water and i cleaned the pump as well. still it isnt getting as cool as it was before. maybe it is the humidity. maybe uncle sugar will buy us all central air conditioning.

[BlasterBob]

i forgot to mention that part. mine is pumping plenty of water and i cleaned the pump as well. still it isnt getting as cool as it was before. maybe it is the humidity. maybe uncle sugar will buy us all central air conditioning.

Yeah, your "uncle sugar" (POTUS) is going to soon declare that all households in the USA MUST have central air AND internet availability as well as a motor vehicle that will easily provide at least 50MPG. [Coffee]

[jmg8550]

High humidity makes the swamp coolers less efficient since the more moisture in the air, the longer it takes for water to evaporate. And since they rely on evaporation to cool, it is not going to work as well.

[tmleadr03]

the instructions on my swamper said to make sure you have enough windows open. take a dollar bill and if it sticks to the window screen, open another window. that being said, mine is working like crap this year too. i oiled the motor, i oiled the squirell cage bearings. new fabric, washed it out a couple times. no luck.

You get some help for your place?

[HBARleatherneck]

It looks like a bunch of help. I will keep the thread updated

[tmleadr03]

So I am now down to 76 degrees according to the thermostat. Not bad. Fan back on low and noise level much more enjoyable, not to mention the temperature.

[bryjcom]

The high humidity is whats screwing with swampers this year.

[68Charger]

Swamp coolers can't get below it, or even really close to it...
so when the dew point gets into the mid-upper 50s, their performance really drops off- the dew point is the MINIMUM output temp of the cooler's air
check a weather site to get the dew point in your area- if you are more than 10* above measured at the output of the cooler, then something's wrong.

Ways to help them any more is to ensure the pads are in good shape (not all crusty from hard water deposits),
ensure airflow (open windows on other side of house from cooler)
ensure water flow (no clogged lines from deposits/junk)
Install the cooler to get the coolest air possible (i.e. on the roof is NOT ideal, North side is much better)

there was a device called an up-dux that was common in Phoenix- rather than open windows, you install these and they vent into the attic when your cooler is on, they close automatically when it's not.... this helps cool the attic to prevent heat pickup from the ceiling

I still use a cooler for the garage- works pretty well here in the Banana belt

[gnihcraes]

turn the water supply off on the really wet days. Fan only.