Evap Cooler water runs through pads too fast!

[Mike]

Hi, RE: TRADEWINDS EVAPORATIVE COOLER with a 5000 (?) pump. and the green , honeycombed paper pads.

I've got a cooler problem it and I don't know how to solve it:

The water comes down over the pads so fast that it dribbles over the louvres and on to the roof, and then down to the side of the house.

Should I switch to pads that are more tightly packed? Should I buy a smaller pump., say 4500?

Just what is the ceapest and most effective way to fix my problem. Should I restrict the water flow? I don't think that wuld be right!

Help please...it's getting hotter in Arizona~~~ Mike Picture Rocks, AZ

[David Wood]

I haven't seen the paper pads, but suspect that their pores might get gummed up with minerals if your water is hard.

Sounds to me like you want something LESS tightly packed, like the thick pads made of aspen noodles (like the noodles put on top of chow mein). These have plenty of space for the water to enter and wet the fibers, and are available in a range of sizes, say 28"x28" up to

32"x32" at least.

[Rich256]

I would say the water is running too fast but for some reason it is leaking on to the louvers. I have used the same pads and they worked very good. I like them because they have lots of surface area.

[cm]

They make a little metal clamp that you put over your water supply hose between the pump and the water distribution tubes. You can tighten it to pinch the hose and slow down the water flow. There is no need to change the pads or pump until they wear out.

kontico

[Mark D]

Hi Mike, I assume your cooler is a square type, correct? (Not the older round jobs?)

If it is indeed a cubical unit, with 3,or 4 pads, and this is the stock pump (a 5000 is actually not that big, I use an 11000 on mine) I think what is happening then, is that the little holes in the V-Shaped troughs at the top of your metal Panel frames have become plugged, and not permitting the water to flow down the the Media Panels. This is easy to observe too, when the cooler is first started up, you can examine the flow, and see where there are any dry spots on the pads. Directly above then, this is where the troughs will be plugged (Most likely with Alkali deposits.

If I am indeed correct about this, that water is lying up there, and thats where your water is leaking from out onto the roof, then check these holes.

Either take a putty knife, and scrape these troughs, clearing the deposits away from the trough (A garden hose, or a old paintbrush will work) and if that doesn't work, then take a Cordless drill, and small bit 5/32" and drill a 1/2 dozen more holes per panel trough to let the water flow down better to reach the Pads. I had to do this with mine a couple of times. Hope this helps, Mark

[Mark D]

The other thing you must make sure of, it that the spider spray bars are properly positioned over the troughs. Sorry I forgot to add that. It's easy to do, by pulling one cover, and insuring all are in their proper places. Mark

[Steve B]

And, it is good to pull all the lines off and inspect the hub and lines for pieces of debris. Just a quick and easy way to start off knowing that water is flowing properly.

Steve

[coolerdoctor]

The Tradewinds coolers do not have distribution arms like the metal cooler. They have a pvc pipe going around the top of the cooler.

You might have a mineral build up at the holes in the pipe causing the water to squirt towards the outside of the cooler or as mentioned above, the spreader trough at the top of the pads may be clogged interfering with even distribution of the water across the pad. Make sure that the water is not overflowing the trough.

The green paper, waffle, "CoolPad" is not the "stock" pad supplied by Tradewinds. When new, Tradewinds supplies the blue synthetic, foamed polyester, "Aqua Pad". It looks somewhat like a blue ScotchBrite. Either pad can be used but, I have had many reports about "channeling". That is, water running down the pad in rivulets instead of spreading out evenly across the pad. In my book I still recommend the aspen pads.

To learn more service and repair information on evaporative coolers, visit:

Larry Galpin The Cooler Doctor

Service, Repair & Enhance the Performance of Your Cooler Yourself and Save $100s Every Year!