Portable evaporative coolers provide an effective way of cooling in hot and dry climate but in order to enjoy its maximum benefits it is important to stick to its maintenance guidelines. They are great alternative to air conditioners as they consume less power and budget friendly. Because of this they are gaining popularity than the conventional fans and air conditioners and are being widely used in home, office, shops, institutions and outdoor places. Although maintaining the cooler is not a daunting task, people tend to postpone evaporative cooling cleaning often to the eternity, resulting in damaged cooling pads and mould formation in tanks. Proper maintenance and regular cleaning will ensure longevity of the cooler and also keep a steady air flow with cooling and purifying.

Why Evaporative Cooling Cleaning Is Important

The evaporative coolers are installed as eco-friendly air-purifying source and if you cannot keep it clean, the purification factor is hampered. Here are reasons why you should clean it regularly –

• Contaminated Air –Dust, pollen, pet hair and microorganisms like bacteria, fungus and mould accumulated in the dirty cooler will be blown out in your surroundings.
• Affected Air Quality –Without evaporative cooling cleaning, clogged air ducts will result in improper purification and stale odour emission.
• Hike In Electricity Bill –In general any Australian household has 40% of energy consumed by coolers. Without cleaning, the consumption will hike up to 15% resulting in high electricity bill.
• Inefficiency And Glitch –Dirt, grease, debris and dust in ducts and filters reduce the performance, restrict air circulation, cover the evaporative roll and hinder the cooling ability. The cooler needs to work harder than it should and experiences glitches.
• Costly Repairs –From ice build up to overheating, there are a number of unexpected breakdowns that can happen if cleaning is avoided. Repairs can be costly and intolerable especially if the breakdown happens in the middle of the hottest season.   

How Often Evaporative Cooling Cleaning Is Needed

The regular maintenance is easy to do but for cleaning you can either hire a professional or do it yourself. The frequency of cleaning varies on the usage of the cooler i.e. the more often you use it and for more hours, the more frequent cleaning it needs. The evaporative cooling cleaning is recommended on weekly, bi-monthly or monthly if you reside in dry climatic regions. This is, of course, applicable to the months that you use the cooler i.e. the spring or summer seasons in general.

• You should clean it before the season and after the season passes i.e. when you are planning to put the cooler in storeroom.
• Monthly draining and refilling of the tank with clean water is recommended so that the water does not get contaminated with algae, mildew and microorganisms.
• If you use the cooler less frequently i.e. like a substitute for AC, cleaning before and after the season will suffice.

Besides evaporative cooling cleaning, you should also follow some basic maintenance steps such as checking the air pads regularly for mildew or mould deposit and changing the pads yearly once they wear off. Clean the water container with brush to remove sediments, sanitize the evaporative pads, check the fitting of the dump and inlet valve with water flow and adjust motor mountings and fan belts.

Evaporative Cooling Cleaning In Easy Steps

If the cooler contains water, you have to cut off water supply or drain the tank with plug or hose before evaporative cooling cleaning.

• Cleaning Tank –Remove panels and cooling pads. Use soapy water and sponge or brush to scrub the area. After scrubbing fill clean water with vinegar and once thoroughly rinsed, drain it again.
• Cleaning Cooling Pads –Take out pads and submerge into lemon juice and water mixture for about a minute. Rinse and air dry them properly.
• Cleaning The Outside –Use damp cloth or sponge to clean the exterior surface of the cooler after turning off the unit. Clean the filters with warm water and mild soap.

Apart from these, check whether there is any breach that needs caulking and the movement of float arms to scrub off any deposit with vinegar. You should also clean the fan with the belt and motor regularly.