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Cooler Pads and Media
The pads are where the cooling happens. Their type and condition decide how close your supply air gets to the wet-bulb temperature, which is the single biggest factor in comfort you control.
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Types of Evaporative Cooler Pads Compared: Aspen, Rigid Media, Synthetic and MoreCooler pads come in four main types: aspen wood fiber (cheap, about 60 to 80% efficient, usually replaced every season), rigid cellulose media (8 in about 85 to 90%, 12 in about 90 to 95%, lasting several seasons), synthetic fiber pads for aspen frames, and thin honeycomb media in portables. The pad must match your cooler's frame.
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- Aspen vs Rigid Media Pads: Which Is Better for Your Swamp Cooler?
Aspen vs rigid media swamp cooler pads compared with real numbers: saturation efficiency, supply air temperature, 10-year cost, water use and conversion.
- How to Replace Swamp Cooler Pads, Step by Step
Step-by-step guide to replacing swamp cooler pads: measuring, cutting aspen, seating pads without gaps, installing rigid media correctly, tools and time needed.
- How Often Should You Replace Swamp Cooler Pads?
How often to replace swamp cooler pads: aspen typically every season or more often in hard water, rigid media every 3 to 5+ seasons. Signs, schedules and costs.