Topic
Winterization
A cooler left wet over winter cracks fittings, splits lines and leaks heat out of your house all season. These guides cover shutdown, covers, timing and what to do if a freeze already got it.
Start here
How to Winterize a Swamp Cooler (Fall Shutdown Step by Step)To winterize a swamp cooler, turn off power at the disconnect, close the supply valve and drain the water line, drain and clean the pan, unplug and dry the pump, fit a breathable cooler cover, and close or seal the duct damper inside. Finish before the first hard freeze; it takes 1 to 3 hours.
Winterizing in eight steps
- Turn off power at the disconnect or breaker.
- Shut off the water supply at the valve feeding the cooler line.
- Drain the line and the pan, including the bleed-off line.
- Unplug and dry the pump; many owners store it indoors.
- Clean out sediment and scale while the pan is empty.
- Remove or dry the pads (aspen is usually replaced in spring anyway).
- Cover the cabinet with a breathable, fitted cover.
- Seal the duct from inside with a damper or register cover to stop heat loss.
Details, timing and repairs are in the guides below.
All winterization guides
- How to Drain a Swamp Cooler: Reservoir, Supply Line and Pump, Step by Step
Drain a swamp cooler the right way: shut off water, pull the overflow standpipe, clear the supply line, pump and bleed tube, then dry the pan before winter.
- Swamp Cooler Covers: How to Stop Winter Drafts and Heat Loss Through Your Cooler
Choose and fit swamp cooler covers: breathable exterior covers, interior ceiling vent covers, duct dampers and up-duct insulation to stop drafts and heat loss.
- When to Winterize a Swamp Cooler (and When to Start It Again), by Region
When to winterize a swamp cooler where you live: typical freeze windows by Western region, monsoon timing, a simple decision rule and spring restart dates.
- How to Winterize a Portable or Window Evaporative Cooler for Storage
Store a portable or window swamp cooler so it starts clean in spring: drain the tank, dry the media, protect the pump and seal or remove the window unit.
- Swamp Cooler Freeze Damage Repair: Float Valves, Supply Lines, Pumps and Bleed Lines
Find and fix swamp cooler freeze damage: cracked float valves, split supply lines, burst pump housings and frozen bleed lines, with a simple leak test.