Swamp cooler pads every spring vs. now checking the water panel first
For years I just swapped the aspen pads on my swamp cooler every April like clockwork, but then in 2022 I found out the hard way that my real issue was hard water scaling on the distribution tubes, not the pads themselves. I was spending about $60 a season on pads when a $12 descaler and a vinegar soak would have done more good. Now I pull the whole unit apart in March, check the spider lines and the pump before I even think about pads. My cooler runs cold through July now and I use way less water. Has anyone else figured out a good way to keep the mineral buildup down without hauling the whole unit off the roof?
Who knew the pads were just taking the blame for hard water all along? That's like changing your oil every month when the real problem is a bad filter.