The calendar
Start-up in April, shut-down in October
The year of a swamp cooler in Albuquerque, month by month. Dates move a week or two with the weather.
Start-up visit
Pads, pump, float and water line checked before the first hot week.
Apr
Cooling season
Run it with a window open. Call for a pump that hums or a pad that smells.
May-Sep
Monsoon humidity
When the air turns damp, a swamp cooler cools less. That is the weather, not a fault.
Jul-Sep
Shut-down visit
Drained, cleaned, water off and covered before the first hard freeze.
Oct
Repairs and pad changes
The quiet months are the time for a rusted pan, a new pump or a new frame.
Jan-Mar
Switch to refrigerated air
Quotes any time. Installs fit best before the heat arrives.
Nov-Mar
What we do, what you do
Who does what, from spring to winter
- 01Spring
Step 1: April: start-up
We check the pads, pump, float, belt and water line, and run the cooler.
You turn the water supply on once we say it is ready
You open a window on the far side of the house
- 02Summer
Step 2: May to September: running
We answer repair calls and tell you honestly what week we can reach your street.
You keep a window open while it runs
You call if the pump hums, the pad smells or water drips inside
- 03Damp air
Step 3: July to September: monsoon
We check that the cooler is doing all it can, and say plainly when the weather is the limit.
You can expect less cooling on damp afternoons
You can ask about adding refrigerated air for those weeks
- 04Fall
Step 4: October: shut-down
We drain the pan and line, clean out the scale, shut off the water and cover the unit.
You book before the first freeze warning, not after
You close the roof vent or ceiling grille we point out
- 05Winter
Step 5: November to March: repairs and switches
Rusted pans, new pumps and conversions to refrigerated air fit best in these months.
You tell us about anything that went wrong last summer
You ask for a written plan before you decide
Why the summer changes
What the monsoon does to a swamp cooler
A swamp cooler cools by evaporating water. In the dry weeks of May and June the air takes water easily and the house gets cold. When monsoon moisture arrives, the air already holds water, so less evaporates and the cooling drops.
That is physics, not a broken part. We check that the pad is clean, the pump moves water and the vents let air out, so the cooler gives all it can. If damp afternoons bother you, the upgrade page explains refrigerated air.
Before you book
How long is a start-up visit?
It depends on the cooler and what we find. We tell you at the door how long we expect and say so if that changes.
Do I need to be home?
For the first visit, yes, so we can show you the float valve and the shut-off. After that, many neighbors leave a key with a family member.
What if it freezes before October?
Call us. We move shut-downs up when a freeze is forecast, starting with the coolers that still have water in them.
Pick your week
Tell us your neighborhood and we will name the week we are on your street.